RAF pilot, Flt Lt Marc Rodriguez, has been fined £1,500 for flying too low over Carnoustie golf course on 20 July 2007. At the time, day 2 of the 2007 Open Championship was taking place. Rodriguez pleaded guilty to flying over the course at less than 1,000ft in his Grob Tutor aircraft.
While we were in St Andrews last week, we went into a pub on Market Street called the Cross Keys. My Dad likes this pub, it’s one of the places he likes to go for a drink when he’s in St Andrews. This is the pub that the local people in St Andrews go to and it always has a friendly environment. We got talking to a few people and they were saying that the Cross Keys is now the only pub in St Andrews not owned by a big multi-million pound company, it’s still owned by a local family. It may not be the flashiest or the most modern pub in the town, but it’s probably the most authentic. If you’re looking for an alternative to the other St Andrews pubs, this is a good place to visit. You’ll meet some interesting people with some good stories to tell.
The Cross Keys
87 Market Street
St Andrews
Today marks the beginning of high season at the St Andrews Links Trust. New green fee’s apply as of today through to the 19th of October. The 2 week “shoulder” has now finished! Not really sure why they have a “shoulder” season for 2 weeks. They should make either make it just low and high season, or make the shoulder season longer, 2 weeks seems so insignificant. Then again, maybe they’ve got a good reason for it.
For high season green fee information click here.
Congratulations to new Masters champion Trevor Immelman from StAndrewsGolfBlog.com.
Picked up some information on whiskey distillery tours. I think this one is the closest to St Andrews but I may be wrong. If you know of one closer, please let us know.
The Famous Grouse Distillery is around 50 miles from St Andrews, I’m guessing about 75 minutes by car. They have 4 available tours:
The Experience Tour
See first hand how they make their Glenturret single malt before learning how they marry their whiskies to make Famous Grouse Whiskey.
60 minutes
The Malt Tasting Tour
After completing the Experience Tour, head up to the bar to test your taste buds by sampling and comparing some of their best malts with one of their trained whiskey experts. You get to taste 5 drams.
70 minutes
The Distillery Tour
See and learn how they make their Glenturret single malt at Scotland’s oldest working distillery. Includes 1 dram.
30 minutes
Warehouse No. 9
They take you to where the whisky matures for up to 30 years. In Warehouse No.9 you can taste the entire Famous Grouse Malt range straight from the cask.
They also have a restaurant and bar, walking information and a souvenir shop where you can even buy a personalised bottle of whiskey.
Prices
The Experience Tour
Adult - £7.75
Concessions - £6.75
The Malt Tasting Tour
Adult - £10.95
Concessions - £9.95
The Distillery Tour
Adult - £5.95
Concessions - £4.95
Warehouse No. 9
Adult - £40
For more information click here.
While I was in St Andrews this week I found some information on other things that are on, apart from golf. This is a list of some of the different events taking place in April and May.
17th April 2008
St Andrews Gardeners Club
Mr Graham Butler’s talk on the primulus at Rumbling Bridge Nursery.
Free entry
7.30pm
Hope Park Church
1 Howard Place
St Andrews
Tel: 01334 477429
19th April 2008
St Andrews Gardeners Club
Spring Show
Free entry
10am
Boys Brigade Hall
Kinnessburn Road
St Andrews
Tel: 01334 477429
22nd April 2008 - 26th April 2008
Showcase Festival
Showcase is the largest Performing Arts Festival in St. Andrews and returns in April 2008, brought to you by the Mermaids Theatre Fund. Look out for the widest array of performing arts from musicals to comedy, one act plays and workshops. Throw some live music into the mix and you’ve got a four-day fun-filled fiesta not to be missed.
Byre Theatre
Abbey Street
St Andrews
Tel: 01334 475000
www.byretheatre.com
30th April 2008
Sophisticated Ladies
The Swingcats will deliver these timeless classics with their unique three part arrangements and dazzling piano accompaniment. This concert is the perfect setting to hear these wonderful songs performed with style and sophistication.
