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Old Course in Reverse
Once upon a time in the Kingdom of Fife the Old Course was played clockwise versus today’s counter clockwise routing. If you have played the Old you might have wondered why the 17th green is so narrow for the long approach shot required, or why the devilish bunker on the 12th is completely obscured from view off the tee. These and other bunkers and green approaches make more sense when one plays the ‘Old Lady Backwards.’
For the past few years the St. Andrews Links Trust has arranged for the Old Course to be played in reverse (or actually right way round) for a few days at the beginning of April. For any student of the game, playing the course as it was originally intended is an opportunity not to be missed.
Originally the course was played with golfers starting in what is now the 18th fairway and playing to the 17th green. You then played from today’s 18th tee to the present-day 16th green and so on, when golfers reached the turn, they played back the way they had come. Think of it this way if you have played the Old’s current routing – in Reverse the 2nd hole plays to the 16th green, the 3rd plays to the 15th green, etc. so that the numbers always add to 18.
During the 1870’s Old Tom Morris created the present first green and the anti-clockwise circuit became possible. During the late 19th and early 20th century golfers enjoyed playing the course both ways in alternate weeks.
During the 1970’s the clockwise direction was available for play only during one month during the winter. Since 1980, except on rare occasions, the anti-clockwise, or right-hand routing as it is referred, is the routing of choice.
I had the privilege to play the course in reverse last April with Peter Mason, External Affairs Officer of the Links Trust, George Peper, editor-at-large of Links Magazine, and a current resident of St. Andrews, and George’s son Scott, a keen golfer in his own right.
Peter and George have both played the Old Course’s left-hand circuit dozens of times and thought they knew where every bunker and hollow was located, but walking the course in the unfamiliar direction unveiled the secrets of the original routing even these two veterans were surprised to uncover.
You are supplied with a very comprehensive Stokesaver that diagrams the ‘reverse’ holes, but as anyone who has played this hallowed ground knows, the land is flat and trouble does not show her face willingly. More than once our merry band of intrepid golfers took a leap of faith at where greens and pins were located, guessing wrong as many times as right.
And while some holes play more difficult with the change in direction, many greens such as the Road Hole open up and are more receptive for the shot required into them from the opposite direction.
The day we played it was a brilliant spring day and perhaps the RAF pilots from the neighboring Leuchars base were curious as to where everyone was aiming because they buzzed the course doing an assortment of barrel rolls and dives trying for a better look. I could about shake hands with one as I putted out on the 8th green! It only added to the fun and the special memories of the day.
Of our group George carded the best round, only slightly off his normal sub-80 score around the links. The course plays slightly shorter 6350 yards to the regular 6566 yards, No.5 and No 14 are still the par 5’s and No.8 and No. 11 are the two par 3’s same as the regular card.
HOLE REVERSE NORMAL PAR
1 399 370 4
2 452 411 4
3 356 352 4
4 363 419 4
5 445 514 5
6 345 374 4
7 364 359 4
8 176 166 3
9 276 307 4
10 371 318 4
11 162 172 3
12 321 316 4
13 358 398 4
14 525 523 5
15 375 401 4
16 329 351 4
17 375 461 4
18 358 354 4
6350 6566 72
Click here for a course in reverse diagram.
But that’s where the similarities end, there is nothing regular about your round in reverse; it is an experience to be savored, especially with your favorite foursome. It will give you a new perspective on the genius of the course’s layout, a view into how golf was played in its infancy and, best of all, bragging rights at your club’s 19th hole.
Dove Jones
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