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Property in St Andrews

Unlike so many areas of the United Kingdom and Ireland, the property market in St Andrews has made it through the past couple of years relatively unscathed. A large proportion of students and travelling golfers means there is always a generous rental return throughout the year. So although a beautiful place to live, the price tag of homes is usually skewed by the very attractive ROI. 

Making a St Andrews property your primary address also affords you the distinct privilege of becoming a season ticket holder at The Links Trust. This magical piece of plastic grants you access to The Old, New, Jubilee, Eden, Castle, Strathtyrum and Balgove courses at a very attractive annual fee.

So what's available just now in The Auld Grey Toon? Well, the former University dorm at Hamilton Hall is currently being transformed into 26 ultra-luxurious homes. I was placed here in my freshman year at St Andrews, and I am fairly sure that my fail in entry level statistics was directly proportional to the square root of the distance between my bed and the first tee of The Old Course. This 5th floor room was approximately 10' x 6', and struggled to accommodate a single bed and small writing desk (the former was utilized much more than the latter). How times have changed. Today, it is being transformed and incorporated into an apartment that is being marketed at £5,100,000. Hamilton Grand as it has been re-named, is being developed by Herb Kohler - bathroom plumbing tycoon, and owner of the adjacent 5* Old Course Hotel.

A little further down the fairway, Savills are marketing a beautiful 6 bedroom Georgian townhouse. Built in 1822 by the Playfair family, this home pre-dates the Royal & Ancient clubhouse, and it boasts tremendous views across The Old Course and The West Sands. The cost? A cool £1,250,000. But can anything be classed as expensive that makes the 18th your back garden?

If St Andrews were a Monopoly board then Hope Street and Abbotsford Crescent would probably be the colour green. Not quite Mayfair, but still an area of extreme distinction. Most commonly, these stone townhouses are divided into 3 or 4 separate apartments. A few are currently on the market and these range from the mid 200's to the high 300's depending on the number of bedrooms.

With great golf, schools, restaurants, nightlife, scenery and shopping, St Andrews has it all. The only problem for 99% of the population is the price. A very true summary of work, money and golf...

- When you're young you've got the spare time to play and your health but no money.

- Throughout your career you've got your health and the money but no time to play.

- In retirement, you've got money and the time to play but perhaps not your health.

It's a strange old world...

2011 Spring Invitational Results

A week of glorious weather greeted the entrants of the inaugural St Andrews Spring Invitational by Connoisseur Golf. Light winds, clear skies and not a single drop of rain made for a great week of golf and superb scoring. Our flagship event attracted 20 players from 4 different nationalities. The Invitational's base - The 5* Old Course Hotel & Spa - again proved why it is considered one of the most luxurious accommodations in the UK.

Round 1 was played on The Championship Course at Carnoustie Golf Links. Bob Fagan from Royal Dublin Golf Club took the opening days spoils with a very impressive score of 36 stableford points.

Round 2 took the players to Kingsbarns, and those who were there for the first time walked around the course in awe. One player, who has been fortunate enough to enjoy invites to many of the world's most exclusive and top-rated clubs, called it the best course he had ever played. The best score at Kingsbarns was 36 points by Congressional's Greg Kubasik.

Round 3 saw the players take on the formidable challenge of The Castle Course. This is the newest of the 7 courses in St Andrews and undoubtedly the toughest. It was not a surprise to see many of the players in contention struggle on 'moving day', but Northern Ireland's Boyd Hunter posted a great score of 36 points to land the individual day prize.

The final round was played over the most famous stretch of golfing terrain on the planet - The Old Course at St Andrews. Many of the players were virgins to this experience and quite a few nerves were visible on the first tee. With perfect conditions it was inevitable that final day scoring was going to be low. Raymond McGerr (a close friend of Darren Clarke) succeeded where his old pal had formerly came up short, and captured success at St Andrews with a blistering score of 43 points. Raymond (pictured second from left), who plays off 11, traversed the Old Course in 76 shots to win the individual day prize and overall event by a comfortable margin. A mention must also be made for former world number 4 snooker player, Alan McManus, who posted an impressive scratch round of 73.

