Golf:
There can be few golfers who don't dream of playing St. Andrews, 'The Home of
Golf'. The Hotel is situated alongside the 17th Road Hole, where dramatic scenes
down the years have sealed the destiny of so many Open Championships. A number
of Golf Breaks have been designed that can include use of the Hotel's Leisure
facilities, Luxury accommodation and tuition with plenty of practice on the St
Andrews links courses and the Duke's. The Old Course Hotel Golf Resort &
Spa offers an extensive range of golf services to ensure that all golfing
needs are met.
GOLF IN ST ANDREWS
St Andrews is renowned and accepted worldwide as the Home of Golf
1457: golf first played c. 1400, was banned by James II because he believed
it to be responsible for his men avoiding archery practice.
1552: Golf's first official records confirm the rights of citizens to play
golf and football, dry their fishing nets and bleach their linen on the links
land.
1754: 22 noblemen and gentlemen set up The Society of St Andrews Golfers, to
organise an annual competition. In 1834, William IV became patron and it was
renamed the Royal & Ancient Golf Club, which is today the governing body of
International Golf.
1913: the first green fees to play The Old Course were introduced.
THE DUKE'S COURSE
The Duke's Course is the first and only parkland Golf Course in St Andrews,
Scotland. Owned and managed by the Old Course Hotel Golf Resort & Spa,
opened in July 1995.
Affectionately known by club members and locals as The Duke's, not least
because the inaugural tee shot was played by HRH The Duke of York, it measures
7,271 yards when playing from the professional tees and offers a versatile and
challenging par 72, 18 holes of championship play. It is situated two miles
inland in the 330 luxuriant acres of Craigtoun Park, offering glorious panoramic
views of the town and Bay of St Andrews, the vast sandy beaches of the
coastline, the Firth of Tay and the beautiful Scottish Highlands in the
distance.
The key reason for constructing The Duke's was, despite the Old Course
Hotel's unrivalled position alongside the infamous 17th Road Hole of the Old
Course, the hotel has no privileged rights of access to the Old Course for which
St Andrews is so famous. As a five-star golf resort hotel, it is essential to be
able to offer guests guaranteed tee times on a superb championship course, and
the only way to do that was to create its own. Having decided this, the Duke's
Course was carefully planned and designed to complement the five classic
links-land courses along the coastline and to enhance St Andrews' standing as
the world Mecca for golfers.
Designed by Peter Thomson, five time Open Champion of the 50s and 60s and one
of the most highly respected course designers worldwide, the Duke's Course has
more than benefited from Peter's sympathetic approach to the majesty of the
Scottish countryside. His philosophy, firmly rooted in the tradition of British
golf and especially Scottish golf, dictates that the game should be played on
the ground and not in the air. He says: 'the real challenge should be getting to
the green, not just landing on it. Once there, putting should be fun.' Great
importance was placed on making the course sufficiently challenging and spacious
to accommodate International Championships, yet capable of offering an enjoyable
game for golfers of all levels. Each hole is designed to remain hidden from its
neighbour and many of the pot bunkers are hidden from the distant eye, thus
preserving the natural look of the land.
Ever respectful of local tradition, the golf architect also had to factor the
resident ghost into his plans. Legend has it that on May 3, 1697 Archbishop
James Sharp was travelling with his daughter along the old road to St Andrews.
Five assassins were laying in wait for another man, but settled for the
Archbishop, who was widely held to have betrayed the Scots and their Laird. At
Magus Muir, no more than two clean strikes from the Duke's Course Clubhouse,
they slashed his face, cut off his hands, shot him and rode his own carriage
over his head, all in front of his daughter. Small wonder that when the phantom
carriage of Archbishop James Sharp thunders past the clubhouse before plunging
into St Andrews bay, his daughter's screams may be heard from the fairway.
