On
Sunday 22 June 1997, the Jubilee Course celebrated its centenary. In the space
of 100 years, it had developed from a 12-hole basic layout into one of the toughest
tests of golf at St Andrews.
Created on a narrow strip of land between the New
Course and the sea, the Jubilee was originally a 12 hole course intended for ladies
and beginners.
It was the result of an initiative by the Town Council
who had re-acquired the Links under the 1894 Links Act. In March 1897 the Council
gave the go-ahead to Mr. John Angus Jnr to lay out the course and have it ready
to play in the current season for the princely sum of £178.3s. 8d! A week later
he had 20 men working on site.
The course was ready on 22 June, the date of a public
holiday to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria's accession to the
throne. A commemorative Jubilee Fountain was unveiled on the Links and the Jubilee
course was officially opened by the wife of the Provost John Macgregor. 18 Holes
Around 1902 David Honeyman, Tom Morris' right hand man, suggested that it was
possible to extend the course to 18 holes.
This was done in 1905 at a cost of £150, but only
after an agreement had been reached with the local Rifle and Artillery Volunteers
to regulate play when target shooting was in progress at the rifle butts at the
far end of the course. Further
Improvements In 1938 the Council decided to make further improvements. They entrusted
the supervision to the 1893 Open Champion, Willie Auchterlonie, who by then was
honorary professional to the R&A.
The war years of 1939 to 1945, with their shortages
of men and materials, slowed progress to a crawl. It was finally completed in
June 1946 when Willie struck a ball from the first tee to open it. The Jubilee
was now 6,020 yards long and Willie modestly gave the credit for the improvements
to the greenkeeping staff and commented that "..some day this will be a championship
course".
A Championship Layout
In 1988 the re-design of the Jubilee to championship
standard was carried out by Donald Steel of Cotton, Pennink, Steel & Partners,
golf course architects. The teeing grounds were raised, not only providing wonderful
views of the Links, but also exposing the golfers to the winds which sweep in
from the bay. Mr. Steel's redesigned course was 6,805 yards and a real test for
all golfers. The course was officially opened when Curtis Strange,
the US Open champion, drove a ball from the first tee in September 1989. In 1993, the Jubilee was the venue for the Scottish
Amateur Strokeplay Championship, finally vindicating Willie Auchterlonie's prediction.
*this
content courtesy of the StAndrews Links Trust.
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