[MCirba]

My one and only time playing the Old Course was vividly memorable but I couldn't remember the exact year so I went back and found my old passport.   It was my first time on a plane and my first time overseas back in 1985.





My ex-college roommate was/is an expatriate American living in London.   I went to visit him in July of that year and although he was a once or twice a year golfer he suggested that he was going to go on "holiday" and perhaps we could venture up to Scotland and play St. Andrews, certainly for my benefit.   Of course I readily agreed.   Back in 1981 while staying with him just outside of Philadelphia while working parking cars at a fancy Main Line joint where he bartended he introduced me to Cobb's Creek Golf Course for the first time.

Traveling by car and rail we toured the countryside up through Liverpool, staying at B&B's, and generally having fun.   We played at a public course called Beacon Country Park along the way, got thrown off of an empty Muirfield (one a beautiful summer evening) after wandering onto the property to take a few pictures, and he suggested that since the weather was so gorgeous (sunny, about 70 degrees F with light winds) we should play at the next course we came across.   As luck should have it, that was the North Berwick West links, which I knew very little about at the time.   Imagine coming across that place by accident!   

As lovely as the weather was that evening it could not have been much worse the morning I ventured out as single on The Old Course.   50 degrees, raining sideways in torrents, and my roommate told me "you're on your own" and he'd shop and meet me at a local pub afterwards.   The weather was a lucky break as it turned out, as there were a number of no-shows and before long I was paired with two Americans from the south and another single from San Francisco.   It was so dreadful that many of the adjoining buildings still had their lights on as we teed off.

Carrying a set of rental clubs, off I went and managed to par the first.   Umbrellas were useless and would simply turn inside out and wet grips meant off center hits would twist and turn even more.   The wind was almost directly out of the north so we battled the entire way out.   On the second tee two caddies came up and asked if we would employ them...the two fellows from the south declined so my new friend from San Francisco and I agreed to have each carry a single.   It was a good decision and they were delightful.


Off the second tee a left-handed fade turned into a wind-pushed slice over near the roadway around the perimeter of the hotel and from there I pushed a six-iron about 50 wind-blown yards left of where I was aiming to which my caddy said "you're on the green" to my dismay.   And I was...about 200 feet away near the hole on 16 and I could see only the top of the 2nd hole flagstick.   Making one of the best three putts of my life was the reward.


I probably made about 8 or 9 pars and several "others", usually due to finding a bunker.   Don't recall a final score but probably mid 80s.   On one hole I asked if I could get there with a 5-iron and received the "Aye, eventually sir" response, which was spot on.   On the 11th tee our southern twosome had enough and decided to quit and walk in from there...not sure why they picked that point furthest from the clubhouse.   Mr. San Francisco looked at me with some desperation and said, "You're going to keep going, right?" to which I affirmed, "I can't get any wetter or any colder...of course I'm going to keep  playing!"


On 11 I finally took enough club and my low-screaming 3-iron landed just past Strath with the hole cut all the way up the hill in the back.   My slammed putt hit the back of the hole, jumped about a foot in the air, and came back straight down and in to which I let out what could best be described as a primal scream across the Eden River.   That memory alone will never fade.


Coming back in the wind was favoring us, and the rain slowed and thick fog rolled in.   I recall loving the amorphous nature of the 13 hole and I'm still not sure what one is supposed to do there.   On 17 I hit my best drive of the day and as we walked to our balls I mentioned to the caddy that this is where Tom Watson hit it on the road the previous year when Seve won.   My six-iron approach was looking pretty good, but drew just a tad too much, hit the far bank and caromed across the road over near the wall.   My caddy turned to me and said, "Nice shot, Mr. Watson".   


Coming up 18 the lights of the town were still on, creating an eerie sight in the fog.    I felt joy and some sense of accomplishment for battling the elements as we holed out on the most famous green in golf and it's difficult to believe that was now 37 years ago this month.   I need to get back.

