NEWS: Links Trust News Archive

July- December 2003

1/07/03
Ten years old today - the Golf Practice Centre opened its doors for business ten years ago today, the same day that the 18-hole Strathtyrum Course came into play.

1/07/03
Links News online - the July issue of the St Andrews Links newsletter is now online. For this and previous issues click here.

8/07/03
Back in reverse for 2004 - For the third year in succession golfers will be given the opportunity to play the Old Course backwards in April 2004. For more details click here.

14/07/03
Winter on the Links - A special three day deal for golfers is being offered this winter (2003/04). It includes three rounds of golf on the Links with one guaranteed round on the Old Course. For more details click here.

15/07/03
Links Trust to publicise plans for Course No 7 - St Andrews Links Trust is to mount a public exhibition in the Eden Clubhouse of its plans for its seventh course later this month as part of a major consultation exercise. For full details click here.

16/07/03
Special survey - It has been suggested that we should set up an affinity group for golf enthusiasts with a special interest in St Andrews Links providing them with a 'link to the Links' and helping to preserve the game's traditions and integrity.

24/07/03
Lights, camera, action
Take home a permanent record of your round on the world's most famous course by booking the Links Video Service

29/07/03
Junior tournaments up and running - The St Andrews Boys' and Junior Ladies' Open competitions are being played over the Eden and Old Courses this week. Sixteen ladies, with scratch scores of between 66 and 79, made the cut for the scratch matchplay event after yesterday's qualifying round, with last year's winner, Rachel Bell (Ganton) leading the field.

Greg Paterson (Drumoig), a member of St Andrews Links Junior Golf Association, leads a field of 32 going into todays boys' event, after scoring an impressive 3-under-par 67 in yesterday's qualifying round on the Eden.

30/07/03
Junior tournaments hit the Old Course - Play moves to the Old Course today for the quarter finals of the St Andrews Boys' and Junior Ladies' Open competitions. For today's order of play in both the scratch and handicap sections click here.

31/07/03
Last day of Junior Open competitions - the semi-final matches in the St Andrews Boys' and Junior Ladies' Opens are being played on the Old Course this morning. The finalists in both the scratch and handicap events will head out again this afternoon. For today's order of play click here.

31/07/03
Bell reaches Junior Ladies' final - Rachel Bell (Ganton), winner of the 2002 St Andrews Junior Ladies' Open, is playing to retain her title on the Old Course this afternoon. Sophie Walker (Kenwick Park) will be doing her best to claim this year's title, having triumphed over Faye Sanderson (Heworth) 4 and 3 in the semi-final.

Richard Gurney (Kings Norton) and Rob Gardiner (Piltdown) are competing for the St Andrews Boys' Open title, also on the Old Course. For full results click here.

1/08/03
Congratulations to Richard Gurney and Rachel Bell, winners of the junior tournaments - click here for full details.

5/08/03
The Eden and Strathtyrum Tournaments are under way this week with the finals on Friday. Well done to Chris Green from Shotts for a hole in one on the 5th of the New Course in the first round.

6/08/03
Despite a foggy delayed start on Tuesday and today (Wednesday), the tournaments are progressing. Local SALJGA member, 17-year-old Greg Paterson is three shots behind the leaders on 145. For yesterday's qualifying scores, please click here.

7/08/03
Quarter final stage in the Eden and Strathtyrum Tournaments - The Eden and Stathtyrum tournaments reach the quarter final stages this afternoon. To view the order of play for the Eden scratch and handicap events click here, and for the Strathtyrum events click here.

8/08/03
Marshall stops Brabender from retaining ladies' title - Karen Marshall (Baberton GC) took current title holder, Lynda Brabender (Greenock GC), out of the running in this year's Stathtyrum Tournament, beating her 4 and 3 in yesterday's quarter final round. Marshall now plays Jenny Tootell (Blackpool North Shore) for a chance to play in the final this afternoon. For details of this morning's semi-final matches click here.

For details of the semi-final matches in the Eden Tournament click here.

8/08/03
St Andrews' players in Eden and Strathtyrum finals - Kenneth Stirling, currently club champion at the St Andrews Golf Club, is playing James Corfield (Bearwood Lakes) in the final of the Eden Trophy this afternoon. Stirling finished 1up against Keith Leahy (Millride) in their semi final match, and Corfield beat James Sharpe (Woolaton Park GC) 4 and 3 to earn his place in the final. For the latest table of results click here.

Fiona De Vries, a member of the St Rule Club and a Trustee with St Andrews Links Trust, beat Laura Archer (Market Drayton) 3 and 1 to reach the final of the Strathtyrum trophy. She plays Karen Marshall (Baberton GC) at 1.30pm today. For results of the ladies' event click here.

8/08/03
Eden and Strathtyrum winners 2003 - The winner of the Eden Tournament 2003 is James Corfield (Bearwood Lakes), who defeated Kenny Stirling (St Andrews) 2 and 1.

