Adding More Stones to the Swilcan Bridge at St. Andrews Is a Historically Bad Idea

The addition of a 'cobblestone helicopter pad' to the base of the St. Andrews landmark has Alex Miceli dumbfounded.

What are the laws in Scotland about disfiguring or maiming a 700-year-old plus architectural marvel?

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?

It’s easy to be overcome with emotion when you see what now seems like a cobblestone helicopter pad connected to the bridge that can be traced back to Roman times.

They appear to have built a garden patio next to the Swilken Bridge! pic.twitter.com/XDljucNB5z

— UK Golf Guy (@ukgolfguy) February 4, 2023

The bridge is one of the wonders of the golf world; every player that has graced the links steps on the bridge and grabs a picture or two for posterity.

Believe it or not, the bridge was originally used as a way for shepherds and their animals to traverse the Swilcan Burn to roam on what is now the 1st and 18th fairways.

Now the bridge is part of the walk from the 18th tee to a green surrounded by history from Old Tom Morris’s shop to the Royal & Ancient clubhouse.

With history oozing from every part of the surrounds, the Swilcan Bridge is one of the most iconic parts of the Old Course experience.

Or at least it was.

How the Links Trust could think that they are creating the moon’s surface as the entry and exit to the Swilcan Bridge makes any type of sense is beyond comprehension.

With the Twitterverse going bananas over the pictures of the new patio area around the Swilcan Bridge, the Links Trust, which was given the control by the 1974 Links Act felt the need to justify their actions in a statement.

We would like to address concerns that have been raised over works currently underway at the approach area to the Swilcan Bridge.

Please see our full statement on our website here: https://t.co/361CSUgZLw pic.twitter.com/mRdJEQUNU7

— St Andrews Links (@TheHomeofGolf) February 5, 2023

The most concerning part of the statement issued on Sunday via Twitter was the fact they are not done with the final product.

So, what is the plan? How about some drawings or a rendering of what they hope to accomplish as part of the statement?

If the same person working on the finished product was the original designer, then all lovers of the bridge should be concerned.

The Links Trust converted the small pro shop behind the 18th green to "The St. Andrews Links by Travis Mathew" shop.

My hope is that Weber grills isn’t trying to buy a space on the new patio area in front of the Swilcan Bridge.

Whatever the Trust does, hopefully they are listening to all those that love the Swilcan Bridge.

But first, please get rid of the joker that thought building a brick runway made sense. It doesn’t.