Specialist sports turf contractor MJ Abbott Limited has been appointed by St Andrews Bay Development Limited to carry out extensive remedial work to the Torrance Course at Fairmont St. Andrews.
The re-modelling of the existing 18 holes has been designed by American architect Gary Stephenson, founder of The Linksmen Golf Design Group.
The work will result in subtle changes to the layout and routing of the course to enhance the golfing experience and to make the most of the staggering coastline and views over the historic town of St Andrews.
The work commenced in January this year and includes the relocation and rebuilding of each tee to improve playability, turf condition and drainage. The 12th green will be reconstructed and two additional greens, the 14th and 18th will be constructed in new locations. Three new holes will also be constructed on the Devlin course.
Each bunker on the Torrance course will be reconstructed, re-sited and finished in the classic revetted style.
Focusing on water as a feature and a commodity, the existing inland lake and irrigation reservoir will also be rebuilt and the lakes re-shaped, deepened and re-lined. The existing water supply to the reservoir will be upgraded to meet the requirements of the new state-of-the-art irrigation system. A new land drainage system has been designed to improve turf conditions and will be installed to each hole.
The work also includes the construction of the greens, tees and bunkers and provision of irrigation and drainage for three new holes which will become the starting holes of the new Devlin course. Hugging the rocky shoreline they’ll be built in a more rugged style which will be the signature of the re-constructed championship course.
The re-opening of the Torrance course is currently scheduled for Spring 2009.
Fairmont St Andrews www.fairmont.com/StAndrews
MJ Abbott Limited www.mjabbott.co.uk