St Andrews Links Blog

Fanny Sunesson finally ticks off the Old Course

Each and every day golfers from near and far fulfil a lifelong ambition to play our famous Links. For many, the dream of playing the Old Course has been born from reading, watching and learning about the intricacies of the course on TV with many never having visited the Home of Golf.

However, earlier this summer we were surprised to learn that despite having walked, mapped and measured the famous fairways and double greens on many occasions, renowned caddie Fanny Sunesson had never played the Old Course herself.

Having been part of some memorable moments on these fairways, most notably when she helped Sir Nick Faldo lift the Claret Jug in 1995, she prepared to make some more history of her own on the Old Course. Here in our guest blog she recalls her first visit and preparing to play it for the first time 21 years later…

The first time I arrived in St Andrews was 1987 and it was by bus. On the way in, there was a field and a sign saying “hitting golf ball forbidden”. Everything about the place had something to do with golf, I loved it!

When I stepped on the golf course I felt lost, I spent 18 hours on the course to get to know the lines and yardages. What a special place!

St Andrews is and has always been one of my favourite places to go. The town is quaint and has a lot of history. The golf is outstanding and caddying in an Open Championship at the Home of Golf is fantastic. To caddie for Nick Faldo when he won The Open in 1990 is one of my fondest golf memories. To walk down 18 and know we were going to win was magic!

Until this year I had only spent hours and days on the course caddying and preparing to caddie. I always walk the course before an Open to see the pins, it is extra important at St Andrews with its huge greens. When I finally got the chance to play the course, I was excited.

The course was in excellent shape, the fairways dry and the turf beautiful to hit from. I enjoyed every minute of the day! I am already looking forward to coming back to play some of the other gems that St Andrews has to offer!

I always love arriving at St Andrews and long to come back when I leave!

Fanny

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