Happy 100th To The Eden Course!

/

Though just eleven of H.S. Colt's original holes remain on St. Andrews' Eden Course, it's still a lovely place to play or tee off from every five years when The Open is played on the Old Course.

Big thanks to reader Brian for Laurie Watson's wonderful look back at the creation of the course and opening day 100 years ago on July 2, 1914.

The land for the course was owned in part and leased from Mr Cheape of Strathtyrum House. The Town Council leased two fields adjoining the Goods Railway Station, where the sheds on the 17th are today plus three fields to the north of Pilmour Cottage and on the northside of the railway. The final agreement which was set out in writing on papers dated the 7th and 10th of November 1913, was to last for 25 years. For the land the Council paid Cheape £130 per annum.

As part of the agreement Cheape and his tenants were allowed to graze their sheep on the course. He also reserved the rights to shoot for game, be it rabbit or hares, ‘subject to the shooting being exercised in such a way as shall not interfere with the use of the fields for purposes of a golf course.’

Okay, so Mr. Cheape having one out of two wasn't bad. Oh how Dr. MacKenzie was right about the rabbits!

And oh how we wish we could have been there for this moment:

For the construction, the Town Council set aside £3,000. Mr C.D Harris of Sunningdale was taken on to manage the construction but as part of his contract he had to employ local labour.  Golf course architect Mr Harry S. Colt was a member of the R&A and was deemed the right man for the job.

The Eden officially opened on 2 July 1914 after storm clouds cleared away in time for the opening ceremony. All the local dignitaries including Provost Herkless were there and course designer Harry Colt. The Provost spoke first saying that golf had been played in St Andrews for centuries and that the Old Course remained the first and greatest of courses in the world. His words were greeted with applause.