St. Andrews Golf Club in St. Andrews, Fife, United Kingdom | Golf | Golf Club | Golf Courses | Club House

The St. Andrews Golf Club was formed on September 29, 1843. Its 11 founder members were mostly tradesmen, but included a Dancing Master and a Butler (George Morris, brother of Tom). At that time, a feather ball cost around 2/- (10p) and a day labourer might earn 1/6. Golf was not a poor manâ??s game and our first members were men of some substance.
Soon they were joined by Alan Robertson and Tom Morris. Alan Robertson was the foremost Golfer of his day and employed Tom in the family business making feather Golf balls. In 1854 he became Captain of The St. Andrews Golf Club. Both he and Tom Morris are recorded as having organised the members handicaps.
The club also had the rare distinction of having a member, Mackenzie Turpie, who competed in the first Golf Olympics in Paris in 1900. He was a postman in the town and paid his own entry fee and travelling expenses purely for the honour of competing.In the first 60 years of its history, the club played regular competitions and met thereafter in various hotels and inns in the town for many happy evenings of toasting, song and sentimentality.
The foundations of the present day club were laid when the first clubhouse was bought in 1905. This was the property in Golf Place, now occupied by Auchterlonie shop. In 1933 The St. Andrews Golf Club moved to its present Clubhouse to overlook the 18th green of the Old Course. This splendid Victorian mansion provides an ideal grandstand for members during Opens and other major tournaments held in the town.