Troon, January/February 2018

16 TROON GOLF TRAVEL eMAGAZINE THIS IS THE TOWN WHERE GOLF TAKES PRECEDENCE WHERE A CONSTANT SPOTLIGHT SHINES ON HALLOWED TURF IN WHICH THE WHOLE WORLD WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE ODD JUNGLE EXPLORER LOST UP THE LIMPOPO TAKES A PERSONAL INTEREST Whisper three simple words virtually anywhere the world and you soon realize how well known is The Old Course Not only is it the most famous golf course in the world but also without any geographical hint in its name everyone knows exactly where it is St Andrews Scotland This is where the game has its roots where it was being nurtured along the rugged North Sea coastline before Christopher Columbus discovered the land where Madison Square Garden and Yankee Stadium would eventually be built And it is because of its history and long connection to this fascinating game that St Andrews is the place to which every golfer who ever put club to ball wants to make pilgrimage to savour the atmosphere of the ancient city and if they are fortunate enough tee it up on the most famous stretch of fairways on planet Earth St Andrews of course is more than a golf destination it is THE golf destination And it is more even than that Visitors to the city which holds a pivotal place in the history of the Scottish nation find much more than just the royal and ancient game when they walk the cobbled streets and take in the sights and sounds of what was once the ecclesiastical capital of the nation Yet despite those elements which in themselves would qualify St Andrews as an international must visit destination this ancient religious capital owes its worldwide fame and reputation to golf and to the stretch of hallowed ground that is The Old Course This is the town where golf takes precedence where a constant spotlight shines on hallowed turf in which the whole world with the exception of the odd jungle explorer lost up the Limpopo takes a personal interest Would you like to see a city given over body and soul to a tyrannising game asked the student poet R F Murray from St Andrews in 1885 That we can sir and that we do COURSE MENU The frenzied rush to secure the prized Old Course tee time is understandable but the wise and discerning visitor will also make time in the schedule to play what I believe to be one of the worlds great unsung golf courses The New Course not new at all having been laid out by Old Tom Morris himself back in 1895 lies alongside its more famous sister and presents one of the truly classic tests of links golf to be found anywhere Were it in any other location it would be heralded in the same respectful tones as Muirfield or Royal Troon Miss this one on a visit to St Andrews and you will regret it almost as much as missing out on the Old Course ballot itself There is also good sport to be had on the Jubilee Course nearest of all the St Andrews links to the sea itself But bring your A game to this one The Jubilee is long and tough and often in the opinion of many locals more difficult than the Old Course The just out of town Castle Course is the baby sister and a clifftop affair While its not classic links it is interesting in its own right It benefits from outstanding views across the bay toward Carnoustie and down to the Auld Grey Toon of St Andrews It also boasts what is possibly the DISPATCH FROM ST ANDREWS