St Andrews accused of 'maiming' an iconic golf course feature, the 700-year-old Swilcan Bridge
The St Andrews Links Trust has been forced to defend changes made to the surrounds of the historic Swilcan Bridge at the Old Course in Scotland.
The bridge, which is more than 700-years old, has been the scene for emotional farewells for some of the game's greats, notably Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson.
In 2022, the decision by Tiger Woods not to stop for a photo on the iconic landmark was seen as a sign that the 47-year-old was intending to keep playing, despite the limitations on his body from his car crash.
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Images emerged on Sunday of changes made to the approach to the bridge, with a large area of turf replaced by stone.
Former Australian pro Mark Allen described the changes as "very poor", while Sports Illustrated's Alex Miceli compared the changes to a "cobblestone helicopter pad."
"What are the laws in Scotland about disfiguring or maiming a 700-year-old plus architectural marvel?" he wrote.
"That question must be asked after seeing what the Links Trust has done to the Swilcan Bridge, which makes you wonder, are they completely out of their minds?
"Please get rid of the joker that thought building a brick runway made sense. It doesn't."
Tom Watson bids farewell from the Swilcan Bridge during the 2015 Open Championship. Stuart Franklin/Getty Images
Four-time PGA Tour winner Tim Herron posted a meme which showed a spa being installed at the base of the bridge.
In a statement, the Links Trust said the bridge itself wouldn't be touched.
"The ongoing works are solely focussed on the turfed approach area to the bridge, which regularly falls into disrepair due to the significant foot traffic by tens of thousands of golfers and countless other visitors seeking to have their photograph taken at the landmark," it said.
"In order to avoid having to close the bridge to foot traffic during certain periods of the year, a number of solutions have been attempted previously. These include installation of hybrid and synthetic artificial turf and the regular replacement, reseed and support of natural turf, but none have proven to be successful in adequately protecting the area from the significant wear and tear."
The statement said that works are ongoing and once complete will be in keeping with the historic nature of the bridge.
"We recognise that as such an iconic landmark in golf, the Swilcan Bridge retains a special place in the heart of many golfers and as such can be an emotive topic," it says.
"We are confident we will find the best ongoing solution to preserve the iconic nature of the Swilcan Bridge and its surroundings while ensuring that as many people as possible can continue to visit the site year round."
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