Ballesteros' Old Course plea: Golf

Seve Ballesteros has made a plea for the Old Course at St Andrews to be left alone, after hearing reports of its renovation. In an open letter, the Ryder Cup captain said: "It was with the greatest sadness that I read recently of the proposed changes to the Old Course.

"The Old Course is the home and history of golf and it should be treated as a national monument that should not be changed or altered by anyone at any time. Leave this beautiful golf course, the holy ground of golf, as it was and as it always should be."

Mike Bonallack, secretary of the Royal and Ancient, said yesterday he had replied to Ballesteros and assured him the changes to the Old Course were less dramatic than reported.