[Jim_Kennedy]

Granted, this was in 1927, but if the family sold and then decided to follow the house.......one never knows. 

America Bids For Old Landmark

Scottish golfers have been much concerned
over the report that the home of
Tom Morris, famous maker of clubs,
was to be transported to America to
serve as a golf clubhouse. Fear of the
loss has been allayed by a statement
from the grandson of old Tom to the
effect that "while the offer was tempting,
tradition alone would prevent us
from parting with the house. I have
thought of giving it to the R. and A.
with the suggestion that it be turned
into a golf museum." The house overlooks
the last green of the famous St.
Andrews course

 

[Jason Hines]

I can picture it now.......



Nice hat and black socks...

[Jim_Kennedy]

Me too 

[Bill_McBride]

Standing by...........................................................................................

[Melvyn Morrow]

Jim

Interesting, but you do know that what is being mentioned is not the Morris Hunter home of 7 Pilmout Links but just that of the Shop itself. Bruce Hunter (Old Tom’s grandson) my great uncle owned the shop but the house was my grandmothers. So what was up for sale was just a quarter of the land the shop occupied. At that time my father lived at 7 Pilmour Links.  Hope that clears up any misunderstanding and by way of helping I attach a selection od photos to assist understanding the plot od land.


Aerial view of TOC 1& 18th Holes



Sketch showing layout of land with OTM Shop and House. The Shop took up the 25% of the land with back building and front overlooking the 18th Green House was on Pilmour Links with access to the shop via side gate and access walk way to house.


 

View of Old Tom Shop from across the 18th Green TOC



Close up view of OTM Shop. The Main House access is via the left hand blue door which leads to the back garden to the House. The right hand blue door is for the Shop only



The Morris/Hunter Main House. The front is on Pilmour Links




The plaque in the front garden of 7 Pilmour Links




As for a visit, I hope one day to travel over and meet all those who have been friendly to me from the start, Wayne Morrison, Garland, Ralp, Anthony, Mike, Jay, sorry there are just so many many more who are just as important to me. Because I DO NOT LIKE CARTS OR GOLFING AIDS is no reason to dislike me or my campaign to see them minimised when it comes to GOLF.

Melyvn

[Jeff_Brauer]

One thing I never noticed until looking at that aerial is that the 18th fw at TOC is so rumpled, while the first is so flat.

Could that be natural, or did someone at some time decide that architectually, the first fw ought to be flat to get golfers off to a good start?  Had it been levleled as some other kind of field before the creation of TOC?

[Ally Mcintosh]

One thing I never noticed until looking at that aerial is that the 18th fw at TOC is so rumpled, while the first is so flat.

Could that be natural, or did someone at some time decide that architectually, the first fw ought to be flat to get golfers off to a good start?  Had it been levleled as some other kind of field before the creation of TOC?

Many people mistake the 18th as flat when it's anything but...

I believe that much of the land now comprising the first fairway was reclaimed from the sea... Therefore 18 is natural and 1 is created.... I'm sure Melvyn will put me in my place...

EDIT - Now that I look again, maybe it was only the land on the other side of the first fairway that was reclaimed... Anyway, over to Melvyn...

[Melvyn Morrow]

Jeff


For the answers we must go back in time, so are you sitting comfortably. Just relax look at the pendant slowly swing in front of your eyes, left right, left right, relax now think golf, First rule you will never play with a cart or distance aids, nor with anyone who does……. Ops sorry this is not about eeehhh, oh yes I remember now we are talking about the 1st & 18th Holes.


Thank you Ally, the work you make us do!!

The 1st Hole is reclaimed from the sea so is relative flattish while the 18th was the old dump and apparent graves, hence the lines in the ground.

As an example I attach a couple of photos, one an old water colour painting of the 1st & 18th around 1870’s as works was underway way (again) to reclaim the land. The painting is a little exaggerated by the closeness of the sea to the R&A Club House but it gives you an idea of how close it came.


Aerial photo of St Andrews today



Aerial photo of 1st & 18th



Painting late 1870’s



TOC & West Sands 1871


Phase One The Bruce Embankment mid 1850’60’s – site of the Golf Museum and Car Park


Hope it helped you understand Jeff

Melvyn
   

[Jim_Kennedy]

MM.
Thanks for posting the photos of the house/shop complex and others. I don't think I realized there were two separate buildings on the site, but now that you mention it I think you've posted about it in the past. 

Did OT live above the shop? Any of the workers? Does your family still operate the shop?

[Rory Connaughton]

Great photos.  I believe that there is some discussion of the reclamation of the first fairway in Tommy's Honor as well as a discussion of the evolution of 18 and the grave site referenced by Melvyn.  

[Melvyn Morrow]

Jim

OTM lived at 7 Pilmour Links until the turn of the Century and moved above the shop. Elizabeth, his daughter with her Hunter children had the Main House after the early death of James Hunter in Mobil. The House was improved during this time but always linked to the shop via the rear garden.

My second cousin has the shop although she I believe does not run it. The shop has nothing to do with my side of the family.

Melvyn

[Kyle Henderson]

A ground level view of the rumpled 18th and flat 1st fairway halves.

[Gary Slatter]

I love the rumples on the 18th and IMHO they will continue to change.  The roadway in front of the New Clubhouse was collapsing and I noticed huge empty space under the whole area while they were repairing the area.  I'd imagine Geo Peper would have a wet basement, if he had a basement.

[Tony_Muldoon]

Aerial view of TOC 1& 18th Holes




Melyvn

What I don’t understand is how the 18th and the land by the sea is rumpled, yet the 1st really is flat?


Today

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thehooley/5218217147/#/

[Melvyn Morrow]

Tony

To be honest I have no real idea, although I was told that the 18th was the old town bump and that many bodies are at rest there. As for the 1st much of that was reclaimed land and made into the 1st Hole so may explain the smoother surface.

Melvyn

[RSLivingston_III]

I never realized the house was on the backside of the shop and on a street I don't believe I had ever ventured down.
Seeing the photos it would have been a travisty to have removed that piece of the building for a 'clubhouse'.
I hope one day to stop by and pay my respects to the home of Old Tom.

[Anthony Gray]

    Lovers of golf history can't get enough OT.Thanks for the pics and information Melvyn.

    Anthony

[C. Squier]

Why not put some in-course out of bounds stakes where the land goes from smooth to rumpled? 

[Anthony Gray]

Why not put some in-course out of bounds stakes where the land goes from smooth to rumpled? 

  In the past I believe a trap was there?

   Anthony

[Bill_McBride]

I never realized the house was on the backside of the shop and on a street I don't believe I had ever ventured down.
Seeing the photos it would have been a travisty to have removed that piece of the building for a 'clubhouse'.
I hope one day to stop by and pay my respects to the home of Old Tom.

Ralph, I bought my mashie niblick around the corner in Laurie Auchterlonie's shop on Golf Place.  Couple of great shops.

[Phil_the_Author]

Tony,

Per Melvyn's comment, "To be honest I have no real idea, although I was told that the 18th was the old town bump and that many bodies are at rest there..."

In 1898, Old Tom himself told Tilly that very thing about the bodies buried beneath the 18th hole and Tilly wrote of it.

[Michael Dugger]

Tony,

Per Melvyn's comment, "To be honest I have no real idea, although I was told that the 18th was the old town bump and that many bodies are at rest there..."

In 1898, Old Tom himself told Tilly that very thing about the bodies buried beneath the 18th hole and Tilly wrote of it.

To be more exact He wrote that Old Tom told him the 18th green was built over the bones of dead men.

But I do not believe there was reference to the entire hole/fairway etc...

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