Our thanks must go to the four wonderful venues of Carnoustie, Kingsbarns, The Castle and The Old Course. The 5* Old Course Hotel were the perfect host throughout. Thanks also to our dining venues at The Old Course Grill, Sands and The Seafood Restaurant.

To register you interest for next year, e-mail info@connoisseurgolf.com.

The season begins

The 2011 season kicked off in style with the arrival of the Norcross Group from central California.

April and May are fast becoming the most popular months to travel as the weather in recent years has been exceptional. The Norcross group played Turnberry and Western Gailes before checking in at The Old Course Hotel for a week of sunshine golf at St Andrews. Steve Norcross (pictured above holing out on 17) managed a career best by shooting 85 on The Old Course, but his improvement over the week makes us think he will be back next year to post in the 70's. His brother Everett can also look back on two very near misses for a hole-in-one and be thankful that his bank balance is still intact, as the caddies at The Home of Golf are known to have an above average appetite for the occasional cold beer.

The town had an even greater buzz about it than normal this past week, with students and locals alike both preparing for the Royal Wedding celebrations on Friday 28th April. Jack and Sheena were on typically great form at The Dunvegan, and Kenny at Drouthy Neebors was again proving that his bar on South Street is becoming the place to be in St Andrews. Antoinette - host at The Jigger - never fails to impress with her customary warm welcome.

All courses are in tremendous shape, and if you would like to discuss requirements for your upcoming trip, e-mail Jim Stewart at jim@connoisseurgolf.com. We are delighted to host groups of any size at both The Old Course Hotel and The Fairmont, and there is still availability left for packages including guaranteed Old Course tee-times.

Golf Shops in St Andrews

Twenty years ago, if you wished to purchase a club shirt or hat to remember your round at a specific course, you would walk past the line of rusting pull-carts, bravely enter the small cupboard of a shop beside the 1st tee and ask the guy smoking a pipe what he had in your size. Nowadays the visiting golfer has a plethora of choices.

St Andrews is now such a mecca for golfers from around the world, that it unsurprisingly has a vast selection of official and independently owned pro-shops and golf merchandise stores. I like to consider it a golfing theme park, but in a classy, refined manner - if that makes sense...

The Links Trust (who manage all seven of the links at St Andrews) have numerous golf shops. Their flagship outlet is now situated directly to the right of the 18th green. It's an enormous store that sells countless varieties of golf shirts, hats, umbrellas, bag tags, outerwear and even tea cups - all crested with that all important Links Trust logo.With top of the line brands ranging from Burberry to Ralph Lauren, this is the place to pick up your high-end designer clobber. It doesn't come cheap though. Expect to pay around £70 ($110 US) for a premium golf shirt or £20 ($30 US) for a cap.

Perhaps the most famous golf shop in town is Auchterlonies, which sits proudly on the corner opposite the Dunvegan pub, around a hundred yards from the final green. They have been making hand-crafted wooden clubs since the firm's inception in 1895. Of course now they also offer the latest in equipment in addition to a wide range of clothing and accessories. What I like most about Auchterlonies is their honest approach and pricing. With their prime location and rich heritage, they could almost be forgiven for charging the earth - but they don't. The clubs are priced at recommended retail price, or even less in some cases, and their high quality golf shirts range from around £25 - £60. They also ensure they are at the fore-front of innovation, having the latest putters and drivers the very week they are released.

There used to be two excellent, independently owned pro-shops further into town, but since Jim Farmer left the trade to assume his position as Honorary Professional at the R&A, I have only tended to use 'The Pro Shop' on Ellice Place. This is a great little shop, owned by local scratch golfer Andrew Donaldson. Here, you can trade in your old equipment, or even pick up a quick sleeve of Pro V1's on your way to the course.

Last year witnessed the first branch of a major chain to arrive in St Andrews when Nevada Bob's opened it's doors on Market Street. Yes, they may sell 2-piece golf balls at a heavily discounted price by the barrel-load, but shopping here is a little like going to the Big Apple and buying a I♥NY tee-shirt that was made in Taiwan.

