When Royal Birkdale hosted The 154th Open Championship, every aspect of course preparation was carried out to championship standard. Green speeds, firmness, moisture management and presentation all received significant attention, but one of the final tasks each morning remained one of the most critical: changing the hole locations. 

Throughout tournament week, Royal Birkdale’s greenkeeping team used the Tacit Sholé Holecutter to prepare each day’s hole positions, producing the clean, vertical holes and consistent finish expected at one of the game’s premier championships. 

Daily hole changing during a major tournament is a demanding operation. Hole locations must be selected in accordance with the Rules of Golf while taking into account green firmness, moisture levels, traffic patterns and expected pin placements throughout the day’s play. Once selected, each cup must be installed with absolute accuracy. Any deviation from vertical, damage to the hole edge or disturbance of the surrounding rootzone is immediately visible on closely mown championship greens. 

The Shole has been developed to improve both the consistency and repeatability of this process. Its powered cutting mechanism allows the cutting head to maintain a true vertical profile throughout the operation, producing clean sidewalls and a sharply defined edge while minimising compression of the surrounding turf. By removing much of the physical effort required with traditional manual hole cutters, the machine also reduces operator fatigue, helping to maintain the same standard of finish from the first green to the eighteenth. 

Efficiency is equally important during tournament preparation. With hole changes completed during the early hours before play, the Royal Birkdale team were able to work methodically through the course while maintaining the presentation standards expected for The Open. Clean plug extraction, accurate depth control and straightforward cup installation all contribute to a quicker operation without compromising quality. 

While relatively few greenkeepers will prepare a course for a Major Championship, the principles remain exactly the same at club level. Consistent hole geometry, minimal disruption to the putting surface and cleanly presented cup edges all contribute to both the visual quality of the greens and the overall playing experience. Reducing unnecessary disturbance also supports quicker surface recovery, particularly during periods of intensive play. 

The Shole was designed with these practical considerations in mind, providing greenkeepers with a repeatable method of producing championship-quality holes regardless of the operator or the number of holes being changed. Its use at Royal Birkdale once again demonstrated the importance of precision, consistency and efficiency in delivering the standard of presentation expected at the very highest level of the game. 

For more information, visit www.tacitgolf.com