Head gasket woes

[Mk2Kezza]

Now then, my Golf has been running sweet since I got her back on the road almost 2 years ago, but she has developed a leak in the head gasket    Water is escaping out the front of the gasket and immediately evaporating (was worried that it was leaking into the cylinders ) Hopefully thats the extent of the leak.
So, do I just top her up with water every couple of days? OR Whip the head off and have a look?

I'm doing 450 miles minimum a week so shes working hard, but i'm wondering whether taking of the head to change the gasket could open a 'can of worms'?

She is almost 17 years old and has 168000 miles on the clock. Am I being hopeful thinking I could put a new gasket on and get it running like a bird again? 

[Uruk Hai]

Are you sure its not coming from the plastic flanges that are on the cylinder head ?

[DarnPB]

Are you sure its coming from the head gasket as said by Urak Hai?
I have got my head off at the moment and found some of the water ways nearly blocked with rust and limescale. If one of your waterways IS blocked, then the water will find the weakest route out, ie, through an old gasket. If you are sure water is not leaking into the oil or combustion chambers, then you could wait a little longer until it becomes bad enough to become an issue, although this may cause more damage to the head or deck due to erosion caused by corrosion.
I would take the head off and have a look!! Good chance to service the head anyway!!