St Andrews Golf
The Home of Golf
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews is the ruling house of golf worldwide and a mecca for all who play or follow the game. On any one day during the summer, you'll see many addicts staring reverentially across the most famous stretch of golf course in the world. The imposing 1854 clubhouse overlooks the first and 18th holes and you can enter by invitation only. Anyone, however, can play on the six courses at St Andrews, including the historic Old Course itself.
The citizens of St Andrews have been playing golf on these Links for a very long time, even before 1457 when the Scottish Parliament tried to ban the game. No one in the town took the ban seriously and by 1553 they had an inalienable right to play golf on the Links. The game developed and acquired popularity in the highest circles – even Mary, Queen of Scots was known to indulge in the odd round or two. The new craze was getting out of hand, however, and towards the end of the 16th century there was a spate of church absenteeism caused by people slipping off for a quick 18 holes. Two men were brought before the Kirk session in 1598 for "prophaning of the Saboth day in playing at the gouf eftir nune". As it was a first offence they got off with an admonition.
By the 17th and 18th centuries St Andrews was very much in decline, but exciting things were happening in the world of golf. In 1754 some 22 noblemen, mostly landowners in Fife, decided to move their golfing activities from Edinburgh to St Andrews. And so the exclusive Society of St Andrews Golfers, the forerunner of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, came into existence. It was that fortunate decision that saved St Andrews turning into a ghost town and it has never looked back since.
The British Golf Museum
The history of golf, and the town's intimate association with it, are all to be discovered in the British Golf Museum, standing directly behind the Royal and Ancient Clubhouse on Bruce Embankment. It is the most exciting of its kind, and audio-visual displays and touch activated screens bring the game to life and trace its development through the centuries. Easter to mid-Oct daily 0930-1730; mid-Oct to Easter Thu-Mon 1100-1500. Tel. 460046.
Golf Today
As well as the legendary Old Course, there are no fewer than 5 other 18-hole courses in and around the town: Duke's Course (Tel. 474371); Eden Course; Jubilee ; New ; and Strathtyrum. For information and reserving tee-times on all except the Duke's, Tel. 466666. Green fees range from £17 up to £80 for the Old Course (day ticket). Sports Centres University of St Andrews, St Leonard's Rd, Tel. 462190, Open Mon-Fri 0900-2200, Sat 0900-2100, Sun 1100-2100. Gym, squash courts, sunbed, fitness suite, etc.