The winner of the Strathtyrum Tournament is Karen Marshall, who defeated Fiona de Vries (St Rule), 4 and 3.

For full details from both events, click here.

12/08/03
2003 British Mid-Amateur on the Links - 2003 marks the 9th year of the British Mid-Amateur Championship and for the first time the event has come to St Andrews Links. A field of nearly 200 entries from the UK and Ireland, Canada, Australia, France, Italy, the Dominican Republic and 78 from the USA. For full details of the event, click here.
15/08/03
First round of Mid-Amateur under way - The qualifying rounds are over and today the first round of the 2003 British Mid-Amateur Championship gets under way.

Neil Steven, Brian Heggie, Gary Sharp and Kevin Hastie, all members of the St Andrews Golf Club, made the cut for the matchplay event after their qualifying rounds on the Eden and Jubilee Courses. Hastie carded a combined score of 145, just one shot behind Bryan Norton (USA) who led the field with 144.

Heggie will have his work cut out for him this morning as he tees up against last year's winner, John Kemp (John O'Gaunt).

To view today's order of play in full, click here.

15/08/03
Kemp beats St Andrews hopeful on the 18th - Brian Heggie (St Andrews GC) gave reigning champion, John Kemp (John O'Gaunt) a run for his money in the first round of the 2003 British Mid-Amateur, but was beaten at the 18th hole after a very close match.

The only St Andrews player to make it to the second round was Gary Sharp who won at the 19th hole against Michael McCormick of West Middlesex.

Still in the running is another past champion, Stephen East (Moortown), who won the 2001 event at Seaton Carew.

For up to date scores click here.

18/08/03
Kemp retains his title - John Kemp (John O'Gaunt GC) retained his title as the British Mid-Amateur Champion on Sunday 17 August, beating Roger Roper (Catterick) 4 and 3 on the Jubilee Course.

It's the third time the Englishman has lifted the trophy, having won the event at Walton Heath in 1999 and then last year at Formby. He was also runner-up in 2000 when the Championship visited Royal Troon.

The only St Andrews player to make it past the first round was Gary Sharp (St Andrews GC), who was eventually knocked out at the quarter final stage by another past champion, Stephen East (Moortown), who won the 2001 event at Seaton Carew.

20/08/03
Filming on the Old Course - On Sunday 24 and Sunday 31 August, the 1st and 18th holes of the Old Course will be the location for a major film production. For full details click here.

25/08/03
MSP visits the Links - Frank McAveety, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport, visited the Home of Golf as part of a whistlestop tour on Friday.

After a short tour of the Links Clubhouse, the minister, a non-golfer, was offered some free tuition from Rachel Myles, a member of the St Andrews Links Junior Golf Association (SALJGA). It seemed to do the trick as he proceeded to hit his first shot over 150 yards off the tee.

Rachel coaching Mr McAveety

26/08/03
Behind the scenes on the Bobby Jones film set - to see a selection of photos from the first day of filming click here.

29/08/03
Green fees set for 2004 - click here.

3/09/03
Wee Wonders come to St Andrews - click here

5/09/03
Learn all about the art of caddying this winter in St Andrews. Week-long Caddie Connect Courses are being held on the Links this winter and the first course date is 24-28 November. For more details click here or email j.finlay@ standrews.org.uk

10/09/03
Record numbers of volunteers for the Dunhill Links Championship click here for details

12/09/03
News from Dunhill - click here

14/09/03
Monty and Lawrie join line up for the Dunhill - more here

22/09/03
Order of Merit Winners 2003 - After a second successful season St Andrews Links Junior Golf Association held its final competition at St Andrews Bay on Sunday 14 September. For more details click here.

23/09/03
Dunhill amateur line-up include sporting stars and more - click here for details

24/09/03
Junior golfer plays in Dunhill - Daniel Sommerville, winner of the St Andrews Links Junior Golf Association's Order of Merit 2003, will be playing amongst an international field of professional golfers and celebrities in the Dunhill Links Championship this week. The 16-year-old plays off a handicap of 6 and will be partnering tour professional, Kevin Na, at Kingsbarns tomorrow, Carnoustie on Friday and on the Old Course on Saturday.

Daniel may well be inspired by his playing partner. Na, who turned 20 this month, started playing golf at nine when his family moved to the US from Korea. He went on to become the top-ranked junior in America, winning more than 100 titles before turning pro at 17. In 2002 he became the youngest winner on the Asian PGA Tour, at just 19.

24/09/03
Dunhill Draw - click here.

25/09/03
Become a Friend of St Andrews Links - find out more here.

26/09/03
For the latest Dunhill scores, click here.

29/09/03
Dunhill results and a new course record - click here.

03/10/03
Open Championship 2005 golfing accessories are now on sale on-line - click here to visit the shop.

