Golfers will be able to tee off in style at the Home of Golf thanks to £1.5m in new facilities from the Royal Bank of Scotland.
St Andrews Links Trust, who run and maintain the seven courses – including the Old Course – secured the funding to make improvements for golfers waiting to play on the world famous fairways.
The project has been subject to extensive consultation and focuses on replacing and extending the former caddie pavilion near the first tee to form a Golfers’ Waiting Area with improved toilets, a bag drop facility and information point. The project, due for completion in April 2014 ahead of the 2015 Open, includes the construction of a Caddie Pavilion on the site of the Bruce Shelter along with alterations to fencing and associated landscaping and footpaths.
The funding is also being used to support development of the Trust’s award-winning luxury lifestyle clothing and accessory brand, inspired by Tom Morris who was Open Champion four times and one of golf’s greatest innovators. Since the Tom Morris International Ltd collection debuted at the 2013 PGA Merchandise Show the brand has secured prestigious accounts across the world, including Harrods in the UK, Pebble Beach and The Congressional CC in the USA and The Els Club in the United Arab Emirates.
St Andrews Links Trust Director of Finance, Euan MacGregor said: “We have enjoyed a good relationship with RBS for many years and so it was only natural we approach Steven, our Relationship Director for help financing these exciting developments. Through close cooperation between the bank and ourselves, the facilities were put in place quickly and efficiently to meet our needs.”
Steven Ireland, Associate Relationship Director at RBS, adds “We are delighted to be able to support the world’s most famous Links to enhance the playing experience for every golfer arriving at the Old Course. It’s also fantastic to see the lifestyle range inspired by the legend that is Tom Morris achieve such global success and we look forward to watching the brand develop.”
St Andrews Links Trust www.standrews.org.uk