The Duke's Course Clubhouse, a mere five par from the scene of Magus Muir,
opened in July 1996 and is situated in a secluded copse immediately above the
Ice House 9th and Craigtoun 18th greens. The careful positioning offers
spectacular views of St Andrews and the crucial closing holes of play. Built in
a traditional style sympathetic to its parkland environment, the facilities
include luxurious changing rooms, a relaxing bar comfortable dining areas and a
well-stocked Pro Shop where state-of-the-art golf carts and a good selection of
clothing and equipment are available.
For a course that is only eight years old it has gathered many accolades. In
1998, the Duke's hosted the Scottish PGA Match Play Championship; in 1999, the
Inter-Maritime Pro Am and in 2000, the PGA Glenmuir Club Professional
Championship. It has been consistently voted in the top 10 inland UK courses by
leading golf publications across Europe and this summer hosted the prestigious
Scottish Amateur Championship.
The final phase to complete the five-star golf facilities of the Old
Course Hotel is the restoration of the former Mount Meville House; a
beautiful Grade Β listed Victorian mansion dominating the centre of the
Duke's Course. Plans are underway to restore the mansion to its former glory and
contained within will be a Leisure and Health Club, exquisite Apartment and
Suite accommodation to provide an exclusive haven in answer to the increasing
demand for quality facilities of this nature in St Andrews.
Andrew Coltart: Duke's Course Touring Professional
Andrew Coltart has been the touring professional for the Duke's Golf Club, St
Andrews, since October 1996. One of Europe's most consistently successful
performers, he has led the Scottish challenge with Colin Montgomerie in recent
years. Andrew announced himself on the international stage by winning the
Australian PGA as a 22 year-old in 1994. Four years later, he repeated the
victory and finished the year top of the Australasian Order of Merit. In 1999,
he won selection for the European Ryder Cup team at Brookline. In May 2001,
Andrew won the Great North Open at Slaley Hall.
Andrew Coltart is a regular visitor to the Duke's, St Andrews' first parkland
course. He makes a point of attending the Club's Annual Awards Dinner to present
the Coltart Cup, created in his honour. Andrew hosts a number of Clinics and
corporate days during the year and enjoys the opportunity to mix informally with
Club members, both on and off the course. He has also been pleased to get to
know five times Open Champion and Duke's Course architect, Peter Thomson, whose
experience, knowledge and passion for the Scottish game have served as an
inspiration to Coltart as his own career has progressed.
The Duke's and Andrew Coltart have matured in tandem. In a short space of
time they both achieved international recognition and championship status: The
Duke's hosting the Scottish Matchplay Championship in 1996, Andrew winning the
Qatar Masters, his first European Tour title, two years later. In the last year
of the outgoing Millennium, the Duke's was named in Britain's top ten new golf
course developments; Andrew Coltart was ranked in the top ten of the European
Tour's Order of Merit.
In August 2003, Andrew enjoyed an excellent run of form, achieving four top
five finishes in five weeks and picking up valuable Ryder Cup points.
Sir Michael & Lady Bonallack - Captains of the Duke's Golf Club
In December 2001, Sir Michael & Lady Bonallack were named Captain and
Lady Captain of the Duke's Golf Club of St. Andrews in December 2001 and have
now entered the second year of their captaincy. Jonathan Thornton, President of
the Duke's Golf Club, comments: "This is an unprecedented combination of
captaincies. Sir Michael is the finest European amateur golfer the
game has ever known and few players or administrators are so highly
regarded around the world by amateurs and professionals alike. Such a remarkable
record of achievements has been unique, complemented by Lady Bonallacks
prestigious success."
Sir Michael said: 'St Andrews is the Home of Golf and has not only been the
guardian of tradition but has also been at the forefront of innovation in the
game over generations. As Chairman of the Duke's Advisory Board I have been
involved with Peter Thomson's wonderful design since its inception and its
inauguration by the Duke of York in 1995. To be husband and wife Captains of a
mixed membership, in the European style of modern golf, is a new challenge for
us and one we are enjoying tremendously.'
Sir Michael & Lady Bonallack succeed John Glover MBE, former Secretary of
the Rules Committee of the R & A, and his wife Maureen, who wished the
incoming Captains every success.
