Golf Old Course at St Andrews, Scotland

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Considered the oldest golf course in the entire world, The Old Course at St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland is a shrine for golfers everywhere. Recorded history provides documentation that the game of golf has been played over these sacred grounds for more than 550 years. Over time to the course grew from the original 12 holes to 22 in certain configurations but played as the traditional 18 hole layout that exists today since 1863. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, known to golfers as the “R&A” (the rule making body for European golf) sits next to the first tee. The course has seen many important competitions staged on its hallowed greens and fairways, including a regular rotation in “The Open” Championship. Many of golfing’s greatest players have posted wins in The Open at St. Andrews Old Course that they count among their primary achievements in the game, including Jack Nicklaus, Sam Snead, Seve Ballasteros, Tiger Woods, Bobby Jones and Nick Faldo. Among the many charms of St. Andrews Old Course are included the 17th hole, known as “The Road Hole” where a golfer’s tee shot is lined up directly over The Old Course Hotel; the realization that the links abut directly to the bustling seaside town of St. Andrews and business people, shoppers and school children wander directly adjacent to the fairways; When there is no important competition in process, Sundays finds the course turned into a public park where locals (and visitors too) picnic and stroll on the revered lawn; The Swilcan Bridge, a stone single arch bridge over 700 years of age spanning the Swilcan Burn (creek) running between the 1st and 18th holes has become one of the golfing world’s iconic structures; The understanding that those playing away at this Mecca of golf are walking in the spike marks of nearly all of the game’s greatest players, all of whom think of this home of golf with reverence and humility. Remarkably, St. Andrews Old Course is a public golf facility and as such is open for play to anyone with motivation to do so. A number of tour operators can arrange guaranteed tee times on The Old Course and any or all of the other 6 courses that make up the St. Andrews Links. A public lottery exists for residents and visitors alike to attempt to secure starting times on the Old Course up to 48 hours ahead. 50% of the available starting times on The Old Course are allocated through this system known as “The Daily Ballot” but you can be sure the competition is fierce. The town of St. Andrews is packed with charming pubs, museums and monuments to golf along with quality accommodations and shopping. Your golfing dreams most likely have you standing on the first tee at The Old Course at St. Andrews in the County of Fife, Scotland and then striding across the Swilcan Bridge as you approach your final strokes of this once in a lifetime round. You need to add this adventure to your list today to insure it’s one of the things you ultimately are able to check off.

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