GOLF TRAVEL

The Old Course Experience Ignites the Competitive Flame for Amateurs at St. Andrews

ST. ANDREWS, SCOTLAND (Aug. 16, 2002) -- For the diehard, or even the casual golf fan, images of St. Andrews transported to our living rooms cement themselves in our memories. The superhuman golfers being reduced to mere mortals by the frustrating fescue. Golfing legend Nicklaus waving goodbye from atop a small brick bridge that seemed to weaken under the pressure of greatness.

After wrapping up his first Open Championship, and completing the career Grand Slam before many golfers in their playing primes had even had a chance to drink from any major championship jug, Woods had this to say the place of his conquest.

“To win at St. Andrews is the ultimate.”

But for the rest of us, those who scrounge around our local clubs on the weekend, competing for sandies and retiring after 18 hard fought holes for a pitcher and a laugh, playing at the home of golf in a competitive atmosphere, much less winning, would be the ultimate. But alas, it has always been a distant dream.

Until now.

Hoping to keep the flame of excitement over golf going in St. Andrews, a flame that has flickered brightly amid the wind and rain for over 200 years, the Old Course Experience has announced its tournament lineup for 2003, including the second installment of a popular father and son event, as well as two new tournaments guaranteed to satisfy any golfer’s cravings for competition, all at the area’s best courses and most exquisite hotels.

Second Annual Father and Son Tournament

Old Tom Morris is synonymous with St. Andrews golf. His stern face and shaggy beard are symbols of how the game began, as well as a steady reminder of how far the game has come. Among his many accomplishments, Morris is best known for his four Open Championships during the 1860’s, including a remarkable conquest at age 46, in 1867.

Equally as accurate as his irons were his genes, which produced another golfing legend, Tom Morris Jr. In the year after his father gave inspiration to all golfers now deemed “over the hill,” young Tom won the Championship at a staggering age of 17, something that may never be accomplished again. Adding to the legend, Tom won the next three after his first one, giving the Morris family control of the British golfing world for five long years.

It was only fitting, then, that the inaugural Father and Son tournament started in honor with a pioneer of golf and his son, be won by a pair of Tom’s, Tom Chillemi Sr. and his son.

The Toms will have a chance to keep the trophy in the family, when the Second Father and Son Tournament returns to St. Andrews starting April 12th.

Over the five days, up to 60 golfers trudge through 72 holes of better ball competition at the area’s most premier courses, all in search of the most valued title in all of father-son competition. In addition to the famed Old Course, the newly designed Kingsbarn Golf Course, par-69 Crail Club, and St. Andrews’ New Course will host the tourney.

Included in the week are five nights at the Rusacks Hotel, drinks for those old enough (remember this is a family atmosphere), and a hearty welcome dinner. And for the more competitive of families, there will be individual scratch and handicap events, as well as the customary closest to the pin and longest drive challenges.

The price is a small sack of 1795 pounds for the golfer and only 795 pounds for the nongolfer looking to enjoy the sites, sounds, and smells of majestic St. Andrews.

Inaugural Mother and Daughter Tournament

COURSE Just because there is not any heartwarming tale of mother and daughter romping golf competitions during the 19th century, does not mean that women’s golf has not been a huge part of the growth of this great sport in St. Andrews.

Given the success of the father-son tourney, and to commemorate women’s golf, which has been thriving in the area since the middle of the 1800s, this May, mothers and daughters will have their chance to shine.

The four day test of golf and inner strength will encompass 54 holes at the Old and New Courses, as well as the Jubilee Course, the youngest and most seaward of the historic bunch.

The format is the same as the father-son tournament, and four nights at the Rusacks is provided in the 1475 pound entry fee. And for those physically drained by the whipping winds of St. Andrews and those nasty pot bunkers, the Old Course Hotel has thrown in a spa treatment.

Worldwide Golf Club Tournament

The As much as golf is classified as an individual sport – man against man, man against nature, man against himself – the sport is at its best when played in a team format. Remember the Ryder Cup? The pure joy and jubilation as the United States teams rushed to the green, and then the subsequent celebration that had the young and the old, the dominant and the lesser known, spraying champagne like fraternity boys?

Of course you do. And if you are a golfer -- a true golfer -- you’ve dreamt of that moment since.

In the Old Course Experience’s final tournament of 2003, men, women and juniors from across the globe will have the chance to experience international golf competition in a beautiful setting.

One hundred and forty four players will make up teams of four from 36 clubs around the globe, in a five day slugfest that will feature 54 competitive holes at the New Course, Old Course, and Kingsbarn. And, just to add to the experience, the package, which runs 2500 pounds per person, includes a practice round at the Devlin Course. The course is part of the brand spanking new St. Andrews Bay Hotel and Resort, that also will be furnishing the living accommodations over the five nights.

Programming for the nongolfer is also available for a reduced rate of 1250 pounds. And for the true golf junkie, there are warm-up or cool down packages available at Turnberry, home to two courses, including one that hosted this year’s Women’s British Open.

For more information on any of these tournaments, or about available accommodation upgrades to make your week’s experience even more meaningful, contact the Old Course Experience.
Tel: +44 (0)20 8795 9800
Fax: +44 (0)20 8795 9849
US: 888-390-1811
Email: tournaments@oldcourse-experience.com
Web: http://www.oldcourse-experience.com/tournaments

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