[John Kavanaugh]

It was the last time I spoke to Rich Goidsle.

[MCirba]

Just found some 1985 Kodak Instamatic photos of my one time play at the Eden Hole.   The top is my playing partner from San Francisco extricating himself from the Strath Bunker.   The second is me beaming somewhat Cameron Smith-like after my birdie there, posing next to the Hill bunkers with Strath and Cockle in the rear distance.   

[Anders Rytter]

Sat behind the shed for hours one October morning, got on as a single with the last three ball of the day arround noon.
Had a blast, eagled the 10th.

[Jeff_Brauer]

I have played in 1981 and 1995.


In 1981, I shot 81 with 9 3 putts which was a great round except for putting, and even then, you can do that there.  I earned the nickname Sevvy for my many recovery shots that day out of the long grass.  It was a dry summer and in truth, I always found my ball sitting up well in there.  I saw a lot of that on TV today.


If I recall right, it was the year after they first installed irrigation, somehow using Weathermatic, a long defunct irrigation company product.  I think it is now Toro.  It was still pretty brown.  It was also quite warm that April, about 80, and the caddies were all going barefoot.



I told this story before, including on the current "worst 18th hole" thread, but one of my most memorable moments came at the 18th hole.  Playing with a fellow who had a big slice (definitely not a good shot pattern for TOC) who had OB tee shots on several holes, he was determined not to hit it OB right on 18, with many spectators on the road, etc.  He aimed way left, to the first fairway and then managed to double cross it, bounding OB short of the starter's shack and eventually down to the beach, perhaps even in the bay.


His caddy, in the great tradition of Scottish caddies, said, "Well, ah never saw that before, but I've only been working here for 42 years!"

[MCirba]

Jeff Brauer,


LOL!!

[MKrohn]

A couple of memories from 2015 on a trip with my mates, I had been there in 1988 but just walked a few holes. I declared myself pre round favourite as Kel Nagle had been involved with both of my clubs back home.


Firstly a bit of blubbing on the first but managed to clear the eyes, expunge the IBF memory and make a par. All of us hit the fairway on 17, I stood over my second with a 4 iron and with a positive thought said, "c'mon idiot you won't be back, make a good swing", managed to bumble it up short left and made a bogie.


Birdied the last for 76 but proceeded to make a complete dick of myself by recreating a Seve type fist pump..........dear oh dear. Perhaps it wasn't as bad as I now imagine as a man and his dog did give me a golf clap.


Wonderful day, plenty at The Jigger post.

[Ed Brzezowski]

Hitting five in two and having a putt of 90 yards. The caddy told me just off the right edge. Thankfully two putted for my only birdie of the day.

[jim_lewis]

I told this story in response to a similar question several years ago, but since it is one of my favorite memories, I’ll tell it again.
I traveled to St. Andrews with my family in June 1984 (about a month before Seve won the Open). I had made arrangements to play by speaking with the starter, Mr. Christie, by telephone from my home in Atlanta. He was impressed that I was from “the home of Bobby Jones” and invited me to come see him when I arrived.
When I arrived with my family, I sent them off shopping while I went to see Mr. Christie. It turned out that he had planned to stick me in with a local threesome, but they had cancelled. I asked if it would be possible for my 12-year old son to play with me. I assured him that my son was a good player but not near the 14-year minimum required at that time. Mr. Christie relented and told me I had 15 minutes to find my son and make my tee time. I rushed up the street in my spikes and found my family window shopping. I tossed my son the car keys and told him to run get his clubs.
My son and I played the Old Course as a twosome with our caddie. It was a memory that we recall often.
The rest of the story….About 8 years later I was back at the Old Course with 3 friends. My caddie turned to me and asked, “Didn’t I caddie for you and your young son several years ago?” He remembered and so do we.
The following day, I managed to talk the starter at Carnoustie into allowing my son to play with me as a twosome.
Greatest golf trip ever!
Jim Lewis

[cary lichtenstein]

I played it twice, shot 76 the first time with zero preparation. I hit it wherever my caddy said, I used whatever iron he suggested and I putted from way off the greens for the first time in my life. I loved it, got to understand how to use the ground, loved the bunkers except one fairway bunker I had to go sideways or backwards. If I had only one course to play for the rest of my life sign me up.

