St Andrews Links Blog

Moments in time

St Andrews Links has developed over 600 years to become one of the most famous locations in golf. There’s a vast array of scenes, moments and people that make up the Home of Golf’s rich history; below are a small selection to reflect on.

The Castle Course 

June 2005: The seventh course under construction.

The 13th ‘green’.

What has become the flagship hole on the course… the par 3, 17th.

Scenes from 1965

How the 18th green of the Old Course and the most recognisable of backdrops looked way back then.

The view from the infamous Road Hole tee.

Icons of the game

Coined as golf’s ‘Big Three’, their legacy will last long in the minds and hearts of those in the golfing world and beyond.

A moment of reflection for Arnold Palmer on the 18th green of the Old Course.

Jack Nicklaus says a fond farewell to The Open back in 2005. 

Prior to the 2015 Open Championship, Gary Player clutches the Claret Jug. Something he’s done twice as a winner.

Weather 

Mixed weather is part of the beauty of an Open Championship. Having hosted more Open Championships than any other venue, the Old Course has seen all weathers when hosting golf’s oldest major. Rain usually puts a bit of a ‘dampener’ on proceedings. At the 1960 Centenary Open, firemen had to pump water out of the Valley of Sin in front of the 18th green following a cloudburst during the third round.

Fast forward 55 years to the 144th Open in 2015…

Presidential visits

As recently as May 2017, the Home of Golf welcomed Barack Obama, one of a few presidents to make the trip to St Andrews. Others include the 42nd President, Bill Clinton and 34th, General Dwight Eisenhower.

Opening ceremonies

The official opening of the re-designed Jubilee Course was back in 1989. The ceremonial opening tee shot was hit by that year’s US Open Champion, Curtis Strange, who was in town for the then ‘Dunhill Cup’. It must have been good practice as team USA went on to win the tournament!

Historic scenes

The view looking up towards the 18th of the Old Course during The Open back in 1946.

Rewinding almost 60 years ago to the time when a railway line skirted the Old Course. Here a train driver enjoys a privileged view of play on the 16th hole during an Amateur Championship match in 1936.