For the real experience, support the local businesses and you will be sure to leave St Andrews with your own little piece of history.

St Andrew's Day

St Andrew's Day is celebrated on 30th November.

Andrew was said to have been a disciple of Jesus, and brother to Peter. He was a fisherman from the town of Galilee. On one of his missionary duties, he was reportedly crucified by the Romans at Patras in 69 AD. Apparently he did not feel worthy to have been put to death on the same cross as Jesus, and so asked to be bound to a different shape. This x-shaped frame is the one we see on the logo of The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, and also the white cross of The Saltire Flag.

In the fourth century, some of his remains were said to have been removed from a tomb in Constantinople to a Pictish settlement on the east coast of Scotland by Saint Rule. He was told in a dream to take the bones to the end of the earth for safe keeping, and this settlement went on to become known an St Andrews.

The colours of the Scottish Flag, or The Saltire, are known to have stemmed from a ninth century battle in East Lothian. The Scots were entrenched in a showdown with Northumbrians. The night before battle, St Andrews was said to have appeared in a vision to The High King of Alba. During the fighting the following day, a large cross-shaped cloud appeared in the sky, which encouraged the Scots - who eventually triumphed despite the fact they were outnumbered.

Today, St Andrew's Day is an opportunity to celebrate Scotland, it's culture and it's heritage. The 30th November is a day for bagpipes, thistles and haggis. It is also an opportunity to have a look around the clubhouse of The Royal & Ancient Golf Club which stands proud behind the 1st tee of The Old Course. Non-members are allowed in for a short visit of the club rooms and trophy room.

So although St Andrew himself had nothing to do with golf, his bones have named a town that has become almost as spiritual to golfers as the relics themselves were to the medieval religious pilgrims. Slainte Mhath!

The Torrance Course

If courses in Scotland were to be judged by scenery, course layout and quality of greens, then The Torrance Course at The 5* Fairmont Resort would be challenging for one of the top spots.

It may not share the history associated with one of it's close neighbours in the St Andrews area, but this is a serious contender among it's more contemporary peers. This was highlighted by it's selection to be one of the qualifying venues for The 2010 Open Championship at The Old Course. At 7230 yards, it's no pushover, and the scores at the Final Qualifying reflected this. Only a fifth of the players broke par over the 36 hole event, and Competition Standard Scratch was calculated at 75 (3 over par).

The Torrance also holds down a regular place on our screens each August when it hosts The Scottish Seniors Open sponsored by Cleveland Golf / Srixon. This year a four round total of -4 proved good enough for Barry Lane to capture the title.

The greens at The Torrance are magnificent. They run fast and true all 12 months of the year, but particularly in the summer season when they are undoubtedly amongst the best putting surfaces in Scotland. The course was re-routed a couple of years ago, and a multitude of Scottish revetted bunkers were added. It's a challenging but fair course from the tee. The par 5's are a classic blend of risk and reward, and the par 4's are an exciting mix of birdie opportunites and tight demanding holes.

It's definitely a course that should be added to any week long itinerary in Scotland. For corporate events, there is probably no better venue in Scotland. When you add a luxurious purpose built clubhouse to the adjacent 18 holes on The Kittocks Course (which is also a championship standard Fairmont course), you have all the ingredients for the perfect days golf.

Connoisseur Golf offer The Torrance Course and The Fairmont's 5* accommodation at preferred rates, and are also available to host corporate events of any size. For further details, visit our main website at http://www.connoisseurgolf.com/.

Drouthy Neebors, St Andrews

Many of our clients ask me where is the best bar and best place to eat is in St Andrews. The answer could well be under the same roof. Drouthy Neebors in St Andrews is owned by popular local golfer Kenneth Phillip, and is taking over as the place to be for a cold beer after your round on The Old Course.

He has created an atmosphere that attracts all three main components of the town - visiting golfers, locals and students. As with most of the main bars and restaurants in St Andrews it's standing room only during the major tournaments, but throughout the season Drouthy Neebors is one of the few bars that maintains a steady crowd. It's rare that you would walk in and not find yourself having a chat to the neighbouring table about how their golf went on that particular day.

