Modern History
BY ED HODGE
3 MINS READ
Out with the old and in with the new? Well, not quite in Scottish golf circles. Of the nation’s over 550 courses, a sense of tradition runs deep. It is that historic pull that brings visitors from across the world to our shores, eager to walk in the footsteps of legends and create their own stories.
Yet, the game of golf continues to evolve in Scotland. Even in recent years, new courses have been carved from stunning landscapes, offering modern designs, fresh challenges. The dynamic mix of old and new, the perfect blend where golf began.
The first documented mention of golf in Scotland appears in a 1457 Act of the Scottish Parliament, an edict issued by King James II of Scotland prohibiting the playing of the games of ‘gowf’ and ‘futball’ as these were a distraction from archery practice for military purposes. Succeeding monarchs repeated this ban until James IV became a golfer himself.
The edict simply highlighted the popularity of the sport from the middle ages. Indeed, golf has been played in St Andrews for more than 600 years, globally recognised as the home of the sport. Today, more than 230,000 rounds are played annually over seven public courses managed by the St Andrews Links Trust. The Old Course remains the most iconic golf course in the world.
“I fell in love with it the first day I played it. There's just no other golf course that is even remotely close,” lovingly notes Jack Nicklaus of the Old, where he lifted the Claret Jug twice. Fittingly, the curtain on his Open career came down at St Andrews in July 2005. “It was the perfect place for me to finish, the birthplace of the game. It was emotional.”
All over Scotland, deep-rooted golfing history and famous tales dominate. Up at Royal Dornoch in the Highlands, golf has been played for over 400 years. Across in the west, Prestwick was the venue for the first Open – a fact celebrated with the 160th anniversary in October 2020. Go east and the history of the Royal Musselburgh Golf Club dates to 1774. A century later over the links, Mungo Park saw off Young Tom Morris to win The Open on his home course.
Left to Right: Old Course, St Andrews, Musselburgh Links, Prestwick
Photos: Graeme McCubbin, Ollie Allison, Christian Hafer
“There is nothing quite like the feeling of standing on the 1st tee at Prestwick, Musselburgh or St Andrews,” says St Andrews historian and renowned author, Roger McStravick. “These are the places where Old Tom had his most dramatic matches with Willie Park Sr. It is where Jack Nicklaus won and also signed off on his career. It is where Seve (Ballesteros) holed a putt that saw him punching the air with joy. It is where Lorena Ochoa won the first-ever women's professional event at the Old Course.
“As you stand there on any of these historic courses, in that moment of silence before you hit the ball, you can’t help but feel the presence of all of those Open champions. On these courses, you know you are somewhere special.”
Further up the east coast, Montrose – the 5th oldest club in the world, Fraserburgh (the 7th) and Scotscraig (the 13th) all promote their heritage. Elie, North Berwick, Gullane, Monifieth and Leven are others with rich back stories. Famous courses and famous designers, with the guiding hands of James Braid, Old Tom and Park Jnr synonymous with countless historic Scottish venues.
Fast forward to the present day and new choices sit on a delicious golfing menu for the travelling golfer and us lucky natives. On the banks of the Moray Firth, Castle Stuart opened in 2009 and has gone on to host the Scottish Open, just like Dundonald Links on the west coast. Championship lay-outs to test the best, yet equally playable for the handicap golfer.
It’s remarkable to think The PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles, the first Scottish course designed by Nicklaus, opened back in 1993, but it’s still in the modern mould. An improved venue after various tweaks, it has gone on to stage two stellar team events – the Ryder and Solheim Cup.
Gleneagles PGA Centenary Course
Trump International Golf Links, another American-inspired creation on the outskirts of Aberdeen, opened in 2012 and is a spectacular test. Kingsbarns Golf Links just outside St Andrews is another take-the-breath away course, a regular stop on the European Tour and a must-play visitor venue which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2020.
The Renaissance Club and Archerfield Links maintain the ‘spoilt for choice’ modern classics on the East Lothian coast, while back in Fife there is more to experience. Opened to great acclaim to provide much-needed cheer during the challenges of 2020, Dumbarnie Links is set for a bright future. Developed and designed by renowned architect Clive Clark, it’s a new world-class links.
Dumbarnie Golf Links
Photos: Graeme McCubbin
“As the world eventually returns to ‘normal’ and travel restrictions are lifted, we look forward to welcoming international golfers to experience this special place,” says David Scott, general manager at Dumbarnie.
History and tradition may dominate in Scotland, but evolution simply never stops. How lucky we are!