these were actually produced after the course was first opened and are quite different to the shapes shown on Alison’s plans. Anyway, while our advice was to restore many of the old bunkers, even though they were more visually important than relevant to the modern game, we also said that some new bunkers were needed to make sure that the elite level players have to think as much as they used to. So yes, we do update courses, but we also restore where it makes sense from an aesthetic and/or playing point of view. There has most certainly been a need to update our Open venues if they are to remain a searching test of the best players in the world, given the way that the game is now played.” Another criticism that has been directed the firm’s way is a direct consequence of its huge success on the British and Irish links courses. Has the success of one design firm in this space led to a degree of similarity developing across courses that were previously more diverse? In particular, the spread of exposed sand areas – which are unarguably both historically representative of how links used to look, and have extremely high ecological value, as habitat for plants and animals – has been suggested as a sign of the over-dominance of M&E. Ebert says he is conscious of this thought. “We like to think that we are not arrogant which would lead to thinking that we get everything right but, at the same time, we must be doing something right and sometimes adverse comment comes as a result of success,” he says. “Sand scrapes are an interesting subject. Historical research shows us that all of our links courses used to enjoy a much sandier landscape. They have all grown over as time has passed. Is it the right thing to restore that landscape? Not everyone likes the look and some of our clients do not and hence we do not restore these features if the club is not persuaded by the reasons for them. However, the ecological argument to produce more sand on links courses is a powerful one, with many case studies illustrating the tremendous benefits to both flora and fauna. Where else might any designer exhibit ‘sameness’? Green design, including the all important approaches and surrounds, is a key aspect of our creativity where maybe we might exhibit a certain theme of design characteristics. All I can say on that matter is that we are so fortunate to play, view, work on and study many of the courses designed by the great Golden Age architects. We think that feeds through to our own green designs and every green we do design is started from scratch. There are no templates in our office!” Photo: David Cannon/R&A via Getty Images MARTIN EBERT Mackenzie & Ebert has continued to advise Royal Portrush following work completed ahead of the 2019 Open, which included the creation of ‘Dunluce’, the new par-four eighth 49
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