A Pictorial: St. Andrews!!! (18th Hole Discussion Now In Session)

« **on:** July 23, 2009, 02:52:57 PM »

The ruins of the St. Andrews Cathedral

As many have written, The Old Course (TOC) is a shining and majestic example of what constitutes the perfect playing field for the game. It may not immediately strike one as the most beautiful or compelling parcel in golf, but rather it relays its charms over time to those lucky enough to play it repeatedly. But alas, I only had the time and funding to allow for one loop of the auld sod. Still, I liked it well.

After a tough round in heavily gusting winds on the Castle Course, I elected to try my luck with the Old Course starter, putting in a request for play at 3:25pm. He sent me out with a trio from Wisconsin by 3:40.

The starter hut for TOC.

The R & A Club House adjacent to the 1st tee.

While the first fairway is relatively benign in character, the Himalayas putting green next to the second tee provides a clear example of the bold contour found throughout TOC.

The Himalayas putting green.

Both the town and TOC are permeated by famous land marks.

The Swilcan Bridge, The Old Course Hotel and the Links Clubhouse.

Combining all of these sights and sounds with a knowledge of Open Championship history and the pedigree of past champions at TOC, the feeling one gets as they stand over there first shot on TOC is unmatched.

Stay tuned for more to come on this thread. I plan to post each hole individually to allow for the (hopefully robust) input of others.

« **Reply #1 on:** July 23, 2009, 03:53:59 PM »

Hope you don't mind Kyle. I made your himalayas picture into a screen saver.

Good job on the pics.

« **Reply #2 on:** July 23, 2009, 04:06:43 PM »

There is more to a golf trip than just the golf.................Well done Kyle!!

Anthony

« **Reply #3 on:** July 23, 2009, 04:45:47 PM »

Nice job getting some unique shots.

« **Reply #4 on:** July 23, 2009, 05:40:26 PM »

Kyle,

Just played TOC for the first time today and this made the euphoria even stronger. What a place!

« **Reply #5 on:** July 23, 2009, 05:54:20 PM »

Scott while the “euphoria” is even stronger, I accept donations for the upkeep and can accept AMEX, Mastercard and all quality credit or charge cards. Please advise if you wish to donate £500, £1,000 or the more normal £5,000.

With the £5,000 donation you get a piece of a Morris Hickory club (reputed to have been used by Young Tommy when he last won The Open). The Management reserves the right to offers equivalent alternatives if stocks run out..

Being serious, really please for you that you enjoyed it. When you come down to earth post how you felt on the 1st Tee plus what it was like from the Swilken Bridge to when you sank that last putt on the 18th.

Melvyn

« **Reply #6 on:** July 23, 2009, 05:57:39 PM »

Melvyn,

The American pro I played with yesterday at North Berwick told me his St Andrews highlight was happening unexpectedlly upon Young Tom's grave after his round.

Thought you might like to hear that.

cheers,
Scott

« **Reply #7 on:** July 23, 2009, 06:14:16 PM »

Scott

Thanks for telling me. I have just e-mailed you a report on The Great Match of 1875 held at Berwick. Its Young Tommy last great match and when he heard of the death of his wife and his new born child. The course was the original 9 holes prior to West extension

Melvyn

« **Reply #8 on:** July 23, 2009, 06:17:56 PM »

Kyle Henderson,
Scots by name, Scots by nature.

I hereby offer you the post of US Ambassador du Golf pour le Region de Fife. Lovely pics, Kyle and I know you just 'Get It' - BIG-TIME!!!

Haste ye Back.

best,
FBD.

« **Reply #9 on:** July 23, 2009, 10:08:05 PM »

Quote from: Scott Warren on July 23, 2009, 05:57:39 PM

Melvyn,

The American pro I played with yesterday at North Berwick told me his St Andrews highlight was happening unexpectedlly upon Young Tom's grave after his round.

Thought you might like to hear that.

cheers,
Scott

It's interesting to see the cemetery in the old cathedral grounds. Old Tom has a modest grave stone, Young Tom a much nicer one. About 20 feet away Alan Robertson rests, still angry at Old Tom for playing a gutty. it's a charming place to visit, a must when one is in St Andrews.

