News:

Welcome to the Golf Club Atlas Discussion Group!

Each user is approved by the Golf Club Atlas editorial staff. For any new inquiries, please contact us.


Steve_Roths

  • Karma: +0/-0
St. Andrew's Original Routing
« on: October 02, 2021, 01:06:57 PM »
Can anyone point me to where I can find a routing of the original Old Course with its 22 holes?

Thanks!

Tony_Muldoon

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: St. Andrew's Original Routing
« Reply #1 on: October 02, 2021, 01:18:30 PM »
For all Questions on TOC start by checking Scott MacPherson's indispensable, The Evolution of the Old Course.
Let's make GCA grate again!

Adrian_Stiff

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: St. Andrew's Original Routing
« Reply #2 on: October 02, 2021, 03:17:13 PM »
It is not exactly known but the first two current holes were four holes and obviously much shorter and the same in reverse though there would have had to be 12 greens. After that the other holes were basically up the middle of the current course though mainly to the left. When the course opened up to 18. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 were new holes from reclaimed linksland.


The current first and last greens did not figure, the current 17th green would have been used from both directions and there would have been another green somewhere up the 2nd/17th fairway.


The 18th green was moved backwards past the valley of sin. The original green would have been somewhere between Granny Clarkes Wynd ad the Valley of sin. This green would have been shared the the hole from the higher ground, perhaps playing over what is now the clubhouse.


It may be that there was another hole, higher up beyond what is the current R & A clubhouse, though no one can really find anywhere that would have been the green. It might have just been a very short hole to somewhere where the current road is.


I remember this from a conversation with one of the Aucterlonies and a Mr Scott who wrote for the Golf Illustrated, this was around 1976-78, both men would have been in their 70s then they were speaking to my boss Grant Aitken, they also spoke about the true reverse routing, in the early 70s they rested the TOC every January by playing the reverse routing to save on wear.
A combination of whats good for golf and good for turf.
The Players Club, Cumberwell Park, The Kendleshire, Oake Manor, Dainton Park, Forest Hills, Erlestoke, St Cleres.
www.theplayersgolfclub.com