St. Andrews (Old Course)

The Old Course is not, as some would believe, the private province of the Royal & Ancient. It remains, as it has been for more than 500 years, the property of the citizens of St. Andrews and is managed by a links committee consisting of the R&A and four other clubs. Each of the clubs has its own private clubhouse, but uses the public links for members' play. The first of these clubs began in 1754 as the Society of St. Andrews Golfers then changed its name in 1834 to the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews.

While the Old Course has hosted more Open Championships than any other venue, the first twelve Opens actually were played on the opposite coast of Scotland at Prestwick Golf Club near Troon. The first Open at St. Andrews was contested in 1873 as the result of a decision to stage that competition at the home course of the 1872 champion who turned out to be none other than Young Tom Morris of St. Andrews. His father, Old Tom Morris, is, perhaps, linked closer to the development of golf than any other person. Old Tom served as St. Andrews professional, keeper of the green and club maker. He won the Open championship at Prestwick and competed professionally well into his eighth decade of life. And, he designed several courses which remain among the world's top 100. The Morris golf shop still stands to the right of the eighteenth green.

To be sure, the Old Course is an ancient monument and may be considered by some to be an anachronism as well. It defies modern principles of design with bunkers in inexplicable places and fairways which are an endless ocean of dips, swells and ripples. Fully fourteen holes share double greens and even more share fairways. (Interesting trivia is that the hole numbers for the two holes which share every Old Course double green always total 18-- 2& 16, 3 & 15, etc.) The 7th and 11th fairways criss cross in an open invitation to golfers' concussions. The fairway for holes one and eighteen is so large it could host several soccer matches simultaneously.

Little wonder, then, that many fail to appreciate the Old Course when first exposed. Sam Snead, for example, is reputed to have said on his first visit, "Down home we'd plant cow beets on ground like this." Bobby Jones tore up his score card on the 12th hole of his first Old Course round. Eventually, many golfers grow to appreciate the course as an enduring example of strategic design which demands careful shot selection and flawless execution. Shortly before his death, Jones said, "If I had to select one course on which to play the match of my life, I would choose the Old Course." Whatever the criticism or controversy, one should not expect the course to change. The last alteration was the removal of a single bunker in 1914.

Four important items of advice for playing the Old Course. First, drive left to play safe. The shared fairway is always to the left. To the right is gorse, out-of-bounds or worse. Second, exit bunkers any way and any direction possible. They are deep and impenetrable. Third, remember that golfers on the homeward nine always have the right-of-way. Four, on the infamous seventeenth, The Road Hole, ignore items one and two. Strike the tee ball up over the rail shed to the right and attack. It is the only opportunity for par on one of golf's most famous holes.

Independent travellers: For the Old Course, report to the starter's shed on the first tee behind the R&A clubhouse about 30 minutes before your tee time. For those staying at the Old Course Hotel, report to the hotel golf steward's desk on the ground floor opposite the pro shop at least 30 minutes prior to your tee time. Be certain to bring your voucher and your handicap cards. Caddies cannot be reserved in advance but are obtained from the caddie master's office just off the tee. You will pay the caddie fee to the caddie master in advance then be expected to tip £10 at the end of the round. If your caddie is good, invite him for a post round pint at the Jigger Inn adjacent to the Road Hole. Caddies are scarce on the New Course so be prepared to lug your bag or pull a trolley. Shoppers who tell the staff of the Old Course Hotel pro shop that they are travelling with Haversham & Baker, receive a 10% discount from their purchases.