Head chef Martin Reid has grabbed the town's attention with a reasonably priced menu boasting a selection of local dishes and themed specials, all created with locally sourced produce. Very popular among the golfing fraternity is his steakhouse offering. Here you can decide on the cut and weight of your steak, which is then chargrilled to your particular preference. Martin has previously worked as head chef at one of the prestigious golf clubs in St Andrews, and knows exactly what is needed by players, pre and post round.

Located under the ancient landmark of the Westport on South Street, Drouthy Neebors is only a few minutes walk from the course. After you sample one night here, I am sure it will soon become your local for the rest of your trip to The Auld Grey Toon.

White Tees at St Andrews

This was the first season that visiting golfers were permitted by The Links Trust to choose which tees they wished to play from. Any visitor could play from the white tees on The Jubilee, The New, The Eden and The Castle; while any single-figure handicapper could play from the whites on The Old Course.

Rangers had the authority to move golfers to the yellow tees should they lose their position on the course, but overall the new protocol seemed to work fine. One advantage of this new system was that wear was spread more evenly across the tee boxes, but most importantly it allowed golfers to experience more of The Old Course.

Playing it in excess of 7000 yards affords players more of the experience that a pro would encounter - i.e. having to avoid more bunkers from the tee, longer approach shots, and generally playing a tighter course. Some of the pin positions look a lot more tricky when you're standing with a four-iron in your hand!

For 2011 packages including guaranteed Old Course tee-times, contact us at info@connoisseurgolf.com.

5th at Royal Portrush

Aptly named 'White Rocks' after the stunning seaside cliffs, the 5th on the Dunluce Course at Royal Portrush is in my opinion one of the best holes in Ireland.

At 411 yards from the championship tees, the length of the hole is not overwhelming. But it's still one of those holes where you will be very happy to walk away with a par. The new tee box requires a carry on the ideal line of around 260 yards. There is a small strip of fairway running down the outside lane of this right-hand dogleg, but for those who possess the required length, it is definitely a hole you should consider shortening with an attacking drive. Both the contours and the downhill nature of this hole can make for some very long tee-shots.

From a good drive, the approach can be anything from 50 - 150 yards depending on your line off the tee. Most of the time the ball will kick across to the left edge of the fairway leaving you around 120 yards to the middle of the green. However, the green is divided into two distinct levels with a steep ridge dissecting top and bottom. It is imperative that you find the correct plateau, but one place you do not want to finish is short and right. A collection of humps and hills will send your ball into the adjacent area of thick rough, leaving a flop shot where not only are you short-sided but you must also hope for a playable lie. Even worse than short and right is overclubbing and going long. A couple of yards over the back fringe is out of bounds where your ball will most likely make it's way towards the sandy beach 100 yards below. A lot of seasoned links players prefer to 'feel' their yardage through experience, but this is one shot where you definitely need to know the pin position and your exact number.

Upon completing the hole, your are rewarded with one of the most beautiful views in the whole of Ireland - the White Rocks Beach, Dunluce Castle and the rugged North Antrim Coastline.

Ogston's on North St

At Connoisseur Golf we don't normally dip below 5* accommodation. Our clients demand the finest hotels combined with excellent service. Occasionally though, these pre-requisites can be achieved elsewhere and I am delighted to add Ogston's on North Street to our preferred list of hotels in St Andrews.

The rooms give a fresh, clean take on modern Scottish design and the character of the building has not been sacrificed during the recent make-over. The public areas, bars and restaurant have been sympathetically refurbished to a high specification but the general atmosphere remains homely with all the comforts you would expect from a high-end hotel.

Owner and local entrpreneur, Fraser Ogston, must be delighted to have added North St as his flagship venue. Where it impresses as a hotel, it excels when it comes to location. Situated a mere 300 yards from the 18th green of the Old Course, it doesn't get much more central when it comes to finding a great base in St Andrews.

