The Old Course at St Andrews is set to reopen to St Andrews Links Trust yearly ticketholders on Friday, along with the New, Eden and Balgove courses.

THE Old Course at St Andrews – the Home of Golf – is set to reopen on Friday, subject to an 11th hour approval by the Scottish Government on Thursday night.

But visitors will have to wait as tee times are restricted to St Andrews Links Trust’s yearly ticketholders from around the town in Fife – as the Scottish Government’s restricition on journeys remains at five miles.

The oldest golf course in the world will be back in play in time for the weekend, along with the New, Eden and Balgove.

The Strathtyrum, Jubilee and Castle will reopen in stages in the coming days and weeks. The Eden will be split into two loops to encourage people to play nine holes.

St Andrews Links Trust – which operates the seven courses at the Home of Golf – will insist on the following restrictions and guidelines for the coming weeks as players return.

Play will be restricted to Links ticketholders, who will play in a maximum of two-balls – 12 minutes apart. They must have a pre-booked tee time.

The ballot system will remain for the Old Course for Monday to Saturday. There is no play on Sundays.

Once the daily ballot is published, unallocated tee times can be booked by phone on (01334) 466666.

Yearly ticketholders can book a tee time for the other three courses online from 7pm – two days before play – and over the phone from 9am the day before.

Golfers can be from the same household, or two different ones – providing the players have no COVID-19 symptoms, are not in self-isolation or have been out of the country in the previous 14 days.

Social distancing must be observed on arrival at the Old Course and at all times during rounds.

The St Andrews Links Clubhouse will remain closed during the first phase of golf returning to St Andrews Old Course later this week.

Links Trust delighted to reopen Old

THE St Andrews Links Tust said it was “delighted” to share its plans for a phased reopening of the Old Course, known as the “Old Lady.”St

A spokesman said: “The return of golf is hugely important for our community and eagerly anticipated by us all.

“We will continue to monitor and review our policies and practices before we consider re-introducing guests and visitors in the coming weeks.

“We would like to thank everyone for their patience and continued support throughout this unprecedented period.

“Everyone in our community, every individual, every family, every business, every organisation has been impacted by this global pandemic.

“We are committed to ensuring that as we overcome these challenging times, the Links provides a safe and enjoyable environment for us to all come together – and play our part in a sensible and responsible manner.

“In order to move forward, we have had to begin preparing for the new normals – and new responsibilities that we must adhere to – if golf is to play an active role in emerging from this crisis.”

The Trust’s clubhouses, restaurants, the St Andrews Golf Academy and shops also remain closed in line with government guidance.

Players should change in the car park. No toilet facilities will be available in the first phase.

Flagpoles should not be touched – holes have been modified for simple ball retrieval.

All bunker rakes have been removed. Players should smooth sand with their club/feet, and must not pick up other players’ equipment or ball – nor exchange food or drinks.

ST ANDREWS LINKS TROPHY CALLED OFF

The Scottish Government’s decision to scale back some of the lockdown restrictions was announced on Friday.

But it has taken another week for golf to get the green light north of the border. England’s golf courses reopened two weeks ago on May 13.

But Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon refused to be rushed into allowing certain sports – including golf – the chance to resume after more than two months because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The St Andrews Trust spokesman added: “We urge everyone to be respectful of our guidelines to ensure that, in time, we can move to a fully phased reintroduction of the game – as we all know and love it.

“The health and wellbeing of colleagues, customers and golfers remains our priority, and we have developed our operations – and phased return – to promote social distancing at all times.”

•For full details on how to book a tee time at St Andrews, and to read the guidelines in full click here.

‘No rush to reschedule existing bookings’

VISITING golfers, who have existing bookings for the Old Course, should contact their authorised provider, to discuss prepaid bookings.

The Trust stressed this week there was no urgency to discuss reschedule times if you booked direct.

The reservations team is dealing with a high volume of queries. Contacting them via email in the first instance would be appreciated, the Links Trust said.

“We will continue to deal with queries throughout the weeks and months ahead. We thank you in advance for your patience. Thank you for your continued support,” said the spokesman.

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Goron Mori, the St Andrews Links Trust’s recently retired director of greenkeeping, will become president of BIGGA in 2021

FORMER St Andrews Links Trust director of greenkeeping Gordon Moir has accepted the nomination to become vice-president of the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association in 2020.

Gordon, who retired from his position at St Andrews Links in December, will take up the deputy’s role with a view to becoming BIGGA president in 2021, as successor to Colin Webber, who is set to be the president in 2020.

The move comes after a career that saw him involved with the hosting of more than 37 championships, including five Opens at the Home of Golf.

The 60-year-old was just the eighth person to hold the title of director of greenkeeping at St Andrews since the first, Old Tom Morris, retired in 1904.

A farmer’s son from Fraserburgh in the north of Scotland, Moir began his career at the town’s golf club in 1976, and attended Elmwood College for his training.

He very quickly moved through the ranks to the role of head greenkeeper.

After 10 years in charge at Fraserburgh, he moved on to become head greenkeeper of St Andrews’ Eden Course in 1991, before later becoming the overall director of greenkeeping.

He has previously served on the BIGGA National Board and is a former chairman of the association’s Scottish Region.

Gordon Moir (right) holds the Claret Jug with five-time Open winner Tom Watson at St Andrews during his time as director of greenkeeping at St Andrews Links Trust

In 1995, while chairman, he met Arnold Palmer and presented him with a crystal vase in recognition of all the legendary golfer had done for greenkeeping.

Throughout his time at St Andrews, Gordon recognised the club had a duty as torchbearers for the greenkeeping industry.

As such, he was a great supporter of the Golf Environment Organization and the Golf Environment Awards, and would often speak at the annual BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition.

As vice-president, Gordon will support Colin Webber throughout his year as president of the association.

Colin, who is also 60, founded Portmore Golf Park in Devon in 1993 and is also heavily committed to ecology and sustainability, winning a Golf Environment Award in 2010.

Gordon said: “I was absolutely delighted to be asked to be president of BIGGA. To be honest, it was something that I really hoped would happen and I’m glad that my retirement has enabled me to accept this opportunity.

“I’ve tried to stay involved with the greenkeeping industry since retiring.

“So I’m really proud to be offered the chance to represent the association in this way – and meet people from all over the country who I haven’t seen for a year, or who I wouldn’t have met otherwise.

“There is so much available to members of BIGGA, such as getting involved with the various support teams or the numerous networking opportunities, and it can open up so many doors in your career.

“The association has done so much for me and I look forward to being the one talking to members and spreading that message.”

Colin said: “When I was asked to become president, my first thought was ‘why aren’t they asking Gordon?’

“He’s the perfect candidate because of what he’s done throughout his career and the level that he’s worked at.

“His nomination just schows the scale of BIGGA as Portmore couldn’t be further from St Andrews, both geographically – and in terms of its place in the golfing industry.

“It shows the breadth and scale of the association and how it brings together people from all over the greenkeeping industry together.

“I’m delighted that Gordon will be bringing all that experience to the role, which can only be a huge benefit to the association.”

Gordon will be appointed vice-president during the BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition, which takes place in Harrogate, North Yorkshire in January.

He will then become president at the same event the following year.

BIGGA chairman Scott Reeves said: “Each of BIGGA’s presidents have brought a new dimension to the role.

“I’m sure Gordon will add to this increasingly-respected position in his own unique way. I look forward to working with him when he becomes vice-president and onwards in his year as president.”

Gordon Moir (right), next year’s BIGGA vice-president, talking to Jack Nicklaus at St Andrews

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