For many people The Old Course is the most important golf course in the world. Since golf was first known to be played in St Andrews over six centuries ago, the links have evolved from providing a cross-country adventure, to a narrow corridor with 22-holes, and into a modern 18-hole Open Championship venue. No other course has a history of this length, remained a complete and relevant test for golfers of all abilities, and shaped the world of golf like the Old Course.
Today the Old Course in St Andrews, the ‘home of golf’, rightly remains a cornerstone for the golfing world. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club has made, and continues to make, rules and decisions that affect the way golf is played and the set-up of many thousands of courses throughout the world. This book highlights in detail for the first time the physical changes to the Old Course at St Andrews, correlates them with social and equipment changes, and provides insights into the effect these changes have had, not only on the rules of golf but on the very manner in which the game is played.
In this comprehensive study Scott Macpherson takes the reader on a journey of discovery from golf’s past to its future. We see not only the way in which early remodelling of the Old Course changed the game itself, but also how the course has adapted over the last two centuries to considerable technological change to both the ball and club, as well as huge leaps in the skill and strength of players.
First published in 2007, this fully updated, revised and extended edition takes readers from the first plan of the links in 1821 to the final putt of the 150th Open Championship in 2022, and beyond. The book celebrates the history of the links, includes the most important plans of the course, and is punctuated with dramatic drone and ground photography.
Readers will be illuminated by the significant issues that have faced golf at St Andrews, and which not only affect the Royal and Ancient Club and its members, but also golf course developers and designers, club and ball manufacturers, greenkeepers, rules officials, golf clubs and players everywhere.
The book has 256 pages and features hundreds of colour photos, prints of the most significant maps of the Old Course, scorecards of Open Championships, detailed drawings, plans and photos illustrating the fascinating changes to this most remarkable golf course. And perhaps the most remarkable feature is a four-page fold-out of the lengths of the course and detailed data from all the Open championships held in St Andrews.
Available from https://www.scottmacphersongolfdesign.com The Standard Edition of the Book costs £85. A Limited Edition is available for £295.
Among the reviews are:
‘The more time you spend on the Old Course the more connected you feel to the heritage of golf. Through the lens of the most important golf course in the world you appreciate just how much the sport has evolved over the centuries but also how much it has stayed the same. Every time I stand on the 1st tee I feel that sense of history and that won’t ever change. This book reflects Scott’s incredible knowledge of the evolution of this great golf course which has so often been copied but never matched.’ MARTIN SLUMBERS CEO of The R&A
‘Nothing matters more in architecture than standing the test of time. Since St Andrews has done that better than any other course, a clear understanding of its evolution is mandatory for anyone interested in design. Scott’s attention to detail and the insight with which he breaks down the world’s most feature-rich design on a hole-by-hole basis is pitch perfect. All you need to know about what constitutes enduring architecture is contained within this book.’ RAN MORRISSETT Co-founder of Golf Club Atlas. Ranked this book as Number 1 in his 12 favourite books on golf course architecture.
‘Scott’s book is my “go to” source for the evolution of the Old Course.’ DR MICHAEL HURDZAN Golf Course Architect, Past President of the ASGCA. Author
