Caddie Golf Tours

Our friend David from Chicago brought his two sons over to Scotland to enjoy our links golf. This golf tour had been postponed twice due to the Coronavirus Pandemic and finally got the go ahead when international travel restrictions were lifted at start of September, 2021. David, Jeff and Greg on Old Course At the start of their golf tour they played some memorable golf on the Scottish West Coast at the beautiful Ailsa Course at Turnberry, Western Gailes and Royal Troon. They then transferred to St Andrews where they are members of the St Andrews Golf Club.  David, Jeff and Greg at Kingsbarns The week started with a round on the Old Course then Kingsbarns followed by legendary Crail Balcomie Links and finishing with the exacting Jubilee Course at St Andrews. It has been wonderful to meet our American golfers again and watch their obvious enjoyment playing golf in Scotland...FORE!

The Old Course green keepers started and completed renovation work on the banking and drainage behind the 18th green during November and December. The ground work that is done during the Scottish winter, from these greenkeeping tough guys, will be appreciated by local and our visiting overseas golfers when they return in numbers during the summer, and beyond.  Please contact Caddie Golf Tours to assist with your golf trip to Scotland and St Andrews...Fore!

A few images from the Old Course St Andrews when it was played in the 'reverse' route at the end of November 2019. The Old Course awoke to a frosty day and a delayed start to the 'Shotgun' start from the R&A cannon! The golfers began at 11:00 am, a few hours later than the original 08:40 start. The 1st hole on the reverse route is the 17th 'Road' hole as we know it now in the modern era. It was rather odd to see the white flag fly on the 17th green and then to move onto the 2nd hole, which is the normal 16th, and a white pin but it soon became acceptable to see the white flags and red flags fly...strangely. The above photographs show the iconic 1st green with a back nine 'red' flag signifying that it is the 17th on this reverse routing of the Old Course. The final 18th green remains the same on the Old Course reverse course but, even with a delayed start, the hard overnight frost refused to lift from this famous green and t...

The St Andrews Links Trust officially announced last week that they are to reintroduce the reverse route on the Old Course for two days, 29th and 30th November. Golfers will have the opportunity to play the Old Course in the original clockwork direction, thus the infamous 17th Road hole now becomes the 1st, and then the 16th, as we know it now, will be the 2nd and so on. A red flag on 17th green "reverse" course If I remember correctly it was last played in reverse during April 2008, over an Easter weekend. A unique Ballot was held at the end of last week and those golfers who submitted an application have been informed if they were successful. The 1st green with red flag becomes the 17th green As it is the end of the year daylight hours are in short supply and tee times will be between 08:40 and 12 noon. Only 3 hours with 21 tee times adding up to 84 golfers. On Saturday 30th November a competition will be held for local golf clubs and is therefore limited...

The 2019 Simpson Cup match was golfed on St Andrews Links, May 19-22, 2019, with the final singles round played over the Old Course St Andrews on Wednesday 22nd. I had the pleasure of caddying with David from GB&I team, a former Captain of the match, we were pitted against USA veteran Scott, giving him 5 shots on the Old Course, which he used to his advantage defeating us on the 16th green. We continued to golf the 17th and 18th enjoying the full experience on the legendary links with good company. The Simpson Cup is an annual Ryder Cup-style event between 13 UK and US injured Servicemen and Veterans. It is supported by On Course Foundation a 501(c)(3) Non-profit that supports the recovery of injured Service members and veterans via golf events and jobs in the golf industry.

Golfers, may we wish you a Happy New Year and a hearty welcome to 2019...Fore! Caddie Golf Tours at Old Course St Andrews. Winter golf at St Andrews starts in November and runs through to the end of March. The legendary Old Course, New, Jubilee, Eden courses are all available to golf during this period with a few restrictions, daylight being the main one. Old Course St Andrews 1st green. Some tee positions are moved and there are a number of bunkers being rebuilt, across all the courses, allowing the greenkeepers to work and bring them up to standard for the forthcoming golf season. The largest of the bunker projects Cockle Shell, pictured, which began in early November 2018 and will be completed by mid January. Old Course St Andrews rebuilding Shell Bunker on 7th hole. The main restriction asked of the golfer when in St Andrews is the use of an astro-turf mat for all fairway shots. The mats are used to protect the fairway from damage during this cold period. I per...