Manager, Ali Knight, is one of the bright young lights of the hospitality sector in Scotland. Having played cricket and rugby at international level and also being a keen golfer, he knows exactly how to cater for the golfing fraternity. Ali is always on hand to ensure you get the most from your stay at Ogston's, and is especially happy to go that extra mile for Connoisseur Golf clients.

If you require any further information on Ogston's on North Street, don't hesitate to e-mail or give me a call.

1916 Rebellion Tour

I am delighted to introduce a guest blog from one of our clients currently on tour - Nancy Carpenter:

One of the best tours Connoisseur Golf suggested for a day off from golf was The 1916 Rebellion Walking Tour in Dublin. We met Lorcan Collins, our guide, at The International Bar on Wicklow Street where he greeted us at the door, handed out a brochure about the tour and then invited us downstairs for a pre-tour briefing. The dark, mysterious basement pub set the scene for the tour. Lorcan related tales that made you feel the urgency of the secret meetings and coded messages between various rebel groups who came together to fight for Irish Independence. For two hours we walked through the streets of Dublin as Lorcan, an exceptional storyteller, pointed out historical landmarks while introducing us to the men and women who led the struggle for independence -- and adding his own brand of humor to their stories. When he ended the tour at the Post Office where much of the action had taken place, the columns with bullet holes almost a century old spoke solemnly of the failed rebellion and the execution of the leaders which ultimately lead to Irish independence. The website for this "Simply Must Do" walking tour is www.1916rising.com. July 14, 2010 --- Nancy Carpenter

Seafood in Kilkee

The next time you're at Doonbeg, don't be afraid to venture outside the resort. Only 10 minutes away, the seaside town of Kilkee offers an outstanding selection of gastropubs and restaurants. Naughton's, in particular, is a little gem of a pub. I say pub, but the food is outstanding. If the seafood was any fresher you would be eating it underwater. Alhough it's usually packed, there's a very laid back, relaxing feel about the place. Because they do such a great trade during the summer months, no bookings are taken. So simply arrive at your leisure and browse the menu with a nice pint of Guinness (one of the best I've had in the south west of Ireland incidentally). The jumbo tiger prawns certainly live up to their name. Each one of the beasts needed cutting into three...

Kilkee, you may remember, was the starting point for Tom Coyne's mammoth walk around Ireland in which he played every decent course the Emerland Isle has to offer... on foot. "A Course Called Ireland" is well worth a read, and although I may not agree with his ranking of Irish bars (my specialist subject), the book provides a very humourous commentary of his golfing heroics.

Just around the corner from Naughton's is The Strand - a fantastic hotel/bar/restaurant. Importantly, this place ticks my no.1 box - being allowed to eat from the restaurant menu while sitting at the bar and not feel out of place. There was even a widescreen plasma showing live PGA tour golf, so everything was all set for my perfect evening of post-round entertainment. The food didn't disappoint either. A strong fish menu was dotted with a couple of alternate choices, but why would anyone not order seafood when you can see the boats coming in 100 yards away from the window? The Strand is first-class and I will be certain to return next time I arrive in Doonbeg.

The Turnberry Suite

Connoisseur Golf were delighted to accept an invitation on Friday evening to celebrate the launch of Turnberry's new flagship reception space - The Turnberry Suite.

With far reaching sea views, The Turnberry Suite is a unique gathering space where floor-to-ceiling windows open up to an extensive terrace - perfect for summer barbecues or evening drinks. With a capacity of 200 banquet-style, this fresh, spacious room is ideally suited for wedding receptions, corporate dinners and social events. The adjacent kitchen allows for full catering while staging and dance floor alike can be easily accommodated. With its location by The Spa at Turnberry, guests can have exclusive use of the 14 Spa bedrooms, perhaps for the wedding party or conference speakers.

The reception night itself was everything we have come to expect from Turnberry - lavish, professional, fun and delivered with an incredible attention to detail. Expertly prepared gin cocktails were on offer from the Hendricks bar, with the 'Ailsa Breeze' in particular going down a treat. The casual barbeque and finger buffet format worked perfectly for this particular occasion. The wide range of summery offerings included scallop ceviche, lemon sole, lamb cutlets, caesar salad and foie gras. Amongst the desserts, the tiramisu was a fine finish to a great evening of gourmet food.

