The chequebook remains open at Gleneagles.
If agronomy doesn’t float your boat then this sounds as exciting as a damp blade of grass but, for the course that will stage the joust between Europe and the US in three years, it is another key to its continual fine-tuning.
The system increases the rate at which water is removed from greens, helping to moderate the soil temperature. The result? Putting surfaces that should be in pristine condition for the 2014 showpiece.
Scott Fenwick, the greenkeeper at Gleneagles for 31 years, has trialled the system on the 10th green, traditionally one of the more problematic, and is eager to extend it to the whole course.
Bernard Murphy, the Gleneagles general manager, said: “This is untested in the UK and when we discussed it with the European Tour’s agronomy team they weren’t sure what effect it would have. If it works on the 10th then sensibly we have to think it will be a good thing for the rest of the course. The fact is that the wet is a bigger villain than the dry at the moment, so if this can help with that then it is the right thing to do.
“The Ryder Cup is certainly a consideration with the sub-air system. If we can get a little bit of warmth in the greens, we can get out of the winter a bit more quickly and get into May a little bit more aggressively. It’s a long-term project, as well as being very handy for the Ryder Cup.”
Jack Nicklaus, the 18-time major winner, last month visited the Centenary course he designed to “oversee some refinements” and is expected to return in the next few weeks with a report on what, in his eyes, still needs to be done. The reworking of the seventh green, part of a hole which came under strong criticism from players during the Johnnie Walker Championship, has already been given Nicklaus’ nod of approval but the fate of the long, uphill 18th, widely regarded as too bland for a Ryder Cup finishing hole, remains up in the air.
Murphy added: “There are competing theories for the 18th. We could change it to be compelling to more people but it ticks a lot of boxes in terms of spectator movement etc and that is important as well with an event like the Ryder Cup. I am sure Jack is going to come back with something that will take due consideration of those other aspects.”
Meanwhile, spectators heading to Gleneagles for this month’s Johnnie Walker Championship, which begins on Thursday 25, will pay just £5 entry fee on the Friday. The takings from the gate on that day will be donated to clubgolf, the national junior initiative.
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