Sir Michael dominated amateur golf in Britain in the 1960s and early 1970s.
He won five Amateur Championships between 1961 and 1970, won the English Amateur
five times and was leading amateur in the 1968 and 1971 Open Championships. A
member of nine consecutive Walker Cup teams, from 1957 - 1973, he was Captain
twice and describes his contribution to victory at St Andrews in 1971 as the
crowning achievement of his career. "I was Playing Captain when we won over
the Old Course, and it does not get, cannot get, any better than that," he
says.
After retiring from competitive play, he rose through the ranks of golf
administration to become Secretary of the R & A in 1983. On retiring from this
post in 2000, he was named Captain of the R & A, the highest honorary position
in the game. In recognition of his role as one of golf's greatest ambassadors,
Sir Michael has been elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame for his Lifetime
Achievement in Golf.
Sir Michael remains active in retirement and with his unique knowledge and
understanding of the world of golf and his enthusiasm for its development, he
continues to contribute at all levels of the sport and takes a special interest
in the junior game.
He also has strong views about how the 'honest game' should be played at club
level. These days too few four balls let two balls through,' he says. Too many
golfers do not repair divot or plug marks and fail to rake bunkers. In Europe,
golfers have to pass a test on rules and etiquette before they get a handicap.
Perhaps we should do the same. To keep the game honest it is important to
maintain behavioural standards and ensure that amateur golf is not destroyed by
over-commercialism.'
Lady Bonallack's achievements are scarcely less impressive than those of her
husband. As Angela Ward she was a member of the victorious Curtis Cup team of
1956. As Angela Bonallack she defended the Cup two years later in America and
played in four further Curtis Cup teams. She was twice English Ladies Champion,
three times runner-up and twice a loosing finalist in the British Ladies
Championship, she also enjoyed great success abroad, winning national titles in
Sweden, Germany and Portugal.
The Duke's is owned and managed by the Old Course Hotel Golf Resort & Spa
and is gathering its own accolades. In 1998 the Duke's hosted the Scottish PGA
Match Play Championship; in 1999 the Inter-Maritime Pro Am and in 2000 the
P.G.A. Glenmuir Club Professional Championship. It has been consistently voted
in the top 10 inland UK courses by leading golf publications across Europe. This
month, the Duke's is hosting the Scottish Amateur Championship. Secretary and
operations manager, Stephen Toon said: The last time the Scottish Amateur
Championship was held in St Andrews was in 1976. It is the most prestigious
tournament on the Scottish golfing calendar and we are thrilled to see it return
to the Home of Golf and played on the Duke's Course'.
Gallery:
Art on The Links is a highly unusual Gallery, set in the stunning and
contemporary setting of the Old Course Hotel Golf Resort & Spa beside
the most famous hole in the world of golf. Ideal also for video art and
sculpture, the Gallery offers a continually changing series of paintings and
photographic exhibitions from artists, galleries and private collections from a
wide range of sources.
Spa:
Welcome to the Spa at the Old Course Hotel, an invigorating,
refreshing and revitalising haven. If you have an hour to spare, a day to
yourself or you are seeking a week of perfect relaxation, the Spa is a place to
make your own. The Hotel's new Suite of Treatment Rooms has now opened on the
first floor of the Hotel, directly above the current Spa. The majority of these
new rooms overlook the famous Old Course and are all bathed in natural daylight
pouring in from the floor to ceiling windows. Large Lap Pool and Whirlpool under
a glazed roof and surrounded by sun loungers, Sauna, Steam Room, Cardio-vascular
Training and Fitness Rooms with state-of-the-art equipment. Eight large Therapy
Suites with private Showers, Changing and Relaxation areas, dedicated Treatments
from Thalgo, Pevonia, Botanica and Clarins. Individually tailored programmes for
Fitness and Beauty available:
- Scotland's First Vichy Shower
- Spa Days
- Spa Escapes
- Women's Treatments
- Men's Treatment Spa Memberships