Caddie Golf Tours

A wonderful distraction from all the lurid shite that has been getting dredge up about Tigger and his liasons with an awful lot of 'cock'tail girls, the BBC and British public have bestowed their Lifetime Achievement Award on the golfing genius Severiano Ballesteros . The trophy was presented, this evening, by his fellow countryman and Major winner Jose Maria Olazabal live on British TV from Seve's home in Spain. Jose got a wee bit emotional but did manage to hold it together to present the award to Seve without dropping it! I really hope that Seve will be fit enough to come to St. Andrews in July 2010. It will be f!?%$?*g amazing to see the iconic golfer back on the Old Course...if only for the Past Champions match which will be played over the 1st, 2nd. 17th & 18th of the Old course on the eve of the tournament.

The construction work for the repositioned tee on the 17th Road hole at the Old Course, St. Andrews, has been completed. The new tee, pictured below, is on the same line increasing the length of the hole by 35 yards, from 455 - 490 yards. The original championship tee that we shared with the professionals for our medal play is pictured below. This will obviously remain and I suppose if conditions got too extreme , God forbid the thought , the R&A would have the option of bringing the play forward. You've got to be looking forward to seeing some drives struck from the new tee, now that it has once again become an intimidating drive, on the world of golf's most famous par 4.

The R&A have made a small amendment to qualification for previous winners of the Open that allows Tom Watson, last years runner up at Turnbery, and Greg Norman tied for third place at Birkdale in 2008 a route into the Championship if they have gained a top ten position within the last 5 years. Here is the press release from the Open Championship official web site: http://www.opengolf.com 16 November 2009 10:48 GMT The R&A has announced changes to the entry criteria ahead of The Open Championship’s 150th Anniversary, to be played at St Andrews from 11 — 18 July 2010. A new exemption category has been introduced for the 2010 Open. Condition F(4) exempts from qualifying any past Open Champions who finished in the top 10 and ties in any of the previous five Open Championships, thus effectively providing them with a five year exemption into the Championship. “We have introduced this exemption as a direct response to seeing two of our great Open Champions, both in their fifties, chal...

I stumbled across the following notification from the R&A web site informing the golfing world that the legendary Seve has accepted an invitation to become an Honorary Member of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews. This is an offer that simply recognises Seve's wonderful contribution to golf and should give him a wee boost in his continuing recovery from the life saving brain surgery, to remove a tumour, he underwent earlier this year. This is great to see and we would dearly love to have him back at St. Andrews in 2010. Ballesteros accepts Honorary Membership Department: Club Date: 11 Nov 2009 Severiano Ballesteros has accepted an invitation to become an Honorary Member of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. Severiano Ballesteros first caught the attention of the golfing public when, as a 19-year-old, he finished in a tie for second place with Jack Nicklaus at the 1976 Open Championship, held at Royal Birkdale. He then went on to win five Major Championsh...

Monday 2nd November 2009 and there is no journey to my second home, the Caddie Pavilion, at the Old Course St. Andrews. My golf season at St. Andrews came to a close with two rounds last week over the Old and New courses, both par rounds from the golfer. A rather pleasant surprise considering the awful conditions for the round over the Old Course: consistant rain and wind for the whole round. James, an English club-pro based outside Munich, Germany, and had travelled with seven members from the Golf Club Gauboden for a weeks golf in and around St. Andrews. They had such a good week that he has already booked up for October in 2011. The caddying may have ended but the golf should continue over the forthcoming winter, when the weather permits! We do have a lovely invitation to Gleneagles Hotel lined up this coming Sunday from LB's cousin and hopefully we will get a game round the superb Kings Course which was designed by five time Open champion James Braid. On Wednesday 11th November...

You have to be impressed with the local Glasgow boy Martin Laird and his victory last weekend at the PGA 'Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open', clinching victory over George McNeill with a birdie on the third play-off hole. Martin becomes the first Scottish golfer to win on the PGA Tour since 1988 when the legendary Sandy Lyle won three times: Greater Greensboro' Open, Phoenix Open and then the Masters. In fact Martin is the first Scot to play on the PGA Tour since Lyle and only retained his card for the 2009 season by holing his final putt, in his last tournament, to finish on the mark at 125th on the money list. Looks like the boy enjoys the end of the season battle as he had a runners up spot in last months 'Legends Reno-Tahoe Open'. The press here in Scotland have rightly accorded him some good publicity from his win and he has now become the topped ranked Scot in the world rankings at 106. Nearest to him is European Tour player David Drysdale...

I thought you, my dear reader, may like to view some photographs that I managed to snap on a few holes of the Castle Course at St. Andrews which was opened in 2008. As you will see it was an incredibly windy day with up to +50mph winds with gusts of 60mph! It is a wonder the flags stayed in the holes. The 9th green appears to be suspended over St. Andrews Bay. The intimidating Par3 17th tee. There is a bail out towards the left bunker. The Par3 17th green and the ravine you have taken on! LB making sure the 17th flag remains in the cup. The approach to the Par5 18th green of the Castle Course.

