Are there Skeletons Under the Eighteenth Green?
Quite possibly. The notorious Valley of Sin - the steep depression that protects the front of the green - has been the scene of many memorable moments from Open Championships past: remember Italy's Constantino Rocca hammering the turf in unrestrained joy after holing a scarcely believable 70-foot putt to get in the playoff with John Daly for the 1995 edition? It is thought that the base of the Valley was the original ground level, with the green pushed up behind it by Old Tom Morris. The feature is thought to be Old Tom's favourite on the course. But what, if anything, lurks deep below the sod? In his book, My Fifty Years of Golf, Andrew Kirkaldy, Morris's successor as the professional at St Andrews, wrote: “What is now the eighteenth green on the Old Course was built up from a rubbish heap that had also served as a burial ground.” Noted American architect AW Tillinghast agreed, saying Morris had told him it had been "built over the bones of dead men."
Bunkered
Contrary to popular belief, bunkering at the Old Course has changed markedly over the years. The most recent period of significant change to the course's bunkering scheme began in 1904, when thirteen were added, largely as a response to the longer Haskell ball. The most notable of these was cut into the front left of the fifteenth green, but several fairway bunkers also appeared along the right sides of the second, third, fourth and sixth – all of which increased the risk of taking the direct line to the hole. Just as interesting is the elimination of the mysterious Halket’s Bunker. Located on the eighteenth, it lay halfway between the Swilcan Bridge and Grannie Clark’s Wynd and would be a hazard of considerable distraction today. It was removed in 1842, when Sir Hugh Lyon Playfair, captain of the R&A, had it turfed over as part of his program of repairs to the area, but its imprint remains. In 1869, a bunker on the par-four fifteenth was filled in. A Mr AG Sutherland, believing it was of strategic merit, wrote many vigorous letters to the R&A insisting the hazard be recut, but to no avail. Late one night, two men roused a local gardener from his sleep and bribed him with gold to recut the bunker, and a note with Sutherland’s name on it was left in the reinstated hazard. The bunker is still there, a simple pot waiting to catch drives blasted too casually from the fourth or fifteenth tees.
A New-Looking Road Hole
The seventeenth, arguably golf's most famous hole, has seen its fair share of changes in recent times. Prior to the 2005 Open Championship, the Road Bunker – the ominously deep greenside pit – was slightly altered to gather more shots, and the changes drew near uproar from far and wide. This year, in preparation for the championship, a new tee has been installed 40 yards back, making the par four play a mighty 490 yards. The change has been implemented in order to force the pros to hit driver off the tee and a longer iron for the approach. While this in itself has caused some consternation among traditionalists, you can see why it's been done. At last year's Dunhill Links, the celebrity-packed pro- am event, retired British tennis star Tim Henman had the temerity to hit a 7-iron onto the green and hole the putt for a birdie three. While Henman is clearly a competent golfer, it does rather show how the hole's moniker as the "hardest in golf" has been somewhat eroded.
Getting a Game:
There are a number of ways of getting a tee time on the Old Course, although demand always outstrips supply. Groups of two or more can request tee times online at the official website of the St Andrews Links Trust (www.standrews.co.uk), but to have any chance of success through this channel you'll need to act quickly as spots are limited and normally sell out at least six months in advance. There are numerous tour operators that can guarantee a game on the Old Lady - but going down this route will normally involve committing yourself to a longer itinerary, which may not always be suitable. You would have to pay a premium for the privilege too. The famous St Andrews Daily Ballot - basically a lottery, which requires registration the day before you want to play - offers a good rate of success, especially in the spring, but requires a minimum of two players to enter. The most common way for a single to access the Old Course is by showing up at the starter's hut on the day you wish to play, "as early as possible in the morning," according to the Trust's website. The starter will then attempt to pair you with the first available twosome or threesome. To increase your chances, don't arrive any later than 5.45am. Remember: the Old Course is closed on Sundays and you need to show your handicap card. No handicap = no game.
