GENERAL VIEW OF THE TORRANCE COURSE. IMAGE MATT HOOPER.
23 AUGUST, 2023 - SHANK MEDIA, BY MATT HOOPER: ALL GOLF COURSES IN THIS AREA ARE A VICTIM OF THEIR LOCATION, EXCEPT FOR ONE. WHEN ANYONE SAYS ST ANDREWS, THOUGHTS INSTANTLY MOVE TO THE OLD COURSE, THAT IS THE COURSE EVERY GOLFER ON THE PLANET WANTS TO PLAY, AND THE ONE MANY WILL SAVE A LIFETIME TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO PLAY. THE ST ANDREWS LINKS TRUST OPERATES 7 GOLF COURSES - THE OLD, THE NEW, THE JUBILEE, THE CASTLE, THE EDEN, THE STRATHTYRUM AND THE BALGOVE. THEN THERE'S THE DUKE'S OWNED BY THE OLD COURSE HOTEL, AND KINGSBARNS GOLF LINKS, CRAIL'S BALCOMIE AND CRAIGHEAD LINKS, AND THE ACCLAIMED DUMBARNIE GOLF LINKS TOO. THIS AREA IS DENSELY POPULATED WITH WORLD CLASS GOLF COURSES, SO IT MAKES IT HARD FOR OTHERS TO STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD, AND ATTRACT VISITORS TO PLAY THEM WHEN HERE ON A GOLFING HOLIDAY.
THE FAIRMONT ST ANDREWS HAS TWO COURSES - THE TORRANCE AND THE KITTOCKS. BUT SPEAKING AS A FORMER CADDIE ON THE OLD COURSE, AND SOMEONE WHO RUNS PHOTOSHOOT TOURS IN ST ANDREWS, SO MANY VISITORS TO THE TOWN HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THE FAIRMONT ST ANDREWS, OR KNEW THEY HAD TWO GOLF COURSES. FOR THE BEST PART OF 15 YEARS THE FAIRMONT ST ANDREWS HAS HOSTED PROFESSIONAL GOLF - FROM THE PGA EUROPRO TOUR, TO THE SCOTTISH SENIOR OPEN, FROM FINAL QUALIFYING FOR THE OPEN, TO THE HERO OPEN. BUT NEVER BEFORE HAS IT ATTRACTED THE LIKES OF SERGIO GARCIA, PAUL CASEY, MITO PEREIRA, ANIRBAN LAHIRI AND DANNY LEE, THIS IS THE FAIRMONT'S OPPORTUNITY TO SHINE.
VIEW FROM THE 17TH TEE. IMAGE MATT HOOPER.
THE ASIAN TOUR IS THE PREMIER GOLF PLATFORM FOR THE WORLD'S MOST POPULOUS CONTINENT, AND THE POTENTIAL IS HUGE TO SHOWCASE THE TORRANCE COURSE TO THE EMERGING ASIAN GOLF MARKET, WHICH IS MORE THAN 20 MILLION GOLFERS. THE FAIRMONT ST ANDREWS IS OWNED BY Dr. CYM Chan, co-chairman of Great Century. MR CHAN IS A MEMBER OF THE ROYAL AND ANCIENT GOLF CLUB OF ST ANDREWS, AND THROUGH THIS EVENT HE HAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO PUT THE FAIRMONT ST ANDREWS INTO THE MINDS OF VISITING ASIAN GOLFERS, BOTH AS A PLACE TO STAY, AND TO PLAY.
IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHETHER THE ST ANDREWS BAY CHAMPIONSHIP WILL BE A LONG-TERM FIXTURE ON THE ASIAN TOUR, BUT SURELY THAT WILL BE THE GOAL, AFTER STEPPING IN TO STAGE EVENTS ON THE DP WORLD TOUR AS THE TOUR RE-STARTED FOLLOWING LOCKDOWN, THEY HAVE A CHANCE OF CEMENTING THIS EVENT IN THE ST ANDREWS GOLFING AND SOCIAL CALENDAR.
THE BACK NINE OF THE TORRANCE COURSE IS AN ECLECTIC MIX OF SHORT AND LONG HOLES, AND EASY AND DIFFICULT ONES, BUT THE THING WHICH TRUMPS EVERYTHING ELSE, ARE THE VIEWS. THE VIEWS OF THE TOWN OF ST ANDREWS AND THE BREATHTAKING COASTLINE, WHICH HOLES 16 AND 17 HUG. THERE HAVE BEEN RUMOURS FOR A WHILE THAT THE PLAN WAS TO OVERHAUL THE TWO COURSES TO PRODUCE ONE, MUST-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP COURSE, POTENTIALLY MAKING MORE USE OF THE COASTLINE. THE KITTOCKS COURSE HAS SEVERAL SPECTACULAR HOLES WHICH COULD BE AMENDED AND INCORPORATED INTO A NEW SINGLE COURSE, BUT ANY FUTURE SINGLE COURSE MUST SURELY CONTINUE TO MAKE USE OF THE LAND WITH THE VIEW OF THE TOWN.
WHATEVER THE FUTURE FOR THE COURSE, RESORT OR CHAMPIONSHIP, THIS WEEK IS HUGE FOR THE ASIAN TOUR, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY FOR THIS AREA, IT IS HUGE FOR THE FAIRMONT ST ANDREWS. IT IS THEIR OPPORTUNITY TO SHINE.
GENERAL VIEW OF THE TORRANCE COURSE, IMAGE MATT HOOPER.
