The Dunvegan Hotel is a very popular bar with golfers.
The Dunvegan is St Andrew’s golfing
institution.
The Torrance & Kittocks courses at Fairmont St
Andrews.
In addition to being home to the Open Championship
every five years, the Old Course along with Kingsbarns
and Carnoustie also features in the Alfred Dunhill Links
Championship, a favourite event on the European Tour
calendar where celebrities such as Hugh Grant, Ian
Botham and Samuel L. Jackson tee it up alongside the
likes of Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Justin Rose on
three classic courses. For keen golfers such as ourselves,
the Alfred Dunhill Links in early October, is an excellent
time to visit St Andrews with plenty of opportunities to
watch golf, play golf and visit some 19th holes.
After a challenging round at the nearby Kittocks Course
we find a perch in the Dunvegan Hotel only a well-struck
nine iron away from the 18th green of the Old Course.
This is a popular haunt for caddies and anyone remotely
connected with the great game. Photographs of past
Open Champions from Old Tom Morris to Tiger Woods
grace the walls and Arnold Palmer’s Open bagman Tip
Anderson was a regular here and had his customary
seat by the door. Today, it’s a sea of colourful golf caps
and pints, as customers chat and watch the latest action
unfold in the Dunhill Links showing on three plasma
screens.
Inspired by a love for golf, Jack Willoughby, a fourth
generation Texan and his Scottish wife Sheena started
6
Spikes Welcome’ sign outside the
Dunvegan Hotel.
the Dunvegan in 94’ and it’s since become a St Andrew’s
institution. “When we took over the place it was a
boarding house, but because of its location we had the
vision that it could become a great 19th hole. We wanted
to create a casual atmosphere where golfers could walk
in wearing golf shoes and carrying their clubs to drink, eat
and relax amongst fellow golfers,” says Jack.
The husband-and-wife team are very ‘hands on’ when
it comes to running the hotel and really enjoy talking
about the game with their customers. ‘We’ve built up
a strong clientele over the years and had great support
from caddies bringing their clients in after a round and
recommending the place,” says Jack. “Over the years
we’ve got to know people from all areas of the golf world,
whether professionals, celebrities or returning golfers
from places such as Scandinavia, America or Australia.”
As she pulls a pint for a customer Sheila adds: “We are
busy week in, week out, especially during the British Open
when it’s held here. I could say hand or heart, we are the
19th hole at St Andrews.”
The beauty of St Andrews is the short distance between
drinks, and in less time than it takes to swing a club we
find ourselves standing by the bar inside The Golf Inn
just round t