Richard Stillwell, greenkeeping consultant to the PGA European Tour, has breathed new life into the battle to stage next year's Murphy's Irish Open at Ballybunion. Not only does he claim that the event is viable, but that daily attendances of 15,000 could be accommodated without structural damage to the links.
His advice will provide powerful backing for those supporting the championship, when a special general meeting of the members is held on Monday night. As it happens, their motion specifies daily attendance figures of 10,000 to 12,000 - quite modest by Stillwell's assessment.
"Given my position with the Tour, I wouldn't dare make a recommendation that might damage such an important golfing venue," he said yesterday. "But I have no hesitation in giving the project 100 per cent backing."
Stillwell had already assured the pro-championship group, while cautioning: "It must be taken into consideration that the natural dunes and the fauna and flora must never be lost for future generations to enjoy."
This is the concern of the club's committee, who sought the advice of turfgrass consultant, Dr Tom Kavanagh. Among other things, he expressed the view that in dry conditions, spectator traffic could break the surface of the dunes, exposing raw sand, while wild flowers would also be threatened.
Stillwell made it clear yesterday that he had no intention of becoming involved in a public argument with Dr Kavanagh. He was simply responding to an unsolicited request for advice from Ballybunion members Michael Nagle and Eric Browne, the proposer and seconder of next Monday's motion.
In practical terms, Stillwell's expertise carries the formidable weight of first-hand involvement in 300 European Tour events. Indeed he was appointed head greenkeeper at Royal Dublin in January 1983 and went on to prepare the Dollymount Links for three successful Irish Opens in 1983, 1984 and 1985. Prior to that, he had prepared Royal Portcawl for the 1980 British Amateur Championship.
"In dimensions, Ballybunion is quite similar to Porthcawl, though Ballybunion has a much higher dune structure," he said. "So, I think it could best be compared to the Kennemer links in Holland, where the Dutch Open was held in 1989 and 1990. In fact the Kennemer dunes would be considerably higher.
"Conscious of its status as a nature reserve and the importance of protecting its dunes, we took great care in our preparation of Kennemer. And we had the satisfaction of staging a very successful tournament which had daily attendances of up to 20,000 at the weekend."
He went on: "I can understand the concern that marram grass would be trampled by spectators. Of course it will be necessary to protect certain areas of the links, but where damage might occur, it is possible to set up a marram plantation months beforehand, with a view to transplantation afterwards.
"Either way, restrictions on the movement of spectators are commonplace at professional tournaments these days, especially on the Continent. You can protect no-go areas by using double roping, whereby spectators are channelled from one hole to the next.
"There is also the additional protection that becomes possible by starting the tournament at the sixth and finishing on the fifth. That would allow large galleries on the finishing holes to be accommodated on the adjoining road."
Another argument against holding the tournament at Ballybunion is that at 124 acres, the actual area of the course is quite small. "Porthcawl is 120 acres," said Stillwell. "And the Old Course at St Andrews has accommodated a succession of great championships on its 83 acres."
He concluded: "In my view, the Irish Open couldn't have a better venue than Ballybunion for the Millenium year."
