Old Course Hotel
The Old Course Hotel, or its full name, the Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa, is a five-star hotel in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland. The hotel borders the Road Hole of the Old Course, and has 175 rooms, including 35 suites. It was built in 1968, on the site of the old railway station, by British Transport Hotels Ltd (which was a subsidiary of British Railways). In 2004, Herb Kohler bought the hotel and now it is operated by Destination Kohler, a subsidiary of the American Kohler Company. The former stationmaster's house still stands and is called the Jigger Inn, which forms part of the hotel complex. In 2020, the hotel completed an expansion, which included 31 additional rooms and the Swilcan Loft restaurant.
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48 m
St Andrews (Old) railway station
St Andrews railway station, also known as St Andrews Links, Links Station or Old Station, was the first railway station in the town of St Andrews, Fife, Scotland. The station was opened by the St Andrews Railway in 1852. It remained open to passengers until 1887, when a new station was completed closer to the town.
65 m
Jigger Inn
The Jigger Inn is a pub which overlooks the 17th Road Hole on the Old Course in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland. Jigger Inn dates back to 1852 when it was the station master's lodge for the St Andrews Links railway station. The R&A has called it "Arguably the most famous 19th hole in the world", and Golf Monthly calls it "the most famous 19th hole in golf".
The Jigger Inn became part of the Old Course Hotel complex in 1974 when it was converted into a pub, although it has not changed much since it was originally constructed.
In 2004 Herb Kohler bought the pub as part of the Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa. It is now operated by Destination Kohler, a subsidiary of the American Kohler Company.
A jigger golf club is an obsolete golf club that was a very low lofted iron club with a shortened shaft. A "jigger" is also a tool used for measuring out a jigger (1+1⁄2 US fluid ounces (44 mL)) of alcohol.
264 m
St Andrews Ladies' Putting Club
St Andrews Ladies’ Putting Club, originally known as the St Andrews Ladies Golf Club when it was first established in 1867 for female golf players to use, now the club is also known as the Ladies’ Putting Club of St Andrews, or simply the Putting Club. The club is still a ladies only golf club based in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland. It is generally known to visitors as The Himalayas putting course, which is where the club's members and visitors play, and is thought to be the first minigolf course ever made. The Himalayas name comes about from the peaks and troughs on the course. It has both 9 and 18-hole courses, and is open to men, women and children (6 years of age and above) visitors alike for a nominal fee. The club is the world’s oldest ladies’ golf club.
308 m
Swilcan Bridge
The Swilcan Bridge, or Swilken Bridge, or Swilcanth as it was known, is a small stone bridge in St Andrews Links golf course, Scotland. The bridge spans the Swilcan Burn between the first and eighteenth fairways on the Old Course, and has become an important image in the sport of golf. The bridge had previously been known as the Golfers' Bridge for hundreds of years.
The bridge itself is small; at its furthest extent, it measures about 30 feet long, eight feet wide and six feet tall, in the style of a simple Roman arch. Originally built at least 700 years ago to help shepherds get livestock across, it has the modern photographic advantage of great backdrops on three sides: the course's grand Royal and Ancient Clubhouse and Hamilton Grand on one, often a packed grandstand of enthusiasts on another, and rolling hills facing toward the North Sea, on the third.
The approach to the bridge was on turf, although there had been a stone path in the distant past. Due to the prominence of the bridge, many people often congregated near it—for example to see and photograph players standing on it, and to stand on the bridge when golf was not being played—which caused the turf to become badly eroded. This was addressed by frequent returfing or reseeding of the area, and experimenting with artificial turf, but the problem remained. In 2023, the area that saw the most wear was paved with stone, as it had been in the distant past. This led to criticism that it looked like a "DIY patio".
It is customary for champions of golf to publicly show some sort of homage or respect to the structure. For example, in early July 2010 at The Open Championship, Tom Watson was photographed kissing the bridge. At the 2005 Open Championship, Jack Nicklaus gave his final farewell to professional golf while standing on the bridge.
On the second floor of the World Golf Hall of Fame museum in St. Augustine, Florida, there is a life-size stone replica of the Swilcan Bridge, accompanied by a floor-to-ceiling photograph of the Royal & Ancient clubhouse and Hamilton Hall in the background.
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