Duke’s golf course is an excellent heathland layout near St Andrews.
Interior detail, The Golf Inn
Road Hole Bar (Old Course Hotel)
street was built in the same year) when the game was fast
gaining popularity. During its history, the inn on this site
has been called various names including the Niblick, Links
Hotel and 1 Golf Place.
Before it was built, there were no amenities at all around
the Old Course and members of the Royal and Ancient
Golf Club assembled at the cobbled end of Market Street
in their red jackets and goose-necked clubs tucked under
their arm. The Golf Inn has some interesting memorabilia
and displays highlighting the history of golf at St Andrews.
In an excerpt from a local newspaper, the St Andrews
Citizen Report from the 1870s the correspondent says:
“Young Tom Morris has won the belt for the third time”
were the words on everybody’s mouths when the news
arrived of his success and they seemed to convey the aura
of satisfaction. A flag was displayed from Old Tom Morris’s
workshop and when it became known that the champion
would arrive on Saturday night with the 10 o’clock train,
a number of his friends awaited his arrival, and he had
barely set foot on the railway terminus when he was
hoisted shoulder high and borne in triumph to Mr Leslie’s
Golf Inn, where his health was drank with every honour.
We take a short walk alongside the Old Course’s 18th
fairway and past the green of the famous Road Hole 17th
to arrive at the award-winning Road Hole Bar, located
Road Hole Bar (Old Course Hotel)
on the top floor of the five-star Old Course Hotel. After
ordering a couple of fine single malts we sink into one of
the huge leather armchairs to enjoy the amazing views of
the Old Course through the floor-to-ceiling windows and
try to identify golfers and celebrities as they make their
way up the 17th fairway.
Whisky loving golfers will think they have stumbled
into heaven here with a stunning selection of over 200
whiskies including a Tullbardine (the hotel’s own label
malt), Highland Malt 1988, which is only sold in the top 10
per cent of bars in the UK, and a rare Ben Wyvis, Highland
Malt 1972.
Right next to the 17th fairway is one of the most famous
golf pubs in the world, the Jigger Inn. This former
stationmaster’s lodge dates back to the 1850s and is a
favourite with golfers such as Open champions Darren
Clarke and Tiger Woods and local caddies who enjoy a
pint here with their guests after a long day on the links.
As we enter this typical Scottish snug, an Edwardian open
fire casts a warm glow over the small green wooden bar
and numerous alcoves with tartan furnishings. On offer
is a superb selection of Scottish beers and hearty home-
cooked food - this is Scottish hospitality at its very best.
7