TEEING OFF IN FRONT OF THE FAMOUS CLUBHOUSE
OF THE ROYAL & ANCIENT COLF CLUB AT ST. ANDREWS.
St.
Andrew’s remains were entrusted to St.
Regulus (St. Rule), who sailed west, landing where St. Andrews now stands,
founding a shrine and giving Scotland its distinctively crossed flag.
On Sundays students from the University, founded in 1411, parade in
scarlet gowns, introduced, it is said, to make them easy to find on
their way to the brothels.
St. Andrews is a dignified old lady, a town of solid stone houses, three
main streets, myths, legends and the home of golf and of the British
Golf Museum. In spring Kate Kennedy’s Pagaent commemorates
the beautiful niece of one of the university’s founders. In August
the Lammas Fair is Scotland’s oldest. The saint’s day
is celebrated on November 30th, his Highland Games in July, his Food
and Wine Festival (bi-annually) in March. The Annual Golf Week is in
April, the Dunhill Nations Cup in September.
St. Andrews is one of Scotland’s famous golfing meccas to where
golfing pilgrims, from literally around the world, make the trip to
test themselves against the famous links.
In front of the private members clubhouse of the Royal & Ancient
Golf Club, complete with creaking leather seats, visitors tee off
on the famous links.
The Club House to the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, (the R & A),
the place where the rules of golf are determined, is out-of-bounds to
all but members. Aficionados the world over, for whom the Old Course
is Hallowed Ground, pour into the town for the Autumn Golf Meeting when
Captain of the Year plays himself in.
As the ‘Home of Golf’, the St. Andrews pedigree dates back
to the 15th century and in particular the ‘Old Course’ has
a formidable reputation.
There are four courses at St. Andrews, The Old Course, The New Course,
The Jubilee Course and Eden Course, Tel: (01334) 475757. Naturally the
town is well catered for golf specialist stores and in particular Aughterlonies
is in one of the best positions.
