Watching golfers on the Old Course from Rusacks Hotel in St. Andrews better than any TV

I don’t watch TV much these days. Maybe it’s because I live in a foreign country and can’t understand much Czech, or maybe its because I can simply pirate old South Park episodes to my computer, which is really all the entertainment I need at the moment.

But who needs TV when you’ve got the balcony of the Young Tom Morris suite at the Macdonald Rusacks Hotel in St. Andrews, overlooking the 18th green of the Old Course and all the dramatic theatre it beholds?

After I returned from my round at the Duke’s Course down the road this afternoon (a modern parkland style that made me feel like I was back to playing high school fall golf in Michigan. Who knew courses like this existed in the birthplace of golf?) I took time out to brew a cup of Joe and watch some foursomes finish their round on the 18th.

The pin position today was tucked middle-left, just above the infamous “Valley of Sin". While several players played the approach shot pefectly, hitting a screamer just in front of the green and letting the slope of the valley settle it near the hole, one poor sap had a rough finish.

Hitting three from in front of the green on the left side, he hit his chip too strong and it ended up in heavy rough near the back wall just steps off the green. His chip then zoomed past the flag and back down the valley off the green. His putt back up was too soft and it rolled back to him. He then knocked it to fifteen feet and two-putted.

His foursome had holed out before he could make it on the green. Poor bloke. Others had some difficultly with the green, but none like that. At least in the twenty minutes I was a spectator.

There are few balconies at Rusacks, but many rooms do have a view of the Old Course. The restaurant and bar area also have great views of the 18th and 1st holes. If you’re going to do St. Andrews, do it right and stay at this legendary hotel, just like Bobby Jones always did when he was in town.

It is also a posh 4-star joint and course views command a 60-pound surcharge. So you might wanna clear it with the mrs. first.

This particular suite is a huge draw during the British Open, as it peers just over the grand stands to the right of the green. Hotel officials say the room generates about four months of regular revenue during Open week.

Those who return to the Duke’s Course in St. Andrews may not recognize the dramatic new bunkering (116 total) and four brand new finishing holes.

The view from the Young Tom Morris Suite at the famous Rusacks Hotel in St. Andrews.