St. Andrews Caddie Pavilion
There had been talk for a number of years about the suitability of the Old Course Caddie Pavilion and the number of caddies that use it day in, day out, whether it really was 'fit for purpose' now that we are into the second decade of the 21st Century.
There will be 140-160 registered caddies working the St. Andrews golf courses during the height of the season and this wee building has had its' day. It was demolished at the end of the 'official' 2013 golf season, in November, and a temporary pavilion has been installed 100 yards down the right side of the 1st fairway.
A little bit of the romance may have disappeared, but it is temporary.
I have known this old building since the spring of 2002 when I first came, anxiously, strolling past the R&A Clubhouse and 1st tee of the Old Course to be accepted, hopefully, into the ranks of St Andrews' caddies.
With a score or more guys hanging around the outside of the pavilion, and another 20 or so inside I remember thinking it was not altogether very welcoming. It would take a good part of the 2002 summer and staying to caddy through the winter, emerging a different guy, less judgemental about golf, into a St. Andrews Spring that I began to feel a small part of this unique place.
That was the first and last winter I worked as a caddy on the links of St. Andrews but I believe it helped secure my position amongst the 'old school' and convince them I was not just there to fulfill some mid-age crisis.
The years rolled by. I continued to return to the links of St. Andrews, caddy and be around the now familiar, comforting presence of the Caddie Pavilion. I found that I loved it.
Once it gets inside you it is really difficult to draw yourself away from the smells of 60+ caddies, skin-wet from a morning drenching on the links, drinking really bad coffee, and joyously anticipating a second round over the Old Course with a visiting golfer who has dreamed, for all his golfing life, of playing this ancient links. This is when you get motivated and the good guys stand up. Now it becomes a real gig. This is when you earn your caddie fee...and gratuity!
The Caddie Pavilion is no more but it will be replaced. A new home is under construction and from what I can gather there will be some ventilation.
There will be 140-160 registered caddies working the St. Andrews golf courses during the height of the season and this wee building has had its' day. It was demolished at the end of the 'official' 2013 golf season, in November, and a temporary pavilion has been installed 100 yards down the right side of the 1st fairway.
A little bit of the romance may have disappeared, but it is temporary.
I have known this old building since the spring of 2002 when I first came, anxiously, strolling past the R&A Clubhouse and 1st tee of the Old Course to be accepted, hopefully, into the ranks of St Andrews' caddies.
That was the first and last winter I worked as a caddy on the links of St. Andrews but I believe it helped secure my position amongst the 'old school' and convince them I was not just there to fulfill some mid-age crisis.
Once it gets inside you it is really difficult to draw yourself away from the smells of 60+ caddies, skin-wet from a morning drenching on the links, drinking really bad coffee, and joyously anticipating a second round over the Old Course with a visiting golfer who has dreamed, for all his golfing life, of playing this ancient links. This is when you get motivated and the good guys stand up. Now it becomes a real gig. This is when you earn your caddie fee...and gratuity!
The Caddie Pavilion is no more but it will be replaced. A new home is under construction and from what I can gather there will be some ventilation.
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