The Well Known Links (St. Andrews)

Member Name: scotslady

Product:	St. Andrews
Date:	05/07/01 (58 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Renowned Course, Historical, In excellent condition

Disadvantages: Obtaining a tee off time.

Golf has been played here for approximately 600 years but the course as it now is came into being around 1850. It is a public course run by St Andrews Links Trust and has hosted various competitions over the years - ie, the Open Championship (26 times), the Walker Cup and the Alfred Dunhill Cup.

The Old Course is situated in St Andrews which is about an hour’s drive from Edinburgh and 1.5 hours from Glasgow.

On the first tee you will find the clubhouse of the R&A directly behind you with the North Sea situated on your right. A feeling of history surrounds you. A daunting tee shot if you don’t like playing to an audience as you are aware of people leaning on the balustrade behind you and walking along the pathway to your right.

Various people had a hand in shaping the course of which Old Tom Morris was one. He was responsible for creating the first green as we know it today. St Andrews is a course which is known the world over. It has 7 very large double greens (-ie, 2 holes share one green) meaning that only 4 of the holes have a green to themselves. It has 112 bunkers of which Hell bunker, Strath bunker and the Road bunker are probably the best known.

The Old Course only had 12 holes in the early days and golfers played 22 holes by playing 11 holes outwards, turning round and playing back to the same holes from the opposing direction. A hole was cut near the first tee to make 22.

It was in 1764 when it was decided that the first 4 holes (and obviously the last) were too short. They were incorporated into 2 holes thereby reducing the number of holes to 18. This is where today’s standard round originated.

Golf became so popular around 1850 that the Old Course became very crowded and golfers playing out were meeting golfers playing in. One can only imagine the chaos when players met each other playing to the same hole from opposing sides. This forced the decision to cut two holes on
each green. To differentiate, they played to white flags going out and red flags coming in.

There is little or no walking between the greens and the next tees and on some holes you literally step off the green onto the next tee. In this regard, you have to watch out for the players approaching the green behind you.

BOOKINGS

Approximately 50% of the available tee times can be booked in advance by writing or faxing up to two years ahead of the date you wish to play. You have to nominate the players in your party and the non refundable green fees have to be paid in advance. They do ask for identification and handicap certificates prior to play and you are only allowed one name change per tee time which has to be notified no less than one month prior to play. The times are allocated in December for the following year and you will be advised whether or not you were successful in obtaining a time.

The other 50% are allocated by ballot and a minimum of two players can enter either in person or by telephone by 2pm on the day prior to play. Results of the ballot are posted on the web, at the course and various other places by 4pm the day before play. The starter will try to put a single player out with a 2/3 ball if they turn up on the day.

Tee off times are at 10 minute intervals from 7am in the summer. Fees are £85 per round in the summer (Apr-Oct) and £40 in the winter (Nov-Mar) using mats.

THE COURSE

1) 370yd (339yd Ladies) par 4 sharing a fairway with the 18th. Play needs to be slightly left as there is an out of bounds on the right and do make sure you have enough club on your second shot to clear the Swilken Burn just in front of the green.

2) 411yd par 4 (375yd par 5 Ladies) Blind tee shot for the men over rocky mounds covered in gorse and partially blind for the ladies. The percentage shot is to play onto the 17th fairway which leaves a longish shot to the green partially blocked by
a mound on the left.

3) 352yd (321yd Ladies) par 4. There is a large area of gorse directly in front of the tee to carry to reach the fairway. Bunkers mostly on the right but if you are too far left the Cartgate bunker in front of the double green will come into play.

4) 419yd Par 4 (401yd par 5 Ladies) The tee shot on this hole needs to be navigated through a narrow channel to reach the fairway. There are a couple of large mounds and a fair amount of bunkers on the left with gorse etc on the right. Again you are playing to a large double very undulating green.

5) 514yd (454yd Ladies) par 5. Numerous bunkers to the right and a large ridge before the green. If the wind is with you for your second shot ...... fine, if not............you will be playing your third shot blind. The double green is 100yds deep so depending where the pin is you could have a lengthy putt.

6) 374yd (325yd Ladies) par 4. This hole has several bunkers on both sides of the fairway and a gully in front of the large double green.

7) 359yd (335yd Ladies) par 4. There is a narrow fairway through the gorse in front of the tee if you want to play the hole as a dogleg. If you are brave enough and can carry 220yds, the direct line is over the gorse. Large double green again with lots of humps and bumps and the Strath bunker awaiting any stray shots to the left.

8) 166yd (145yd Ladies) par 3. Very tricky par 3 playing to a double green with bunkers lying in wait.

9) 307yd (261yd Ladies) par 4. Fair number of bunkers on the right but otherwise straightforward.

10) 318yd (296yd Ladies) par 4. Fairly straightforward with several bunkers on the right and playing to a large undulating double green.

11) 172yd (150yd Ladies) par 3. Very deep greenside bunkers lie in wait if you are short of this forward sloping double green, the well-known Strath being one of them.

12) 316yd (304yd Ladies) par 4. Several bunkers
in the centre of the fairway at driving distance force you to aim left and there is a large ridge on the green to test the putting.

13) 398yd par 4 (377yd Ladies par 5) A group of bunkers named “The Coffins” lie at driving distance on the left hand side of the fairway. The second shot on this hole has to carry a lot of broken ground and be long enough to reach the long double green. If you are short it will not run on and a couple of deep bunkers lie in wait.

14) 523yd (487yd Ladies) par 5. Evidently a long hole and by no means easy. Numerous bunkers including the infamous “Hell” bunker (complete with steps to get in and out as it’s so deep) lie in wait. The second shot is best played on to the 5th fairway to avoid the broken ground and bunkers ahead. The large double green slopes sharply front to back so watch the approach.

15) 401yd (369yd Ladies) par 4. Lots of humps and bumps with several bunkers down the left hand side. Another double green.

16) 351yd (325yd Ladies) par 4. Out of bounds run along the right hand side of this hole with a cluster of bunkers at about 200yd distance off the tee. The double green is situated fairly close to the out of bounds.

17) 461yd par 4 (426yd Ladies par 5). This is called “The Road Hole” and is one of the most famous holes in the world of golf. It’s a long par 4 for men and doglegs right around the Hotel. Out of bounds runs up the right hand side right to the back of the double green. A carry of 180yds over the out of bounds outhouses of the hotel is required from the tee to cut the corner if you are brave enough. There are 3 bunkers on the left approaching the green of which the notorious “Road” bunker is one. A memorable hole.

18) 354yd (342yd Ladies) par 4. The tee shot plays across the Swilken Burn to the wide fairway shared with the first. Out of bounds runs up the right hand side. The green is protected
by the Valley of Sin which has some pretty severe undulations if you are not big enough with your approach shot.

FACILITIES

2 public clubhouses with a full range of facilities and catering, a driving range, a short game practice area and several putting greens.

Clubs, shoes, trolleys and caddies are available for hire. They will clean and store your clubs and shoes overnight in the clubhouse for £5 for the first day. Hire clubs cost £20-£30 per round depending on whether steel, graphite or hickory. Shoes are £12.50 per round BUT they will throw in a pair of NEW socks. Professional caddies are £30, trainees £20 and bag carriers £15 all plus a £5 administration charge and tips if you are inclined. Trolleys are only allowed on the course after midday April to October and can be hired for £3. If there are no caddies or bag carriers available before midday, trolleys will be permitted BUT only hired trolleys (not your own). No buggies (carts) are allowed on the Old Course.

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