[Duncan Cheslett]

I drew St Andrew’s resident Clyde Johnson in the GCA knockout in 2019. Our initial thought was to meet halfway somewhere but I asked if there was any chance he could get us on The Old Course.


A couple of weeks later I caught an early train from Manchester and arrived at Leuchers five hours later. A leisurely stroll around the town and the purchase of a much needed long sleeved undergarment for protection against the strong wind ensued before meeting Clyde as he came off his morning round on the New Course.


I loved every minute of our round despite playing appallingly and losing the game very quickly. I’ve no idea what I shot but I do know I birdied #12 after ignoring Clyde’s advise to avoid the fairway and belting driver straight down the middle. I missed the bunkers which I didn’t know were there!


Highlight was #17 where I followed Clyde’s line over the sheds and put my second shot to the right edge of the green. My 30 ft putt lipped the hole and came to rest 3ft away. Easy hole! 😎


A couple of beers in the St Andrew’s clubhouse and Clyde dropped me back off at Leuchers. I was home by midnight.


A grand day out! 👍

[Tim Martin]

I drew St Andrew’s resident Clyde Johnson in the GCA knockout in 2019. Our initial thought was to meet halfway somewhere but I asked if there was any chance he could get us on The Old Course.


A couple of weeks later I caught an early train from Manchester and arrived at Leuchers five hours later. A leisurely stroll around the town and the purchase of a much needed long sleeved undergarment for protection against the strong wind ensued before meeting Clyde as he came off his morning round on the New Course.


I loved every minute of our round despite playing appallingly and losing the game very quickly. I’ve no idea what I shot but I do know I birdied #12 after ignoring Clyde’s advise to avoid the fairway and belting driver straight down the middle. I missed the bunkers which I didn’t know were there!


Highlight was #17 where I followed Clyde’s line over the sheds and put my second shot to the right edge of the green. My 30 ft putt lipped the hole and came to rest 3ft away. Easy hole! 😎


A couple of beers in the St Andrew’s clubhouse and Clyde dropped me back off at Leuchers. I was home by midnight.


A grand day out! 👍

Ten hours on a train and nothing but raves about the course and town. High praise indeed!!!!

[Jason Topp]

I have enjoyed these stories!


My first visit was in 1992 with my father.  The green fee was 35 pounds and there we still stories in golf magazines about how affordable it was to travel to Scotland and play top venues.


We booked the trip through an airline and were promised a round on the old course, a hotel for a week and flights.  When we got there the local travel company was clearly a bit shady.  They put us in the ballot each day and we would not be selected.  We would then find another course in the area yielding many rounds at the New and visits to Crail, Ladybank, Carnoustie and even Turnberry.  The courses were far less crowded at the time and you could basically call up and play anywhere but Muirfield.  In the pre-internet age we did not know much about each course before we got there, yielding a surprising and delightful experience each day.


The last day of the trip we finally got a time at the Old Course.  The method of getting the time seemed more than a bit shady.


We were paired with an undertaker from Ohio "The last person to let you down" and played the first hole into a stiff wind blowing left to right.  The undertaker took a mighty swipe, lost his balance and his hat flew off in the wind towards the sea.  The ball travelled one inch.  My father and I were silently embarrassed but my caddie got angry yelling in front of the milling crowd "Sir, do you play golf?!!!"  The undertaker placed the ball back on the tee (cheating next to the R&A clubhouse) and was thrilled when he made contact on the next one.  Unbeknownst to him his slice rode the wind and went 50 yards out of bounds to the right.  He was glowing with relief so we did not let him know his fate.


After that adventure, I realized I suddenly had to hit a tee shot.  It stayed on the course.  Victory.

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