restoration
introductions
An estate office in Girvan, September 2005 - Gordon Irvine (Golf course consultant) was trying to organise a sporting trip for himself and friends. Discussing his plans with factor, Tim Atkinson, it was mentioned a golf course lies upon the South Uist estate - apparently designed by a very famous architect, and though much modified over the years, still with much potential. Having never heard of this course, or even of South Uist, Gordon was sceptical of the story. However, urged by the factor, Gordon phoned the chairman of the club, Ralph Thompson. When Ralph told him the club had been designed in 1891 by golfing legend "Old" Tom Morris, Gordon was unbelieving! But Ralph was insistent, and after providing proof of "Old" Tom's visit, persuaded Gordon to visit the island to survey the course at Askernish.
The machair at Askernish.
Gordon came to Uist on the 5th of December, and although the weather was atrociously wet, he couldn't believe the quality of the land and turf, exclaiming he had found "the holy grail". Ralph, Gordon, and greenkeeper Colin MacGregor investigated the area the original course was believed to have lain. Gordon declared that he had never seen better land for a links course and suggested that if a group of volunteers could be assembled the course could be restored back to its original state. The club enthusiastically accepted his idea and began discussing how to raise finance for the project.
work begins
The following March, Gordon returned to the island with Martin Ebert (Architect), Chris Haspell (Greenkeeper) and Adam Lawrence (Editor, Golf Course Architecture). Aided by a group of club members the team plotted their way through the machair area, using "Old" Tom's design principles to retrace what they believed to be the original eighteen holes. That evening Martin produced a plan on his laptop, and this provided the basis for restoration work to start! The day after the party left a group of members played the complete original course - with no fairways or greens cut - they did not have to use great imagination to realise what a fantastic course was possible. Martin's original plan has been slightly modified since, but the basic area and layout remains much the same as plotted out over eight hours that lovely March day.
An example of the land being restored.
Colin was at this point the club's only greenkeeper, and over the summer spent every spare moment developing the 'new' fairways and greens, while simultaneously maintaining the existing course. The members very quickly decided they preferred to play the restored layout, even with basic fairways and unputtable greens - so it was decided to abandon the modified layout (Drafted by club dignitary Dr Robertson) and concentrate entirely on "Old" Tom's original work.