£14, £10-£8 Concessions
8pm
Byre Theatre
Abbey Street
St Andrews
Tel: 01334 475000
www.byretheatre.com
1st May 2008
Sinfonia Concertante
Schumann once wrote “It is music’s lofty mission to shed light on the depths of the human heart” - an apt quote to reflect on while listening to three beautiful musical works. Most poignant is Schumann’s 4rth Symphony, which was 12 years in the writing and was also his last.
Price TBC
Younger Hall
North Street
St Andrews
Tel: 01334 457000
3rd May 2008
St Andrews Farmers’ Market
Fresh, wholesome, local produce.
Free entry
9am-1pm
North Car Park
Argyle Street
St Andrews
www.fifefarmersmarket.co.uk
15th May 2008
St Andrews Gardeners Club
Mrs Joyce Straith and friends entertain us with their “Cooking with garden produce” talk.
Free entry
7.30pm
Hope Park Church
1 Howard Place
St Andrews
Tel: 01334 477429
17th May 2008
Fife Craft Association
Exhibition of work by members of the Fife Craft Association, with a focus on jewellery. Started in 1986, the Association supports local makers to promote Scottish crafts. If you like craft fairs you’ll enjoy this chance to browse and buy in a gallery setting.
Free Entry
10am-4pm
Victory Memorial Hall
St Andrews
17th May 2008
St Andrews Gardeners’ Club
Plant Sale - Looking for that special bloom to finish off your garden? Look no further, you’re sure to find it here or they will know a man who can.
Free Entry
9.30am
St Andrews Town Hall
Queens Gardens
St Andrews
Tel: 01334 477429
24rth May 2008 - 21st September 2008
When the Boat Comes In
An inspiring exhibition focussing on the fishing community that lived and worked in St Andrews. It provides a fascinating insight into the daily lives of the fisherfolk, the dangers and triumphs they faced and the legacy that continues to shape the modern town.
Free Entry
2pm-5pm
St Andrews Preservation Trust Museum
12 North Street
St Andrews
Tel: 01334 477629
E-mail: curator@standrewspreservationtrust.co.uk
www.standrewspreservationtrust.co.uk
25th May 2008
Scottish Italian Car Day
If you are passionate about Italian cars or cars in general this is for you. Cars on show will include Ferrari, Lancio, Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Lamborghini and Fiat.
Normal Park Admission
11am-4pm
Craigtoun Country Park
By St Andrews
Tel: 01592 891218
E-mail: webmaster@alfascot.com
Visited St Andrews today for the first time this year, just a flying visit, drove back home at about 5pm. I didn’t play any golf as I was there to find out some more information to put in my blog pages. The courses I visited looked to be in good condition for this time of year, a little bit of improvement by the summer and they’ll be perfect. Went to the Eden clubhouse for breakfast, over to the Links clubhouse for a look around, then just walked around the town for a few hours.
There seems to be a lot of work being done at some of the hotels and some roadworks. I guess they’re getting all this stuff out of the way before summer.
Not much wind today but it was still cold. Not too cold though, it would’ve been a nice day to play some golf.
These are some of the pictures I took:
It’s getting close to the application deadlines for some of this years St Andrews Links open tournaments so I’ll post details as a reminder.