06/10/03
Old Course voted Scotland's best - The Old Course was voted the best course in Scotland in a recent readers' survey carried out by American magazine,Travel & Leisure Golf. The New Course was voted ninth best and second most underrated course. For full story, click here.

10/10/03
An Ode to St Andrews - Yesterday was National Poetry Day and, to mark the occassion, here is a poem which appeared on the Letters to the Editor section of the website Worldgolf.com.

Ode to St. Andrews

Oh, can you imagine
before they place me down?

The course I'd like to tee it up...
to play just one more round.

The verdant greens at Pebble Beach?

Is the privacy of Augusta beyond my reach?

I say to you Oh linkster fine

To tour Old St.Andrews 'twould be sublime.

The Royal & Ancient
is the one for me
to set my ball on the golden tee.

After 18 greens of earthly heaven,
I'll collect my bet and call it even

and head over to the 19th hole
and lay to rest my immortal soul

thanking all the gods of golf above
for this great game that I truly love.

- Jim Yach, Golf Coach, Ft. Lauderdale High School

16/10/03
Book online for 2004 - Tee-times on the Jubilee, Eden and Strathtyrum Courses up until the end of March 2004 are now available to book online through Linksnet, St Andrews Links' online reservations system. To view available times or to make a booking click here.

20/10/03
Tidy up for wildlife - to encourage young golfers to appreciate the environment in which they play there will be a litter pick on the Links on Thursday 23 October.

22/10/03
Litter pick postponed - the sudden arrival of some wet weather on the Links means that the litter pick which had been arranged for tomorrow has been postponed.

22/10/03
Tell it your way - Have you had a memorable round on one of the courses at St Andrews Links? Click here to read about other golfers' experiences at the Home of Golf or to submit a review of your own.

29/10/03
Golfers' Survey 2003 - A short survey was sent to every golfer who booked in advance through St Andrews Links Trust to play on one or more of the Links courses during 2003 - for more details and to view the survey results click here.

29/10/03
Late availability on the Old Course - times have become available on the Old Course on Monday 29th March 2004. For more information click here.

30/10/03
Environmental accolade for the Links - St Andrews Links has won the Scottish final of the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) annual environmental competition for the first time.

The award is in recognition of the good environmental management practices now in place on the Links. It specifically includes areas such as turf maintenance, use of herbicides and pesticides, waste disposal and wildlife friendly practices.

Earlier this year the Trust showed its committment to upholding environmentally-friendly practices across the Links by producing an Environmental Statement. To view the full statement click here.

6/11/03
Pace of Play workshop - Slow play on the golf course is recognised as an issue facing golf course managers worldwide. A unique three day workshop has been developed at St Andrews Links to look at practical ways of improving the pace of play on the golf course. For more details click here.

11/11/03
On line booking - times on the Jubilee, Eden and Strathtyrum are now available until October 2004. Go to www.linksnet.co.uk.

18/11/03
Links Yearly Ticket Prices 2004 - Following its annual review of yearly tickets, the Links Management Committee has agreed new prices to come into effect on 1 April 2004. For full details click here.

St Andrews Links Trust has concluded the purchase agreement for land for its seventh golf course - for more details click here .

21/11/03
Spirit of the game - The Rules of Golf are reviewed every four years by golf's governing bodies, The Royal and Ancient Golf Club and The United States Golf Association. The latest edition comes into effect on 1 January 2004 and copies will be given to golfers on the Links by the starter. For more details click here.

27/11/03
Caddies on course - the first Caddie Connect training course of the winter is currently under way at the Links. Nine students have been taking part in this unique programme, working towards the first accredited qualification in caddying, the St Andrews Standard.

The Caddie Connect students with
course tutor, Rick Mackenzie (front centre)

Places are still available for a second intake in February - for more details click here.

2/12/03
Shop online for Christmas - Christmas is fast approaching, so if you are looking for the perfect present, look no further. Visit our online golf shop and find a host of ideas, from 2005 Open Championship merchandise to a St Andrews Links Christmas gift box - for all this and more click here.

8/12/03
Winter on the Links - the six links courses at the Home of Golf are covered in a blanket of frost this morning, following a night of sub-zero temperatures. Not ideal golfing conditions, but picturesque all the same.

11/12/03
Winter work on the Old - the relatively dry weather has allowed the greenkeepers at St Andrews to make good progress on the programme of winter work.

Work on the Old Course includes preparation for the 2005 Open Championship. Several bunkers on the course are being rebuilt, including well known signature bunkers, Hell, Shell and Cottage. Progress is also being made on new championship tees at the 2nd, 9th, 12th, 13th and 14th holes.

Greenkeepers working on the new championship tee at the 14th hole of the Old Course

Using Linksnet you can reserve and guarantee starting times
on three St Andrews Links courses,
the Jubilee, the Eden and the Strathtyrum.

Click here for Linksnet, the
St Andrews Links Trust online reservations service

www.linksnet.co.uk