Standing on the first tee of the Jubilee Course in St. Andrews, Scotland, one cannot help but feel the weight of history. The course, opened in 1897 to honor Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, sits in the birthplace of golf. The renowned Old Course, dating to the 1400s, is the oldest in the world.
Legends like Old and Young Tom Morris, Jack Nicklaus, and Seve Ballesteros have walked its fairways. The New Course, designed by Old Tom Morris in 1895, offers a shorter but equally intriguing layout. Walking its centuries-old paths, the memory of thrilling exploits practically oozes into your shoes.
The town’s past is equally compelling. A stone obelisk behind the Old Course’s 18th green, the Martyrs’ Monument, commemorates Protestants burned at the stake in 1528. Exploring cobblestone streets and ruins reveals a story that is sometimes shockingly bloody.
Alternating rounds of golf with historical explorations is the ultimate Scottish sojourn. The Old, New, and Jubilee Courses each hold unique significance. Whether on the links or the streets, the astonishing story of St. Andrews pulls you in at every turn.
Source: New York Times Business · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing