|
HISTORY
St
Andrews Golf Club
 The
St Andrews Golf Club was formed on September 29, 1843. Its 11 founder
members were mostly tradesmen, but included a Dancing Master and
a Butler (George Morris, brother of Tom). At that time, a feather
ball cost around 2/- (10p) and a day labourer might earn 1/6. Golf
was not a poor man's game and our first members were men of some
substance.
Soon they were joined
by Allan Robertson and Tom Morris. Allan Robertson was the foremost
golfer of his day and employed Tom in the family business making
feather golf balls. In 1854 he became Captain of The St Andrews
Golf Club. Both he and Tom Morris are recorded as having organised
the members 'odds' or handicaps.
The club also had the
rare distinction of having a member, Mackenzie Turpie, who competed
in the first Golf Olympics in Paris in 1900. He was a postman in
the town and paid his own entry fee and travelling expenses 'purely
for the honour of competing.' In the first 60 years of its history,
the club played regular competitions and met thereafter in various
hotels and inns in the town for many happy evenings of 'toast, song
and sentiment'.
The foundations of the
present day club were laid when the first clubhouse was bought in
1905. This was the property in Golf Place, now occupied by Auchterlonies
golf shop. In 1933 the St Andrews Golf Club moved to its present
Clubhouse to overlook the 18th green of the Old Course. This splendid
Victorian mansion provides an ideal grandstand for members during
Opens and other major tournaments held in the town.
The St Andrews Golf Club
welcomes bona fide golfers as temporary members, providing that
they have a letter of introduction from their own bona fide club.
The charges are £5 per day or £25 per week. Temporary
membership is available from the office. The club also welcomes
visiting groups of golfers who should book in advance. Meals and
visitors' changing room are available by arrangement.
Secretary
The St Andrews Golf Club
St Andrews
Fife
KY16 9JB
Telephone +44 (0) 1334 479799
Fax +44 (0) 1334 479577
email: sec@thestandrewsgolfclub.co.uk
|