It was a showcase of what can be achieved by hosting your event at Turnberry, and the reception only served to cement their place at the top of the very best five star establishments in Scotland. An exceptional evening!

Rathmore in full swing as McDowell wins US Open

As Graeme McDowell kept his composure coming down the stretch at Pebble Beach... Jim Blee, the barman at Rathmore Golf Club in Portrush, was busy chilling the champagne. That was of course in between all the Guinness, Bushmills, Gin, Vodka and Rum he was being asked to serve at an alarming rate by the club members...

This would be the mother of all parties. Graeme is idolized at Rathmore Golf Club, and rightly so. From the year he almost made a clean sweep of Irish amateur events, to representing GB&I in The Walker Cup, to winning his first professional tourney, to playing in The Ryder Cup... but a Major Championship? Was he destined to go down in history as the first European golfer to win the US Open in 40 years?

When Havret missed from eight feet at the last, Graeme knew he needed a five to win. Under normal circumstances he would've had a pop at the green in two, but this situation could not be remotely described as 'normal'. After laying up, an approach shot from 99 yards found the middle of the green and left him with the old chestnut of two putts to win. It was cool, controlled golf and decision-making from start to finish.

Back in Rathmore, the drink was going down quicker than it could be bought and poor old Jim was having to translate orders that were being delivered in a very broken, slurred form of the English language. Not that it mattered though because the sense of taste usually disappears around the same time as speech, balance and sight. The roar from this tiny golf club in Portrush may have been heard on the Monterey Peninsula itself.

Graeme was US Open champion, and it was great that his dad Kenny was there to share in the moment with him.  'You're something kid' was the line to his son, and who could disagree. I'm sure Rathmore will enjoy looking after that little silver trinket for the next twelve months, my only worry is that it may be returned to the USGA smelling a little of alcohol (cleaning products of course).

Oh and at Rathmore, the party is still going. It will most likely hit fifth gear when Graeme arrives with his new shiny toy. Does anyone know the number for the Guinness man?

CONGRATULATIONS GRAEME McDOWELL!

Fairmont right on cue

Some of snooker's top stars took part in the 2010 Scottish Snooker Golf Day held on 6th June in association with Connoisseur Golf and The Fairmont St Andrews. The Torrance Course, which will be used by The R&A as a final qualifying venue for The Open Championship, proved a huge hit with all the players. Marcus Campbell's team won the overall scramble event with Alan McManus' team coming in second. Three time world champion - John Higgins - showed a glimpse of his golfing prowess on the eighth hole by hitting his tee-shot to within inches of the cup and claiming the nearest-the-pin prize. Almost £2000 was raised for the development of junior snooker in Scotland, and a fantastic day was had by all who supported the event!

Scottish Snooker Golf Day

Sunday 6th June is your opportunity to play alongside some of the world's top snooker stars at The 2010 Scottish Snooker Golf Day. The event is being organised by Connoisseur Golf in association with Scottish Snooker and The 5* Fairmont St Andrews. Three times World Champion - John Higgins, Alan McManus, Graeme Dott and Marcus Campbell are among the confirmed entrants.

The format is a 4 man team Texas Scramble over the fabulous Torrance Course in St Andrews. This is one of the toughest and most beautiful links tests in Scotland, backed up by the fact that it plays host to Final Qualifying for The 2010 Open Championship.

The event also includes a two course lunch and the opportunity to bid in a silent auction consisting of snooker memorabilia and golfing merchandise. All proceeds from the day will be invested in junior snooker across Scotland.

To find out further information and details on how to enter, visit http://www.scottishsnookergolfday.com/

Inverlochy Castle

It takes something special to be a recipient of Travel and Leisure's 'Best European Hotel', but Inverlochy Castle is not your typical 5* accommodation.

Situated in the foothills of Ben Nevis, Inverlochy Castle is set against some of Scotland's most beautiful highland scenery. It was built in 1863, and ten years later hosted Queen Victoria, where she penned in her diary "I never saw a lovely or more romantic spot". The hotel boasts 17 wonderful individually styled rooms, and a Michelin Star restaurant.

