St Andrew's, SCOTLAND
Airing Date: Mar 28th, 2005
St Andrews is just an hours drive from the Scottish capital of Edinburgh and is home to the oldest golf course in the world.
The 'Old Course' golf course at St Andrews is 600 years old. The course is so popular, golfers must book two years in advance to get a game. There are a couple of alternatives if you don't want to wait - you can go into a ballot or simply turn up and hope someone else doesn't.
If you can't score a round, venture across the road and get your fill of golf history from the British Golf Museum. Entry is just $10. The museum is a great way to see how the game and equipment have evolved over the years. The museum even displays the Harris Tweed attire golfers used to wear and the feather ball they used to play with.
St Andrews is named in recognition of Saint Andrew. The town also has its own living legend, Tommy Morris. Tommy is the son of the famous Tommy Morris who won the open championship four times before dying at the age of 24.
With golf shops, golf bars and golf games, the town seems to be centred around the game. However, a couple of hundred years ago it was the St Andrews Castle and Cathedral that the visitors came to see.
Apart from golf, the medieval town of St Andrews exists for its university, which is arguably as prestigious as Oxford and Cambridge. Prince William is also a student at the university, so when the locals aren't playing golf, they make a sport of Prince William spotting.
A round of golf at the Old Course costs $250 but there is a much cheaper golfing option as well. St Andrews Ladies' Golf Club, with an 18-hole putting course, is a fun activity for novice golfers. Positioned right next door to the Old Course, it's much simpler to play and costs just $2.
The courses are open Monday to Saturday, but Sundays at St Andrews are free of golf.
The facts:
Rooms at St Andrews start from:
$268 a single
$463 a double
$645 family suite
Includes full Scottish Breakfast.
Rufflets Country House Hotel: Ph. 0011 44 1334 472 594.
The British Tourist Authority: www.visitbritain.com.au.
Prices correct at 28/3/05.
