As part of my 50th birthday celebrations and a yearly, informal golf competition amongst friends, I visited St Andrews and played a number of courses including the Eden Golf Course adjacent to the Old Course (stayed at the Premier Inn, Largo Road, St Andrews, Fife. KY16 8NH).
We also stopped off at Penrith Gold Course and played 18 just before Storm Helene arrived. Helene travelled across the Atlantic and weakened from a tropical storm to an ex- tropical storm but could be felt on the drive back to Preston.
St Michaels Golf Club – 15/09/2018
St Michaels is an 18 hole Par 70 Parkland course within sight of the historic town of St Andrews, the home of golf. The front nine holes overlook the Eden Estuary and the spired churches of St Andrews can be seen on the horizon during play.
When the club was formed in 1903 the services of the keepers of the green at St Andrews were employed to lay out the course. Both Old Tom Morris and Hugh Hamilton had a hand in creating the course, their long term vision of a full 18 hole course was realised in 1996 when we were able to extend the course.
http://www.stmichaelsgolfclub.com
Gallowhill, Leuchars, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 0DX
The Duke’s, St Andrews – 16/09/2018
With a spectacular setting above St Andrews, the championship course at The Duke’s gives magnificent panoramic views over the surrounding countryside to the sea.
The Duke’s is highly regarded as one of the finest heathland championship courses in the British Isles and a must-play course for any golfer. Its style ranks alongside the great inland challenges, which demand accuracy and inventive play as well as power golf. And with five separate tee positions at every hole, The Duke’s has the flexibility and challenge to appeal to golfers at every level, with the venue being chosen to host the 2014 International European Amateur Championship, one of the four majors in the world of amateur golf.
https://www.oldcoursehotel.co.uk/golf/the-dukes
St Andrews, Fife, KY16 8NX, United Kingdom
The Eden Course, St Andrews – 17/09/2018 –
Winner of the ITL Non-Invitation – Ian Slack with 42 (6’s)
6250 yards, par 70. Only slightly more forgiving than its contemporaries on the seaward side of the Links, the Eden Course was built in 1914 by Harry S. Colt whose use of natural boundaries and severe bunkers provides a course full of character.
https://www.standrews.com/Play/Courses/Eden-Course
Eden Clubhouse (Eden, Strathtyrum & Balgove courses), St Andrews, KY16 9SF
Penrith Golf Course – 18/09/2018
The course was formed on 13th May, 1890 on the site of a former racecourse.
Nine holes were laid out around the oval racecourse traces of which can still be seen on the 13th, 15th, 17th and 18th fairways.
The 18 hole course was officially opened on 24th April, 1913 but in 1918 the club was suspended during the war with a large part of the course being ploughed up for food production. Reinstatement and improvement of the course started in 1922 together with the addition of a new clubhouse in 1936.
A new lounge, kitchen and men’s locker room were built in 1966 with further improvements to the clubhouse and course made in the 1970’s.
The most recent major refurbishment of the clubhouse and changing rooms was undertaken in time for the Millennium year.
https://www.penrithgolfclub.co.uk/
Penrith Golf Club, Salkeld Road, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 8SG
Putting on The Himalayas & Others
The St Andrews Ladies’ Putting Club is probably better known to visitors from around the world as The Himalayas which is an apt description for this unique facility found in St Andrews, the home of golf.
A private club founded in 1867, the St Andrews Ladies’ Putting Club course is open to the public daily from April to September (and in March and October, weather permitting) with a few closed periods when it is reserved for members’ use.
http://www.standrewsputtingclub.com/
Other Contributions
Mark Whitfield 