Here is Young Tom's lovely stone:

« **Reply #10 on:** July 24, 2009, 01:31:45 AM »

Quote from: Bayley R. Garland on July 23, 2009, 03:53:59 PM

Hope you don't mind Kyle. I made your himalayas picture into a screen saver.

Good job on the pics.

Cheers. The first one's on the house!

« **Reply #11 on:** July 24, 2009, 01:33:45 AM »

Quote from: Marty Bonnar on July 23, 2009, 06:17:56 PM

Kyle Henderson,
Scots by name, Scots by nature.

I hereby offer you the post of US Ambassador du Golf pour le Region de Fife. Lovely pics, Kyle and I know you just 'Get It' - BIG-TIME!!!

Haste ye Back.

best,
FBD.

I hope the position includes a substantial cash retainer. Otherwise, my return will not be very soon I fear. $:-\$

« **Reply #12 on:** July 24, 2009, 02:13:05 AM »

A schematic of the 1st hole:
http://www.standrews.org.uk/golf/the_courses/old_course_hole_guide.html

Looking across the 18th green to the 1st tee, R & A Clubhouse, starter hut and the West Sands (scroll right for best viewing).

The impossibly wide, shared fairway of the 1st and 18th helps to ease the impossibly high tension one feels teeing off in front of several dozen onlookers. Still, I managed to look up early and chunk my 7-wood to the left. Thank goodness it rolled out for me, leaving 140 yards in.

This Swilcan Burn, crossing in front of the green, plays on one’s mind for both the tee shot and approach. I peeked again, thinning my pitch into the drink. A drop followed by a well-executed up and down left me feeling lucky and shell-shocked with a bogey 5.

Any pertinent anecdotes, thoughts, or comments about the first hole? Discuss!

« **Reply #13 on:** July 24, 2009, 02:42:40 AM »

Kyle,

How many times did you play TOC during your trip?

I feel like it would be necessary to play it at least twice if I ever had the chance to get to St. A's.

As you mentioned, I would probably be awed, anxious and confused on the first tee, and probably for the entire first round, making a second jaunt a necessity!

« **Reply #14 on:** July 24, 2009, 02:58:36 AM »

yippiee I've been waiting for this one!
I've been to St.Andrews once, but I never played it. All I did was running onto the 18th fairway, taking a divot, running off thze fairway and securing my baby - a patch of real St.Andrews turf. One day....

« **Reply #15 on:** July 24, 2009, 08:00:32 AM »

Kyle

Thanks for the introductory photos. I look forward to your detailed tour of the course.

The first tee shot manages to be both the easiest and hardest tee shot at the same time. Acres of space both left and right with no hazards immediately coming into play. However, unless you can dissassociate yourself from your surroundings you are aware that you are stood at the entrance to golf's holy grail; that scores of eyes are watching you; that you are about to walk in the footsteps of virtually every great golfer who ever lived. Why are your hands and knees shaking over such an easy shot?

I last played TOC in February this year. That was my fourth round there and I was still in awe of playing there. Actually I was more nervous this time round than the first time over 20 years ago. Probably because I appreciate the architecture and the history more now than I did back then.

I also think that the sheer width of the 1st/18th fairway gives you a problem. You are not certain of the correct line. Does that it matter if it goes a bit left or a bit rightof where you think the right line is? That question is usually only answered when you are stood over your approach shot.

« **Reply #16 on:** July 24, 2009, 08:20:31 AM »

I was staggered by all the parked cars up the right of the 18th! I don't know what % of golfers slice their tee shots there but it must be quite high

« **Reply #17 on:** July 24, 2009, 10:01:33 AM »

Kyle, my first go at #1 a few years ago had the same outcome as yours, just played a little differently.

We were into the wind, the pin was up. It was 6:30 a.m. (we'd been successful in the ballot the day before, if not in the timing!), so there weren't dozens of onlookers, just the group behind us.

I hit a relatively solid driver up what I guess is left center, off in the direction of the bridge.

