Six Centuries of Golf in St.Andrews

Golf has been played on the Links at St Andrews since 1400 AD. The Old Course is the Home of Golf. By the 19th century golf was part of the way of life for many local people. A number of famililes had a direct involvement as caddies, ball makers and club makers. The game now plays a major part in the culture and economy of St Andrews.

Golf - in detail

In the 15th Century, while Golf was known and played, it was regarded as interfering with the more manly pursuit of Archery. In 1457, during the reign of James II, an act of the Scottish Parliament prohibited the playing of golf on Sunday in favour of archery and church attendance. But in 1502 James IV relented and under Royal partonage it began to flourish. James IV and James V were both keen exponents, while the better known Mary, Queen of Scots played on the famous Links and was accused of unbecoming behaviour by playing golf within a few days of the murder of her husband, Lord Darnley, in which she was implicated.

1754 saw the establishment of the Society of St. Andrews Golfers. This was the predecessor of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, which was created in 1834 by William III of Scotland. In 1897 The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews was recognised as the governing body for the rules of golf.

In 1797 St Andrews Town Council was bankrupt. It sold the Links to local merchants, who turned them into a rabbit farm. Golfers and rabbit farmers then fought over the ground. In 1821 James Cheape, a keen golfer, bought the links and evicted the rabbit farmers. The Council acquired the Links back from the Cheape family in 1894

The New course was built in 1895 by the Royal & Ancient Golf Club. This paid for the maintenance of both courses until the early 1950s, when it suffered financial difficulties. In 1953 the Council and Royal & Ancient set up a Joint Links Committee to control and management of all courses. The Council built the Jubilee course in 1897 and the Eden course in 1914.

In 1974, the St Andrews Links Trust was created to continue running the Links as public golf courses. They are open to everyone. In 1993 the Strathtyrum course was opened, along with a 9 hole course, the Balgove, and a Golf Practice Centre.

Golf - equipment

At first, Golf was played only by the wealthy with all the equipment, clubs and balls (particularly the feather ball) being very expensive. Indeed, clubs were made for the customer by local craftsmen much in the style of 'bespoke tailoring', since there were no shops from which to choose. As a student at the University, the Duke of Montrose gained a reputation not just as a golfer but as a prolific spender on golf balls. Perhaps unlike the students of to-day he could afford to replace lost balls!

With the advent of gutta percha balls, golf began to fall within reach of everyone and St.Andrews boomed at a fortunate time. It is true to say that St. Andrews dominated club making for over 500 years but it is only in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that volume production of iron clubs took off. Forgan's were the largest employer in the Burgh with over 120 employees until America overtook them and production ceased in 1962 when they were taken over and closed.

Golf Legends.

Among the many famous players associated with St Andrews, perhaps  Old and Young Tom Morris are the best known.

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