The Swilcan Burn


The infamous Swilcan Burn directly in front of the first green on the first hole of the Old Course, St. Andrews, has been causing much upset for over four hundred years with many a poor golfer coming to grief within it's shallow watery depth, though a few have benefitted.

 
One such golfer was Mr. L.M. Balfour who in winning the 1895 Amateur Championship saw his last three matches going to the 19th hole (the 1st). As they played down the 19th Mr Balfour watched in amazement as each of his opponents, Mr W. Grey, Mr. L. Auchterlonie and Mr J. Ball (the eventual runner-up) put their respective approach shots into the Swilcan Burn, and each in turn then had to retreive their golf ball and count a penalty shot, which subsequently lost them the hole and the match.

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