The TOC experience. Which era?

[Thomas Dai]

Playing TOC is a special golfing experience.
You get a TOC time machine.
You get 1 round at TOC playing on your own with a local caddy.
Which era would you choose?
Current era with current clubs and balls and current conditioning….
or …
some era from the past but with the clubs, balls and conditioning of that particular era.
Which era would you choose and why?
Atb

[Tommy Williamsen]

I'd play it now with my the balls and clubs I currently use.

[mike_beene]

Right now. I have no desire to ever again hit my Wilson Staff blades and crushed egg balata balls onto slow greens where I have to hit the bullseye putter hard. And the windshirts are much improved .

[Peter Flory]

I'd love to play in the first Open there in 1873.

[Tim Leahy]

When was the last time they had a 78 degree day with minimal wind? Short sleeve weather?

[Ian Mackenzie]

My first round there was in 1990, late August.
Calm and 72 degrees.


Incredible caddies.
Went to, from memory, the "St. Andrews club house", with them next to the 18th fairway. They were members, of course. Had some pints and then played with all of them the next day.


I'd like to do that again.

[Tommy Williamsen]

The only time I played it the weather was perfect Scottish weather: drizzle, wind, and 60 degrees.

[Cal Carlisle]

I'd love to play in the first Open there in 1873.

I'm with Peter, let's take it back to the first one. I'd love to see the tournament preparation and setup. It'd be interesting to see what the pros had to contend with and their strategies for dealing with hazards and whatnot. To see what they could do with the equipment of the day would be pretty awesome, too.

[Peter Sayegh]

First world problem (imagination), huh?
Get me on the 1st tee at TOC, I'll play-any era.

[jeffwarne]

1978-age 15
Low prices overseas, low tourist demand,more local interaction, my persimmons(who am I kidding-I had a Wilson Staff laminated driver-couldn't afford persimmons)blades and balata, greens at a speed where the now obsolete pins could be used.


Any era would be fine, but at 15 I also got to play ANGC and I was at the height of my golf powers.
It would've been a great time to have discovered the joys and insane bargains of golf in the UK.


I do wonder where we already passionate golfers would be if golf had not experienced the "booms" of the late 80's, Tiger era, and Covid.

[Peter Sayegh]

I'd love to play in the first Open there in 1873.

I'm with Peter, let's take it back to the first one. I'd love to see the tournament preparation and setup. It'd be interesting to see what the pros had to contend with and their strategies for dealing with hazards and whatnot. To see what they could do with the equipment of the day would be pretty awesome, too.

I'll trump both of you. The NEXT era, circa 2123. Teeing off next to the Old St. Andrews condos would be such a thrill.

[Kalen Braley]

Great question, but agreed with Peter...given most golfers will never play it, and the vast majority of the rest who do its a 1 and done scenario, I'd say anytime would be great.

P.S  The old dead guys would certainly be aghast and mortified if they were around to see it get eviscerated in a few months...

[Peter Sayegh]

P.S  The old dead guys would certainly be aghast and mortified if they were around to see it get eviscerated in a few months...

Kalen, I don't think they would be "aghast and mortified." From what I've read on this site, the old dead guys would probably find the current TOC too manicured, too mundane, and in the Queen's English, not very "sporting."
As to the original post, I would like to hear from those who have played the current TOC too many times that they wished they played it in another era.
It's on my bucket list. If I get there, the last thing on my mind would be the 2000,1990,1960,1930,1895 version of it.

[Marty Bonnar]

It would have been awesome buying a wee ginger beer from Daw Anderson.
I’d have liked to have seen the fountain.
Pre the cutting back of the gorse must have been wild.
A steam train passing close by must have been a splendid sight.
Seeing Old or Young Tom playing it (and having a wee wager!) would have been cool.
F.

[Mike Schott]

P.S  The old dead guys would certainly be aghast and mortified if they were around to see it get eviscerated in a few months...

Kalen, I don't think they would be "aghast and mortified." From what I've read on this site, the old dead guys would probably find the current TOC too manicured, too mundane, and in the Queen's English, not very "sporting."
As to the original post, I would like to hear from those who have played the current TOC too many times that they wished they played it in another era.
It's on my bucket list. If I get there, the last thing on my mind would be the 2000,1990,1960,1930,1895 version of it.

I think the old guys would wonder why the weather is so peaceful and calm in 2022. Foul weather at The Open in recent years has been very rare. The Old Course is defenseless with modern equipment and grooming in current conditions.