There has been some conjecture over the last couple of months about the positioning of the 17th tee on the Old Course at St. Andrews and in an official announcement today the rumours can now be confirmed...it is to be moved! Below is the news release from the R&A informing the golfing world of the change. NEWS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE R&A 16 October 2009, St Andrews, Scotland: The 17th hole of the Old Course will be lengthened ahead of the 150th Anniversary of The Open Championship at St Andrews. The ‘Road Hole’, which has remained the same length for more than 100 years, will increase in length by some 35 yards to 490 yards. A new Championship tee will be constructed on the practice range of St Andrews Links Trust. It has long been suggested that the 17th hole would benefit from additional length to restore the original challenge of the hole. In advance of the 1964 St Andrews Open, three-time Open Champion, Henry Cotton, recommended the alteration stating: “I would make a tee jus...

A close friend of my wife and I had asked if I would be able to get her Step Father, Simon, onto the Old Course for a round of golf. An ambition that had been long held. Always one for a challenge I confidently said that I could and we set about organising a date for the game, a hotel and booking a local restaurant for our evening meal. I entered our names into the 'Ballot' for a tee time on Friday 9th October...we failed to secure one! I subsequently found out that the Ballot had been over subscribed by 59 other groups trying for a tee time. This meant that with Simon arriving on Thursday evening I would have to queue at the Starter's Hut first thing on Friday morning and hope that the Starter could join us up with a two ball. When I arrived, at 6.05am, there were 11 golfers already in a queue! Good grief some had been at the hut since 3.45am...that is dedication for you. The Old Course Starter did get us both out and onto the famous links at 10.20am whereupon we had a g...

The Alfred Dunhill Links Trophy has been won by the 31 year old Englishman Simon Dyson, who had a blistering start to his final round over the Old Course at St. Andrews, with six birdies in his first seven holes. After a few birdies in those initial holes on the Old Course you would normally be feeling pretty good about how the round was progressing, so goodness knows how Mr Dyson must have been feeling as he watched all those putts drop into the hole. Go on and win the tourny my son...Your time has come. My amateur golfer from San Francisco, Doug, had his best Dunhill for quite a while only missing the 'Team Event' on the final day by one shot. We managed to score -20 for the tournament but the cut for the final day was set at -21. Doug picked up 8 shots at Kingsbarns after starting out at -12. A wonderful effort. Below I have copied/pasted a full run down of the final days events as reported via the great Scottish golf web site 'Golf Scotland'. Scotland's Richie...

What a really good golf course Carnoustie is. Tough but fair and in todays conditions, a wee breeze, Autumnal cold with a watery sun it was perhaps as benign as it can get. Our Pro golfer, Richard Finch, shot a -1 under par score that should have been better but for two bogeys at 16 & 17. Our team score finished up at -5. Not bad, though we will have to score at least that again over the next two days to have an outside chance of qualifying as one of the twenty amateurs allowed to play on Sunday. Thomas Bjorn leads the competition after a blistering 64 at Kingsbarns Links. We are lined up at the Old Course tomorrow morning with a forecast of 'light rain' all day though thankfully the wind is to be light as well! The weather on Sunday is also 'light rain' but with winds of 20-25 mph! Thank goodness we have played and posted our score from Carnoustie!

The first day of the Alfred Dunhill Trophy begins tomorrow Thursday, 1st October, at the Old Course St. Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns Links. The Professionals and Amateur golfers have three rounds to make the cut, with play being spread upon all the courses. The final round on Sunday is held over the Old Course. Last years winner Robert Karlsson has returned to defend his title after an eye injury that has kept him out of a big chunk of the European season. Among the favourites are going to be twice winner in 2002 & 2006, Padraig Harrington, 2003 Champion Lee Westwood and the young Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy. I'll be at Carnoustie tomorrow, tee time 09.22am, with my American amateur Doug, from San Francisco's Olympic Golf Club, who I have worked with for the previous three years. Our professional this year is a tall, blond headed Englishman called Richard Finch who won twice during 2008, but is not firing on all cylinders this year. Currently sitting at 104 on the ...

A wonderful days golf was organised for the St. Andrews Links caddies at the stunningly beautiful Dukes Course situated above the 'auld grey toon' of St. Andrews w ith simply magnificent panoramic views across the historic old town, the surrounding countryside and the sea. The view from the clubhouse overlooking the 18th green with St. Andrews beyond. The Golf Manager of the championship Dukes Course, David Scott, was kind enough to arrange six tee times with our very own David Coyne, laying on bacon rolls and coffee upon arrival plus a truly memorable 'High Tea' after our round was completed. A fantastic experience that all the caddies are looking forward to repeating annually. The 'Club Sandwich' was quite probably the best that our well traveled bunch of caddies had ever eaten. This was then topped by a delightful selection of scones and cakes just to finish off what was a tremendous meal. Badgers, the 6th green at this Par 5. The golf course was originally...

