Golf history and the new carpet.

We’d lunch at the Roadhole Bar at the Old Course Hotel. I was going to post a photo of the iconic views of the Home of Golf but have done so before in 2019. The last time we were here was when we’d a Birthday lunch with our younger son; you can watch the golf play below. It was a nice experience again today. And reassuringly the Hotel felt covid19 safe.

The photos are from the corridor leading to the Hall of Champions room(s). They’re more than life size - great quality images from the University of Aberdeen archive (interestingly not University of St Andrews). “The Ladies Putting Out on the Links” is taken circa 1904; it’s on the Himalayas Putting Course run by the St Andrews Ladies Golf Club, established 1867. The mens golf photo is taken circa 1904; it’s called “the Stymie” - a situation where one players ball is blocked the line of the other; the ball had to be played, (unlike since 1950s when balls can be marked and removed). The carpet is a lovely big pattern design of Scottish Thistles and more at the re-designed Hall of Champions area; it’s their main large events space (450 seats), capable of being split to 6 smaller spaces. The hotel has been undergoing refurbishment and extension before and during the pandemic. It’s by and large completed. There’s not much international golf tourism or corporate events on for obvious reason, so it wasn’t busy. But they’re well placed for the future. Plus the 150th Open will take place here in July 2022.