The hotel's Rolls Royce parked adjacent to the main entrance immediately gives you a sense of the sophistication that is associated with Inverlochy. The warm personal welcome that follows is greatly appreciated, and your eyes begin to roam around the magnificent reception hall. The service is impeccable. On Sunday I dined with a couple of Connoisseur Golf clients in The Red Room, and it was without question one of the finest lunches I have experienced in Scotland. Looking out across the estate, the views were spectacular.

Although it may not be the most accessible address in Scotland, Inverlochy is worth every mile of the journey. It is the most serene and idyllic venue imaginable. This particular stretch of Scotland is not particularly blessed with world-renowned golf courses, but who cares.

Watson to play at St Andrews

Tom Watson has this week confirmed that he will be in St Andrews in July for the 150th staging of The Open Championship. Last year at Turnberry he came so close to becoming the oldest ever winner of The Claret Jug, but eventually lost in a play-off to fellow American Stewart Cink.

Watson is known as one of the all-time great wind and links players. He has won a staggering five Opens (four in Scotland), and almost made it 6 down on the Ayrshire coast last year. He has never won at St Andrews, and believes that his chances are a little slimer now that many of the holes on The Old Course have been lengthened. The 4th worries him in particular, because if it plays into the wind, he may not be able to reach the wide part of the fairway off the back tee. But if his game clicks into gear, he is still a wonderful ball-striker, and it would be great to see him involved come the back nine on Sunday.

One thing is for sure, there would be no more popular a champion at St Andrews than Tom Watson.

Caddies

The caddie fee in Scotland or Ireland is possibly a little higher than you would pay at your local country club (£60 GBP including tip is generally expected), but in return you will receive the advice which could define the overall enjoyment of your golf trip. Most of the top courses now have caddy programmes in place where only the best local caddies are bestowed on the visiting golfer. Some even impose exams and entrance criteria before admittance to the caddyshack is granted. It has become such a sought after profession by members of the local communities that the lazy and those without a keen golfing brain need not apply. The window of the caddyshack at St Andrews displays a large number which signifies the number of caddies sent out on that particular day. Demand is such that during the summer months, this number often reaches the 100 mark by lunchtime.

In the nearby bars, you will always hear the conversations of 'who is the best caddie in town'. In my experience, the true contenders never seem to enter these fiercely contested debates. Their slightly more reticent retort usually goes along the lines of, "...I've been walking this course for 40 years, but I'm still learning new things every day...". However, as a general rule across the links courses, you are more likely to receive one of the better caddies through a morning tee-time. An earlier start (and more importantly, an earlier finish) seems to be the reward for climbing the caddiemaster's ranking list.

There are some courses where I would say taking a caddie is almost compulsory. Not because the club force it upon you, but because of the difficulty of the course. Take Royal County Down for example. Even a scratch handicapper would have no chance of breaking 80 round here on his debut without the help of a caddie. Blind tee-shots, hidden bunkers, and severely sloping greens are something that a newcomer cannot overcome without the aid of some local knowledge. Another great example is the 12th hole on the Old Course at St Andrews. From the tee it looks like a wide open fairway. But the contours cleverly disguise half a dozen nasty bunkers that can easily turn a 4 into a 7.

But a caddie is so much more than a directional aid. Aside from reading greens, his most important job is course management. This is where a caddie can really set about lowering his employer's score. A great example of this is on the 14th of The Old Course. Many golfers go straight for the green with their second shot on this par 5 hole, without realising they are attempting a 200+ yard carry over the unseen Hell Bunker. Unless the caddie feels this shot is well within the golfer's capabilities, he will often suggest a lay-up down the 5th fairway. This leaves a longer approach, but it takes Hell Bunker out of the equation and provides the best angle into the green.

Although the stereotypical image of the drunk and dishevelled caddie is slowly changing, you only have to look to a request made by Old Tom Morris in 1864 asking for caddies to "...appear clean and moderately sober..." to realise that some things will never completely change.