In the Kingdom of Golf, St Andrews is clearly the capital, a
golfing Mecca that has been drawing pilgrims world wide for centuries.
But it does have other points of interest either to distract you from
the golf or to enthral you between tee offs.
St
Andrews is an extremely affluent market town based on medieval town
planning. Lining its cobbled streets are a collection of shops,
boutiques, book shops and cafes, which are a delight to stroll around
and you could be forgiven for thinking you were in London – a very well
heeled part of London.
The town has an abundance of historic
buildings. The once great Cathedral and Castle of St Andrews, now
ruins, stand as a reminder of the towns prominence in the medieval
times as the ecclesiastical centre for Scotland and its bloody part in
the reformation. The first university in Scotland was founded in St
Andrew’s in 1410 to be swelled in the mid-16th Century by the colleges
of St Salvator, St Leonard and St Mary, all buildings of spectacular
beauty, clad in ivy and set around lush lawns. Much of the town is made
up of Old Victorian architecture, further evidence of the boon of the
golfing age.
St Andrews is a historic town but its large
student population means its appeal isn’t just rooted in the past. It’s
a vibrant and active town, whether it’s with students meeting and
greeting, tourists milling around, or golfers shopping for equipment,
there is a constant bustle about the place, but no hustle. While at the
same time St Andrews boasts some stunning white sandy beaches to relax
along and take in the fantastic coastal scenery.
Then there is
of course, the golf. Famous as the seat of the Royal and Ancient Golf
Club, the game’s governing body and home to the hallowed Old Course.
Even non-golfers can appreciate the stunning scenery across the
fairway, along the sandy beaches with the backdrop of the noble Royal
and Ancient Club House. And what better place than St Andrews for the
British Golf Museum, where you can find out about the roots of the game
and relive some of the greatest moments in golfing history.
In the Kingdom of Golf, St Andrews is clearly the capital, a
golfing Mecca that has been drawing pilgrims world wide for centuries.
But it does have other points of interest either to distract you from
the golf or to enthral you between tee offs.