My caddy was too hungover for advice at this point, gave me the distance, 120 pin. I didn't factor in enough windage, thought the ball was well struck, disappointed when it landed in the burn rather than on the green.

Like you, I got up and down from there for bogey. That might have been the best pitch I've ever hit, nipped off that tight turf to gimme range. Off we went to the second tee, very pleased to escape with a five.

Knowing what I know today, I would never hit what I thought was the right club to a front pin. Take one more, two putt par, out of there!

« **Reply #18 on:** July 24, 2009, 10:17:48 AM »

My one and only attempt at #1 was less successful. It was February, and blowing a gale. I had two hats, 4 tops, trousers + overtrousers, two pairs of sock and gloves.

I took a 3 wood for safety, and hit a nice safe pull hook about a yard short of OOB. With about 150 to go I recall I too underestimated the wind, but didn't even make the burn. A chip on & 4 putts later I was on my way!

Fortunately, the extreme cold meant there were no observers. Nor were there later to watch my birdie on the last, where the following gale left an eagle putt from the Valley of Sin, which I didn't make of course but was relieved to see stop 18 inches away for a 3

« **Reply #19 on:** July 24, 2009, 02:13:52 PM »

Would anyone give this hole a second thought if it were in any other setting?

« **Reply #20 on:** July 24, 2009, 02:20:29 PM »

I keep hearing that architects like to start out the round with an 'easy' hole. This seems like a precursor, but I've dunked my approach more often than not.

« **Reply #21 on:** July 24, 2009, 02:34:52 PM »

Quote from: Jason Topp on July 24, 2009, 02:13:52 PM

Would anyone give this hole a second thought if it were in any other setting?

For as simple as this hole is, I like it very much. It gives you lots of room but it is still a challenge given the history and the burn.

« **Reply #22 on:** July 24, 2009, 06:00:24 PM »

A golf course and the holes are defined by the quality of their hazards. Hazards means strategy, options and challenges all combine to give the golfer that which he/she seeks, enjoyment with looking to repeat the experience. Yet, I believe we still do not fully understand or perhaps appreciate the quality of hazards. I would maybe put that at the feet of some of the Golden Age.

Hazards are not just bunkers, stonewalls, roads/paths etc., etc. they can take various forms in that of the unseen hazard. I am not referring to the blind hole or doglegs but the pressure of options and challenges of the wide fairways, those double Greens and the easy hole idea. That there appears to be no challenge, is in fact the actual challenge. Knowing the general wind direction through out the year and incorporating it test the quality of the golfer. That ability to use the unseen hazard, the wind. Link that with the cut of the grass and ground contours adds to the uncertainty, yet throw in some moisture tests the metal of the best golfers. TOC and many links courses can appear to be pussycats on a good day but see the seahorse’s ride the waves say on the West Sands and the game Ladies & Gentlemen is on.

St Andrews and TOC has always offered more that just the visible hazards. Maybe that is why not all the good players become great.

Melvyn

« **Reply #23 on:** July 25, 2009, 11:12:14 AM »

When my father and I played TOC last June, he nearly pulled an Ian Baker-Finch by duckhooking it nearly into town across the 18th fairway space. I hit a bit of a flare with a 5-wood but was only about 120 out. The pin was a little forward of center, not right over the burn or anything. Nonetheless I had the adrenaline going and I wasn't going to get one wet on the first hole of the day, so I juiced one to the back edge and two-putted. My dad did the same, I think.

Is there any clear advantage to trying to tuck one's tee shot in behind the burn on the extreme right side of the fairway? Maybe when the pin is way left?

« **Reply #24 on:** July 25, 2009, 12:00:23 PM »

Quote from: Brent Carlson on July 24, 2009, 02:34:52 PM

Quote from: Jason Topp on July 24, 2009, 02:13:52 PM
Would anyone give this hole a second thought if it were in any other setting?

For as simple as this hole is, I like it very much. It gives you lots of room but it is still a challenge given the history and the burn.

I have the same thoughts on 1 and 18 as far as GCA merit, but the sense of place overwhelms that.

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