December 31, 2013 – References identifying the location of Tom Morris’ first shop have been discovered in manuscripts of the Golf Collection in The University of St. Andrews Special Collections Department.

Local golf history writer Roger McStravick, who was carrying out research for a book on the man known as the ‘Grand Old Man of Golf,’ discovered a statement made by Tom Morris himself around 1878 detailing how he built in that same year his own shop beside the St. Andrews Links at what is today 15 The Links.

Dr. Anthony Parker, Curator of the Golf Collection at The University of St. Andrews, stated: “We are all very excited by this find.  The University has a vast golf collection going back centuries and this news of Tom Morris’ first shop is very likely to be the first of many new findings to come out of the collection.”

“There has always been a gap in Old Tom’s story from 1848 to 1851, before he left St. Andrews to create the course at Prestwick,” Roger McStravick said. “In a pile of very old papers, I noticed a statement from Tom amongst the precognitions taken at the time of the Road Wars, when the town was trying to decide whether to have a road along the side the 18th hole of the St. Andrews Links.”

“In his statement talking about his life around 1848, Tom says that he built his own shop and through statements by others at the time, including the father of the R&A John Whyte-Melville and club maker Robert Forgan, I was able to identify the exact location for this little shop at what is today 15 The Links.”

“I was also delighted to discover from the same precognitions that Daw Anderson, who is known as the ginger beer seller, had his own golf shop at 9 The Links with his son and three time Open champion Jamie Anderson living upstairs for almost 10 years during his Open winning days. Daw was so much more than just a ginger beer seller and thanks to the University’s archives his true story is beginning to emerge.”

Roger McStravick’s book, ‘St. Andrews, In the Footsteps of Old Tom Morris’ will be published in 2014.

The oldest golf shop in the world

Tom Morris is a legendary name in the history of golf. In his hometown of St. Andrews, which overlooks his beloved Old Course, Tom opened the shop that now is considered the oldest golf shop in the world. The shop, currently at 8 The Links of St. Andrews, has been carefully restored unearthing original features, including the flagstone floor and brickwork, retaining the authenticity and lineage of the brand, giving customers a truly unique retail experience.

Inspired by the heritage of Tom Morris, it is also a brand of clothing designed with his extraordinary achievements and charismatic personality in mind. A sporting icon, but above all a gentleman.

Old Tom Morris, a life dedicated to golf

He was born in St Andrews in 1821, and after serving an apprenticeship of several years with Allan Robertson making golf equipment, in 1846 he left due to a difference of opinion regarding the production of golf balls. Allan preferred the feather ball while Tom wanted to make the new rubber ball. In 1848 Tom opened his own business making golf equipment. In 1861 he won his first ever Open Championship, and then came the 1862, 1864 and 1867 victories.

It was in 1866 when Tom purchased 8 The Links, and started up his shop, which still stands today, the oldest golf shop in the world.

Por REDACCIÓN