If you see some confused golfers on the Links on Monday 1 April, it is because history is being recreated for one day on the 600-year-old Old Course which is opening for play - backwards.
Golfers are playing the course as it was played over 100 years ago in the days of Old Tom Morris. Golfers will start on the 1st tee and play to the 17th green, and continue round the course in a clockwise direction, playing from the 18th tee to the 16th green and so on.
The change of direction came about when Old Tom Morris, custodian of the Links at the end of the 19th century, created a new first green, opening up the possibility of an anti-clockwise circuit. For many years the course was played over both circuits on alternate weeks, and as recently as the 1970s, it was still played in a clockwise direction for one month every winter. However, today it is played anti-clockwise - usually.
Playing the course in reverse presents an entirely different range of challenges with hazards coming into consideration which do not normally affect play.
A special ballot has already taken place for local times but the ballot is operating as normal on Saturday 30 March for play on Monday.
THE OLD COURSE IN REVERSE - ST ANDREWS LINKS
|
Hole
|
Stroke
|
Yards
|
Par
|
|
1
|
1
|
395
|
4
|
|
2
|
9
|
455
|
4
|
|
3
|
15
|
351
|
4
|
|
4
|
11
|
388
|
4
|
|
5
|
5
|
536
|
5
|
|
6
|
13
|
351
|
4
|
|
7
|
3
|
400
|
4
|
|
8
|
17
|
166
|
3
|
|
9
|
7
|
307
|
4
|
| Total out |
|
3349
|
36
|
|
10
|
18
|
318
|
4
|
|
11
|
10
|
172
|
3
|
|
12
|
14
|
297
|
4
|
|
13
|
6
|
350
|
4
|
|
14
|
4
|
562
|
5
|
|
15
|
2
|
429
|
4
|
|
16
|
12
|
333
|
4
|
|
17
|
16
|
399
|
4
|
|
18
|
8
|
362
|
4
|
| Total In |
|
3662
|
36
|
| Total Course |
|
6571
|
72
|