NEWS

On-Line Sale of the St Andrews Old Course
Starter's Box

The online auction of Old Course Starter's box at St Andrews ended at midday on Monday 10 September reaching a price of £59,000. Bidders from the USA and Denmark fiercely competed right up to the last second with the US bidder putting in the final bid on the stroke of midday.

The successful bidder was John Hagen from California, acting on behalf of Country Club of the Desert, a new three course golf development in La Quinta near Palm Springs. Nancy Aaronson, speaking on behalf of the partners and members of the Country Club of the Desert, said:

"We are truly honoured that Country Club of the Desert will forever enjoy a connection to the birthplace of golf and its distinguished traditions with the Old Course Starter's Box.

"Our courses will incorporate many of the features that are traditionally found on Scottish courses and there is no question the Old Course Starter's Box is entirely fitting.

"Great golf, honouring the traditions, spirit and purpose of the game, will be the primary focus of our new community and our acquisition of the Old Course Starter's Box will always be associated with our beginning."

Originally scheduled for demolition later this year to make way for an enlarged putting green beside the old Course first tee, the Starter's Box was put on sale to raise funds for a major new junior golf initiative in the town. A new box will be constructed a few feet from the site of the existing box.

Alan McGregor, general manager of St Andrews Links Trust, said: "The sale was a huge success and has given a great boost to junior golf in the town. We are also pleased that the box is going to a good home at this prestigious new development in the USA where it will be respected."

Ends
Issued by Carolyne Nurse, Public Relations Manager, St Andrews Links Trust
Telephone 01334 466666/Email: pr@standrews.org.uk
John Hagen: 00 1 909 696 0346/Email:jphagen@attglobal.net
Nancy Aaronson: 00 1 760 391-5200/Email:nja55@aol.com

BACKGROUND:
St Andrews Links Trust is offering the Old Course Starter's Box for sale to the highest bidder in an internet auction. Money raised from the sale of the Starter's Box will go to the Junior Golf Development Programme run by the Links Trust.

Changes are taking place this winter around the first tee of the Old Course in order to extend and improve the practice putting area. As a result the existing Starter's Box is being removed and a new one built a few feet away.

The current building was erected in the 1920s. It is made of brick with a slate roof designed in a traditional style. Its approximate external dimensions are 2.9m x 2.9m (9'7" by 9'7"), and its overall height is 4.4m (14'5").

Located next to the first tee of the Old Course and just in front of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club's famous clubhouse, the Starter's Box has witnessed the world's top professionals and amateurs, ordinary golfers, top sportsmen and celebrities from every field as they have overcome their first tee nerves to obey the tannoy instruction to "Play Away Please".

Over the years visitors to the Starter's Box have included HRH Prince Andrew, President Bill Clinton, Clint Eastwood, Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta Jones, Sean Connery, Jack Nicholson, Michael Jordan, Ivan Lendl and Stefan Edberg.

Terms & Conditions

The Box will be sold complete with windows, doors, the tannoy and the Old Course Starter's Box sign with the official St Andrews Links logo. It is a condition of the sale that the sign remains attached to the building at its future home. The internal fixtures, excluding telephone and computer equipment, can be included.

The closing date for the bids is 1200 hours (British Summer Time) on Monday 10 September. The successful bidder will be informed by email immediately. Bids will be accepted by email only.

The purchaser will be responsible for the dismantling and removal of the building and associated costs by the removal deadline (date to be confirmed).

A 50% non-refundable deposit is required by Friday 21 September 2001. Failure to pay the deposit renders the bid null and void. Full payment will be required not less than seven days before the date of removal (to be confirmed).

Payment may be made by banker's draft or electronic transfer of funds.

The purchaser agrees to the Links Trust releasing his or her name, the amount paid and the location where the Box is to be re-sited. If anonymity is requested the details of the purchaser including the location for re-siting will not be released by the Trust but the amount paid will be made public knowledge. The Links Trust, however, cannot guarantee anonymity.

Should the Links Trust find the successful bid unsatisfactory in any way, it reserves the right to withdraw the Starter's Box from the sale.

These terms and conditions are subject to change from time to time without notice by updating or revising this legal notice. These disclaimers and exclusions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with Scottish Law. If any provision of these disclaimers and exclusions shall be unlawful, void or for any reason unenforceable then that provision shall be deemed severable and shall not affect the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions.

The Auction is now closed.