St Rule Trophy
Ladies competition with a handicap limit of 4 which is played over the Old Course on Sunday 25 May 2008 (36 holes). The closing date for entries is Saturday 3 May 2008 and the practice day will be Saturday 24 May 2008. The field is limited to 72 and the entry fee is £30.00
St Andrews Links Trophy
Men’s tournament with a handicap limit of scratch which is played over the Old Course and the Jubilee Course from Friday 6 June until Sunday 8 June 2008. The closing date for entries is Thursday 1 May 2008 and the practice day will be Thursday 5 June 2008. The field is limited to 144 and the entry fee is £50.00
Entry Form
Conditions of Entry
Online Entry Form
St Andrews Boys Open
Boys tournament for those under 18 years of age on 1 January 2008. The handicap limit is 9 and the tournament is played over the Eden Course and the Old Course from Monday 4 August to Thursday 7 August 2008. The closing date for entries is Thursday 19 June 2008 and the practice day will be Sunday 3 August 2008. The field is limited to 150 and the entry fee is £25.00 (to include BBQ on Monday 4 August)
Entry Form
St Andrews Junior Ladies’ Open
Ladies tournament for those under 23 years of age on 1 January 2008. The handicap limit is 36 and the tournament is played over the Strathtyrum Course, the Eden Course and the Old Course from Monday 4 August to Thursday 7 August 2008. The closing date for entries is Thursday 26 June 2008 and the practice day will be Sunday 3 August 2008. The field is limited to 60 and the entry fee is £25.00 (to include BBQ on Monday 4 August)
Eden Tournament
Men’s tournament with a handicap limit of 15 played over the Eden Course and New Course from Monday 11 August to Friday 15 August 2008. The closing date for entries is Thursday 24 April 2008 and the practice day will be Sunday 10 August 2008. Practice rounds can be booked from Monday 30 June. The field is limited to 240 and the entry fee is £100.00 (inclusive of commemorative shirt and BBQ on Tuesday 12 August)
Strathtyrum Tournament
Ladies tournament with a handicap limit of 36 played over the Eden Course and New Course from Monday 11 August to Friday 15 August 2008. The closing date for entries is Thursday 24 April 2008 and the practice day will be Sunday 10 August 2008. Practice rounds can be booked from Monday 30 June. The field is limited to 102 and the entry fee is £100.00 (inclusive of commemorative shirt and BBQ on Tuesday 12 August)
For the St Andrews Links Trust website click here.
The first major of the year starts on Thursday at Augusta. What an amazing looking golf course, hopefully I’ll make it there for the Masters sometime, or maybe even get to play the course, which looks difficult as it’s members only. If someone told me I could play a round of golf on any course I wanted I’d have to pick Augusta. Maybe, coming from Scotland, I just take for granted all the great courses we have here. I think the closer you live to somewhere famous the less likely you are to visit it, for some reason. I’m sure there’s many people in Scotland who’ve never even been to St Andrews, in the same way there’s probably many New Yorkers who’ve never visited the Statue of Liberty or been to the top of the Empire State building. When I worked in Edinburgh I used to see the castle every day but I’ve never been on the tour inside, i’ve only ever seen it from the outside.
I wonder what someone from the US would say when asked which course they’d want to play? Would it be Augusta, the Old Course at St Andrews or maybe somewhere else? I guess the one thing that makes Augusta different, and more desirable to play, is how inaccessible it seems to be. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who’s played Augusta, I think you need to be a member or a guest of a member.
The question everyone seems to be asking this year is, can anyone beat Tiger Woods? Well he’s definitely not unbeatable, as Geoff Ogilvy proved a few weeks ago at the World Golf Championships. With Ogilvy also finishing 2nd last week at the Houston open it’s looks like he’ll be Tiger’s main threat. But when you look at the statistics, in 2007 and 2008 Tiger’s played in 23 tournaments and won 12 of them. In 2008 alone he’s played 5 and won 4 so it’s hard to see him not winning. My one hope is that it’s close, I hate it when a big tournament like this is all but over with most of the last round still to play. Of the other players, I think Lee Westwood, KJ Choi and of course Ogilvy are all in with a chance. Can’t wait to see what happens.
The tradititional season opening event is taking place this weekend when the Old Course, at St Andrews, will be played in reverse. The course was originally played this way but was changed to the present format in 1870 when the 1st green was built. Players start at the 1st tee and play to the 17th green, then from the 18th tee to the 16th green, and so on until they finish by playing from the 2nd tee to the 18th green. The course is played this way on Friday, April 4rth, Saturday April 5th and Monday April 7th. Would be fun to play, there would definitely be a few interesting shots. 
For full details click here.
