Of course I’m extremely lucky to live in St Andrews and pay only 240 quid a year for my Residents’ Links Ticket which entitles me to play on all 7 courses, including the Old.
In addition, I’m a member of the St Andrews and St Andrews Thistle Clubs which costs in total 200 a year. With that I get a huge amount of competitive golf and the use of the clubhouse facilities. Not a shabby deal alround? They sell a mean pint of Guinness and Penman steak pies, have decent snooker tables, Sky TV, a patio and balcony on the 18th and a pile load of history to boot.
No wonder St Andrews is such a mecca for golf and the house prices are still rocketing. And it will carry on I expect. You can’t replicate this stuff. Made of girders and all that.
They’re doing a massive facelift on the old Rusacks Hotel which has been bought over by an American outfit, Graduate Hotels. And wow what a change. The front facing bedrooms have balconies which sit on the eighteenth fairway of the Old and they have built a rather expansive rooftop balcony which looks like a bar and a rum place to sit and watch the golf of an afternoon. The only thing is though, that I’d be watching closely if the kilted caddie steps on the eighteenth tee. Accuracy is not in my game I’m afraid.
And I see they’re also hard at work at the Old Course Hotel as I expect they’re nervous at being usurped by the Graduate Hotels crowd. That must be a worry, as I know where I’d rather be hanging out and it’s not overlooking the 17th of the Old. These blokes at AJ Partners in Chicago, who own the Graduate group are developing a pretty niche and attractive brand. Watch out Herbie! Loos are one thing but views another.
So it’s all happening here in St Andrews and my handicap is even coming down too. In fact everything is starting to go a bit swimmingly. Even the nags are coming in.
But dare I tempt fate any further?
Ok then. 1.05 Sedgefield, Spin the Coin.
An awesome name at least.