17 things you (probably) never knew about golf in Scotland

1. 

The Old Course at St Andrews is arguably the most famous 18-hole course in the world. However, it wasn’t always like that. Back in 1764, it consisted of 22 holes, with golfers playing the same holes out and coming back. Ultimately, though, it was determined that the first four holes were too short and should be made into two, which ultimately ended up with 18 holes becoming a standard length for, not just the Old Course, but courses around the world.

2. 

The Solheim Cup, contested by the best female professionals from the USA and their counterparts from Europe, has been staged in Scotland on three occasions since the competition was established in 1990 – the most of any country with the exception of the USA. Europe has won the match each time it has taken place here, most recently in 2019 when home favourite Catriona Matthew captained the team to victory.

3. 

The world’s first-ever professional golfer was a Scot. That man was Allan Robertson of St Andrews. As well as being the premier ball and clubmaker of the mid-19th century, he was also  the first man to go around the Old Course in less than 80 strokes.  When he died in 1889, his obituary read: “Allan Robertson was the greatest golf player that ever lived, of who alone in the annals of the pastime it can be said that he was never beaten.”

4. 

Of the 63 clubs in the world with Royal patronage, ten of them are found in Scotland. They are: the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews; Royal Aberdeen; Royal Burgess; Royal Dornoch; Duff House Royal; Royal Montrose; Royal Musselburgh; Royal Perth; Royal Tarlair; and Royal Troon. The most recent of those to have received the status was Royal Troon, which was bestowed with it by Queen Elizabeth II in 1978.

5. 

The longest putt ever holed is believed to have been recorded in St Andrews. Back in 2003, a 13-handicap amateur named Fergus Muir used his hickory-shafted putter off the tee of the par-3 fifth hole. He reasoned that he did so to compensate for a strong wind that was blowing across the hole. It proved to be an inspired decision, too, as his effort found the bottom of the hole, some 375 feet away.