[Tim Leahy]

The only time I played it the weather was perfect Scottish weather: drizzle, wind, and 60 degrees.

[Wayne_Kozun]

This thread is like the golf version of the movie Midnight in Paris.

[JMEvensky]

This thread is like the golf version of the movie Midnight in Paris.

If there were a like button, this post would get one from me--great movie reference.

[Steve Lang]

   Put me in the Tardis and let's call up when the Himalayas, was officially opened, the would have been a grand time.


When we were there in Sept 96 it was a beautiful sunny 23 degC and light breeze... 

[Mark Mammel]

I first played there in 1977 with 2 high school friends (age 25 at that time). Beautiful day, hot summer as you may recall from the Open at Turnberry, and very few Americans traveling to the UK in those days. The train no longer stopped there but was still a recent memory. Golf was L3.50. I had First Flight persimmon woods and First Flight irons. For the modern era, it was a great time.

[Wayne_Kozun]

I first played there in 1977 with 2 high school friends (age 25 at that time). Beautiful day, hot summer as you may recall from the Open at Turnberry, and very few Americans traveling to the UK in those days. The train no longer stopped there but was still a recent memory. Golf was L3.50. I had First Flight persimmon woods and First Flight irons. For the modern era, it was a great time.

Did the train tracks and railway sheds still exist?  The hotel was not there yet, I would think.

[Marty Bonnar]

I first played there in 1977 with 2 high school friends (age 25 at that time). Beautiful day, hot summer as you may recall from the Open at Turnberry, and very few Americans traveling to the UK in those days. The train no longer stopped there but was still a recent memory. Golf was L3.50. I had First Flight persimmon woods and First Flight irons. For the modern era, it was a great time.

Did the train tracks and railway sheds still exist?  The hotel was not there yet, I would think.

Built in the late 60s IIRC
F.

[Wayne_Kozun]

1968 it appears, at least according to Wikipedia:

The[/size] [/color][/size]Old Course Hotel[/color][/size], or its full name, the[/color][/size] [/color][/size]Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa[/color][/size], is a five-star hotel in[/color][/size] [/color][/size]St Andrews[/color][/size], Fife, Scotland.[/color][/size][1][/size][/size]The hotel borders the Road Hole of the Old Course, and has 175 rooms, including 35 suites.[/size][2][/size][/font][/size]It was built in 1968,[2][/size] on the site of the old railway station,[/size][3][/size] by British Transport Hotels Ltd (which was a subsidiary of British Railways). In 2004, Herb Kohler bought the hotel and now it is operated by Destination Kohler, a subsidiary of the American Kohler Company. The former stationmaster's house still stands and is called the Jigger Inn, which forms part of the hotel complex.[/size][3][/size] In 2020, the hotel completed an expansion, which included 31 additional rooms and the Swilcan Loft restaurant. [4][/size][/font]

[Marty Bonnar]

Yeah, originally looked like a Leningrad apartment block. Not that much better now…
F.


https://www.alamy.com/1968-historical-male-golfer-with-tartan-cap-playing-out-of-a-bunker-on-the-old-course-at-st-andrews-golf-links-with-the-newly-built-old-course-hotel-in-the-background-st-andews-fife-scotland-uk-the-unusual-looking-building-was-constructed-by-british-rail-on-the-site-of-the-old-railway-station-and-for-such-a-prestigious-piece-of-land-the-hotel-was-a-distinctly-modest-affair-image215164924.html

[Ben Stephens]

Marty,


It doesn't look to bad to me - its quite clever architecture using concrete, stone? i guess not many appreciated the new Brutalism era in UK Architecture - however if you look closer to it plans, elevations and sections you appreciate it more. I am not a fan of the extension to the Rusacks it looks out of proportion and detailing is not rich as its neighbours. The photo of the Old Course Hotel in 60s and 70s got the scaling and proportions done well in comparision. 

Leningrad?? isn't that St Petersburg nowadays imagine the beautiful Winter Palace style building instead of this hotel - I feel it would not fit in as well because it would look too rich and detracting from the Old Course 

Would have loved to see the Morrises play and Seve in 84 - I went to watch the Dunhill Cup 96-99 which was a great format with 3 players from each country. In 1998 the US was John Daly, Mark O Meara and Tiger Woods (what a team)

Cheers
Ben