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THE OLD COURSE, ST ANDREWS VIDEO

There is little doubt that St Andrews has the most famous strip of golfing ground in the world. The naturally formed coastal margin, created over the millenia by alluvial deposits, receding sea and hammering wind is undoubtedly where the game of ball and stick developed into the sophisticated sport we know today.

The linksland to the north of ancient St Andrews town was originally used by locals for the grazing of animals or drying clothes. Here, by the 16th century, "gowf" was well established. Records show that the game had been in existence here long before when, in 1457, the Scottish Parliament tried to ban the game. Mary, Queen of Scots was even known to play the odd round to relieve the stresses of court.

The sandy peninsula was originally gifted to the people of St Andrews by King David in 1123 and, despite being sold by an unscrupulous and bankrupt Town Council for rabbit breeding, it remains the property of St Andrews citizens today. St Andrews golf courses are, therefore, essentially municipal allowing anyone to play providing they can obtain a ballot or tee time and for the Old Course this requires a handicap certificate.

One of the hardest tests of golf for an average player must be teeing off at the 1st for the first time on the Old Course. There is usually a gallery probably of scratch golfers, so you think, waiting to play off behind you as well as members of the R&A peering from their clubhouse window and several coach-loads of holiday makers. Try not to let this put you off.

The Old Course does not favour any particular type of player as it demands a wide variety of shots and tests every part of your game. Its characteristic wide fairways can lead some to think driving off and green approaches are easy but with some 150 bunkers scattered around the course there is a definite prescribed route to every hole and deviation can cause many extra strokes.

The first hole on the Old Course is called the Burn, a par 4 of 370 yards. There is little can go wrong off the tee on such a wide fairway. Aim slightly left of centre to cross Granny Clark's Wynd, the road that crosses the fairway 150 yards out. The Swilken Burn and clumps of gorse come into play for the second shot. The burn can be hazardous if the pin is set close to the front of the green.

The 461 yard, Par 4 'Road Hole' is one of the most famous holes in golf. The site of the St Andrews Old Course Hotel, formerly the St Andrews Goods Station and coal yard, plays a major role with the 'Black Sheds' as they are known protruding into the fairway creating a 'blind' approach which you can either play over or around. The classic line is to play a draw out of bounds and bring it around to find the fairway aiming for the letter 'H' on the 'Old Course Hotel' sign. The green is tight and set just before the road with the notorious 'Road Bunker' hard in at its left. It is advisable to lay up with your second shot and pitch on to hold the green.

The 18th, a 354 yard, Par 4 is an elegant if somewhat easy finish with a fairway wide enough to land a jet. Apart from the Valley of Sin which makes it difficult to roll on to the flag, there is little to trouble the closing strokes.

HOW TO GET A GAME AT ST ANDREWS

To book a round on the Old Course calls for a degree of flexability and planning if you wish to book in advance. Simply phone your request to the reservations office and they will try and meet your needs. For those that wish to take a chance and simply turn up with the hope of having a round on the Old Course a daily ballot system has stood the test of time for play and is seen as being the fairest way of allocating playing privileges on this extremely popular venue. Your name is allocated to the 'hat' and the ballot is drawn after 2pm each day for play the next but on Saturday for Monday as the Old Course is closed for play on Sunday.

Photographs & text © David J Whyte 2009

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