The ST ANDREWS Golf club at Scotland (3)

The basic qualities of the Old Course at St Andrews are the same today as they were when golf was first played over this stretch of ancient linksland six centuries ago.

Natural evolution and man-made changes have re-shaped some of the details with discount golf clubs, but the up-hill-down-dale nature of the dunes terrain and the special challenge presented by almost every hole would still be recognised today by the ancient pioneers who first struck a ball over the land centuries ago.

In the early days of the game, golfers at Leith played over five holes, Musselburgh had nine and St Andrews 22 – or strictly speaking 11 which were played out to the estuary of the River Eden and back again into the city.

Homeward players had the right of way, but after holing out they had to tee the ball within one club length of the hole for their next shot. This created not only a very poor quality of surface over which to putt, but also a great deal of confusion and frustration.

In its original form the Old Course was played backwards, from the first tee to the 17th green and then following a clockwise rotation, but the present anti-clockwise route became popular and for a period of some 40 years play was switched back and forth on a regular basis between the left and right-hand courses.

The creation of a separate first green in 1870 eventually led to the present course being permanently adopted for major events, although records for both courses continued into the last decade of the 19th century.

In modern times the old left-hand course has occasionally been played for a few weeks in winter.

Today’s recommendations: taylormade r9 driver,taylormade r9 fairway wood.

COURSE RECORD: Bradley Dredge shot a 64 during the first round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship of 2006. He teed off at the 10th and gained five birdies in a row, adding a sixth at 16. A double bogey at 17 was the only blemish on a scorecard that went on to record birdies at 18, 2, 5 and 9.