We are now at the end of October 2018 and the visiting golfers, as well as daylight, are slowly disappearing as we head into the our quieter winter season. Old Course 16th fairway. The St Andrews greenkeepers have been tasked with moving the pathway that runs alongside the right side of the Old Course from the 2nd hole, Dyke, through to the 6th hole, Heathery out, at the request of the R&A. Old Course 5th tee, right side. The R&A want the pathway moved and widened to accommodate the increasing volume of spectator and vehicle traffic that has now become apart of the modern Open Championship. Old Course 5th fairway & New Course 3rd tee. Initially this meant the removal of the golf ball grasping gorse bushes that run down the right side of the Old Course fairway and left side adjacent New Course. Old Course rain shelter at 6th tee. The old rain shelter that has sat next to the Old Course 6th tee for my 17 years here at St Andrews, and goodness knows how ...

In June this year a lovely brood of ducklings enjoyed paddling the Swilken Burn on the Old Course, St Andrews. The ducklings offered a pleasant distraction for the golfers while they played their approach shots over the infamous Swilken Burn and onto the 1st green.

The delightful Christer Andersson and his 3 golfing friends from Sweden had a wonderful 4 golfing days in St Andrews this week with the advice of Caddie Golf Tours. Andersson 4Ball at Castle Course St Andrews. The golfers purchased the St Andrews 3 day Links Ticket that can be used over 7 days, offering unlimited golf on all the St Andrews courses, except the Old Course. A great deal. Mr Andersson drives 1st tee Castle Course. The 4 golfers golfed the Eden, Jubilee, Castle and New courses at the St Andrews Links. They were not successful in obtaining an Old Course tee time during their 4 days, but look forward to playing it next year...Fore!

Our lovely Swedish golfers, Pettersson Party, arrived in early April and went on to enjoy golf in and around St Andrews. A great week of golf during a chilly early April that did not deter our hardy Swedish golfers.

The great late Seve Ballesteros would have celebrated his 61st birthday today and my wee tribute is his golf ball at the Old Course St Andrews...Fore!

My brother, David, arrived for his annual Christmas visit to our village of Kingsbarns and I thought it would be good fun to get him out golfing again, it is 14 years since he last swung a club! Realistically the Old Course is too difficult for David now so we popped down to the fun Strathtyrum Course, here at the St Andrews Links. Played 14 holes, laughed a lot, searched for golf balls in the gorse bushes, hit some great shots and sank a few good putts! A successful round of winter golf on the Strathtyrum Course St Andrews, we are now ready for a good dinner and some Christmas cheer...Fore!

When out on the Old Course St Andrews last week we witnessed alterations being made to the tee on the Par 3 8th, named 'Short'. This plays 166 yards from our St Andrews competition tee and 154 yards from the standard visitor tee. Over the last 30 years or so the 8th has been played at 175 yards during the Open Championship and it will be interesting to see the finished tee position and whether they use it during next years Old Course 2018 British Seniors event? Fore!!!

While golfing the Old Course St Andrews yesterday I landed my drive from the 18th tee onto the road that bisects the fairway at 250 yards. It is now commonly known as 'Granny Clark's Wynd' but during the 19th Century, and before, it was always called the Shore Road. The local rule on the Old Course offers no relief and the ball must be played from where it lies. So I did. Using my 9 iron I picked it clean and knocked it onto the centre of the green 120 yards up the wee hill. I produce 2 putts and par was secured...Fore! Always great fun to golf the Old Course with the occasional unexpected golf shots that present themselves...Fore!

The Old Course is a special place to golf and all golfers do have the opportunity to play this historic golf links and with some forward thinking, a wee bit of planning, it is achievable. If an advanced and guaranteed Old Course tee time is not purchased for next season, through the recognised tour operators, the golfer should not despair as The Ballot is the obvious way to receive a tee time and with a minimum of 2 and maximum of 4 golfers you apply to the St Andrews Links Trust with the names, handicaps and home club online, by phone or in person the 2 days before your day of play and before 14:00 pm. The result of the draw is known that same afternoon after 16:00 pm. Caddie Golf Tours are here to assist you and your golfers to play the Old Course and get the tour group to enjoy our exceptional links courses in and around St Andrews and throughout Scotland. Please contact us through the usual channels for honest advice about real golf in Scotland...Fore!