The last two months of July and August have been exceptionally busy which means that I've only had fleeting visits to the Caddie Golf Tours Blog. Disappointing as I had hoped to be writing something down once a week during my golf season. It just goes to show that 7-8 rounds of caddying, Monday to Friday, at the St. Andrews Links of the Old, New and Jubilee courses takes a whole lot of time from your day. In effect I was absolutely knackered and sleep became more important than blogging! Over this month of September I hope to be able to bring you some of the people, rounds and stories that emerged over the summer along with some great pictures. The season golf season does begin to slow a bit during September, though it can be a good month at St. Andrews with the R&A holding their annual 'Autumn Meeting' on the New and Old Courses. We than have the practice rounds at the end of the month for the European Tour Dunhill Links Trophy which is played over Carnoustie, Kingsbar...

Would You Like to Play The Old Course in 2010? Now is the Time to Book!! If you are planning a golf tour to Scotland in 2010, it would be a good idea to book now which will alow you to purchase tee times at face value cost. St. Andrews Links Trust open their applications for 2010 tee times at 10:00am (GMT) on September 2nd, 2009 and the form can be found at the following address: http://www.standrews.org.uk/golf/book_golf/advance_old2010.html I recommend you get started today by confirming the number of your golf buddies that want to come to Scotland and then booking your 2010 Scotland golf trip with help from Caddie Golf Tours. I will be quite happy to talk you through the application process if you so desire. I look forward to hearing from you all over the next few weeks. Cheers, John.

A great announcement from the sponsors of the Women's British Open, Ricoh, that they are to continue supporting the event until 2013. There was further good news for Scotland when the venues of Carnoustie in 2011 and then a return to the Old Course St. Andrews in 2013 were confirmed, by the Ladies Golf Union, for the championship. The Women's Open was held at the Old Course in 2007 and was a huge success. The world's number 1 Lorena Ochoa won the first professional womens championship to be held over the legendary links and I am sure she and many other players will be relishing the opportunity to play the Old Lady again. The golf links of Carnoustie, in 2011, will prove a real stern test for the ladies and this has generated a good deal of conversation about what tees they will use and how they will cope with this most treacherous of golf links in Scotland. I think the golf course may win! Wonderful news for Scotland and for the ladies championship in securing the sponsorsh...

LPGA player Catriona Matthew, a born and bred Scot from North Berwick, today completed a steady march to her first Major title at the Ladies British Open, contested over the treacherous links course of Lytham St. Annes. Catriona lead by three shots at the start of the fourth day and though she had a couple of slips birdies at the 13th,14th and 15th gave her a four stroke advantage over the closing strectch. A dropped shot at the 17th did not do any real harm. A final four round total of 285, three under par, secures the prize and close to £200,000 pounds. A superb effort, 68, from Karrie Webb, a three time former British Open champion, gave her second place on even par. Four players shared third place on +1, Paula Creamer, Christina Kim, Ai Miyazato (Japan) and Hee-Won Han (Korea). A wee footnote to Catriona Matthew's win and possibly one of the reasons she likes the golf course at Lytham St. Annes: she won the British Amateur title at this venue sixteen years ago!

This week has the only ladies 'Major' on the European Tour, the British Open, being played over the wonderful links course at Royal Lytham & St. Annes. A true links golf course in located on the north west of England it has held 10 Open Championships that have been contested by the men since 1926 and will be host to it's eleventh Open in 2012. David Duval won the last mens Open played over Lytham in 2002. The course is playing pretty tough over these first couple of days and this has been reflected in the cut being set at +9. Now far be it from me to criticise the professionalism and atheleticism of the ladies game, but it does seem that the essential art of chipping from 80 yards, and in, on the links seems to be beyond these 'modern' women professionals. Extraodinary that the highly paid golf coaches have not been advising this part of the game prior to a Major tournament being played on a legendary links golf course. I'm certainly looking forward to the ...

An absolutely fantastic Open at Turnberry. The winner and Champion golfer for 2009 is Stewart Cink who defeated the legendary Tom Watson , a winner of the Claret Jug on five occasions. This championship will live long in the memory due to the quality of the players fighting for the trophy but also for the majestic beauty of Turnberry. The golf links turned out to be a photographer's dream. No matter where one pointed a camera the picture was perfect. Next year will be the 150th anniversary of the Open Championship, the first being played at Prestwick in 1860. The tournament will be coming to my 'home' course, The Old Course at St. Andrews. I look forward to welcoming many of you there. Cheers, John.

This a great clip of two guys + one camera woman (Andy's lovely wife El) hitting the ground fast after a superb shout of FORE from legendary caddie Jimmy Reid.