The event is being held on the PGA Centenary Course, and the infrastructure build is well and truly in full swing.
The event is a sell out, with 50,000 spectators per day expected to follow the action.
This is the view you get as you approach the first tee. Huge hospitality structure on the right of the first fairway, and the massive grandstand on the left which is behind the eighteenth green.
Here is a shot from behind the first tee with the grandstands where the crowd will be in full voice.
These structures are more hospitality buildings, and are located on the practice fairway. The King's
course will be utilised as a practice facility for the event.
This is another view from near the first tee.
The infrastructure is like nothing I have seen for an event, even with over four weeks remaining in
the build. It certainly will be a sea of marquees and temporary structures. There is even one (the johnnie walker bar) being constructed in and around a listed ruin behind the second green.
Speaking of listed ruins, this is the St Andrews Castle. St Andrews is where the tour officially
commenced on Friday evening with a few drinks and a catch up in the "R" bar at Rusacks hotel.
We were joined by Oliver Horovitz. Ollie is a St Andrews caddy, and is the author of the book An American Caddy in St Andrews. He chatted to the members about all things St Andrews, and got the mood of the town firmly set in our minds.
Before we move into the golf side of things, I thought I would show you some St Andrews history.
This is another view of the castle, from the beach below. Built in around 1200 it was home to Kings and was even a prison. It fell into disrepair in the 1600's and it's materials were used to repair the pier.
We now move to the St Andrews Cathedral.
Built in the 1100's it also fell into disrepair in the 1500's. The burial site has some of the most famous and significant names in golf history.
Here lies Allan Robertson. Allan was the world's first golf professional. And is said to have never been defeated in foursomes with his partner Tom Morris. He was the first man to break 80 on the Old Course, and was an expert manufacturer of the feathery golf ball, with his apprentice Tom Morris.
This is the grave site of the Morris'. Old Tom, Young Tommy and the baby Tom Morris Jnr.
RIP Golfing royalty.
A few more pics of the extraordinary ruins of the cathedral.
This is our main reason for being here, and we play this historic place on Monday.
A shot here of the Swilcan Burn, looking back to the Old Course Hotel on the 17th.
After a short rain shower, the sun returned and along with it a rainbow.
No comments:
Post a Comment