The development in golf on the St Andrews Links over the past 150 years has been in no small part thanks to the Cheape family of Strathtyrum. The circumstances surrounding these developments are recognised by few at home and abroad.
Today however, the association with the past is perpetuated by names, such as Cheape’s, the bunker on the 2nd and 17th fairway of the Old Course, and the Strathtyrum Course which was laid out on land sold by the late Mrs Gladys Cheape in 1986.
Toward the end of the eighteenth century, the managers of the links were deemed incapable of continuing with the administration of its business! Apparently it was impossible to discuss even trivial municipal affairs without the aid of wine and punch, and greater matters were celebrated with an abundance of strong liquor.
Thus the links were rescued from drunken and incompetent counsellors, but passed to another hazardous environment: that of rabbit farming! Much debate now centred upon the links and rabbits but, as golfers will testify, rabbits are not good for golf links!
So, in 1821 James Cheape purchased the St Andrews Links: an act of perspicacious genius, and one that should be hailed by all golfers as they travail around the links.
How much more pleasure we derive from the game of golf than from the doubtful business of rearing rabbits!
Today the opportunities for playing golf in and around St Andrews is limitless! Quite apart from the 7 courses under the management of St Andrews Links Trust, other courses such as KIngsbarns, Carnoustie, Crail and Elie, to name but a few, are within half an hour’s drive.