A chip over the old block

A lasting memory of Ireland's Dunhill Cup triumph at St Andrews in 1988, is of students taunting Nick Faldo with a banner hung from a window of Hamilton Hall, the imposing, red-stone building behind the 18th green. "Can you see this, Nick?", the banner asked of the Englishman, who had declined to finish his semi-final match against Des Smyth on the Saturday, because of fog.

It is unlikely those students would have known they were occupying the former Grand Hotel, which was sold for an undisclosed sum to the University of St Andrews in September 1949. Or that a local man of an earlier generation used to hit golf shots over its five storeys, for bets.

Their education would be greatly enriched by a marvellous book, Links with the Past, written with great affection by Bob MacAlindin about the spiritual home of golf. It contains a priceless collection of anecdotes which are certain to find a ready market, given the staging of the Millennium Open at St Andrews in July.

One which held special appeal for me was of a local character named "Peg" Hutchison, a one-time professional who had fallen on hard times and lived in an abandoned cottage on the Eden Course. Even more interesting was that he happened to be a brother of American-based Jock Hutchinson who, as winner of the 1921 Open at St Andrews, became the first player to bring the famous claret jug across the Atlantic.

In sharp contrast to Jock's success, "Peg" was little more than a tramp. And as a modest earner behind the 18th green, where the Links Trust shop is today, he would ask a likely American or Australian tourist: "What would you give me if I could hit a ball from here, over that building (Grand Hotel) and land it on the back lawn of the Scores Hotel (next door)?"

"Impossible," was the usual reply. Though he rarely had a penny to his name, "Peg" would then cover any bet the visitor cared to make. "But how do we know the ball you hit is the one we'll find on the lawn?" "Mark the ball any way you like."

With that, the old pro would produce an ancient, openface club and whack the ball unerringly over the roof, as promised. It was said that he never had a mis-hit, which was probably just as well for the safety of the hotel guests. Indeed there were those who claimed he was a better player than his illustrious brother.

He was certainly a wonderful teacher, by all accounts. There is the story of how he came across a woman playing the 16th hole of the Eden Course and after giving her a demonstration of his skill, invited her to "walk a way out" with him.

Some time later, she came across Tom Ritchie, a member of the grounds staff. "Who was that trampy man?" she enquired. When informed about "Peg", she declared: "Well, I've learned more about golf in these last few holes, than I learned in 10 hours with Lawrie Auchterlonie (the best known local teacher at that time)."

Links with the Past is available at Golfing Memories in Bray.

"How about banning anyone with tattoos?"

- Peter Alliss on being asked what could be done to restore the dignity of the Ryder Cup for the 2001 matches at The Belfry.

Even jewellers mess with the Shark at their peril. That seems to be the message from Miami, where 47-year-old Jack Hasson from North Palm Beach is being tried for selling fake, flawed, filled and painted gems to the rich and famous.

Among Hasson's clients was Greg Norman, who claimed that a $48,875 shark-shaped pin which he commissioned for his wife Laura as a gift in 1996, contained poor quality diamonds. "There was a huge change in the emotional feeling of my wife - she didn't want to continue to wear it," said Norman.

It was reported that after spending about $500,000 on jewellery from Hasson over a period of 10 years, Norman switched his business. And he has since bought between $500,000 to $850,000 worth of trinkets from the prestigious Harry Winston jewellers in New York. All of which is entirely in keeping with his image.

The first step towards shaping a new challenge for Ryder Cup participants in 2005, is currently under way at The K Club. All the tee-marker boards have been taken down for repainting and fresh pathways are being laid from green to tee for what is to become effectively a different course on February 1st.

As promised last summer, the course is to have a radically changed routing, at a cost of up to £10,000. Initially, it will be for a trial period of one year, but crucially, this includes next July's Smurfit European Open.

Competitors will start on the 10th and after completing the short 17th (their eighth), will progress to the present ninth. This means that the existing first becomes the new 10th; the seventh, eighth and 18th become the three finishing holes, while for the European Open, a new grandstand will be erected at the eighth (new 17th).

The new layout addresses a fundamental spectator problem which would almost certainly arise at the climactic stage of Ryder Cup matches. By its nature, the existing 16th, with water in front and behind the green, offers very limited viewing areas, unlike the par-five seventh, which will probably become a gamble two-shotter off a forward tee.

If the change is successful, 4,000 scorecards will have to be scrapped. Either way, an entirely new batch will be ready next week, showing a par-72 layout with halves of 35 and 37 and with three par-fives on the back nine, just like Mullingar.

"The real test will be the European Open, so we won't throw out the old scorecards just yet," said director of golf, Paul Crowe. "If this one-year experiment doesn't work out, we'll be reverting to the original layout." He went on: "It's surprising how easy it is to implement the changes. Other than a few new pathways, very little work has been necessary."

Those who might be surprised at the apparent indifference of US golfers to Irish weather, should note the results of a recent survey carried out by the American National Golf Foundation. Of 600 avid golfers, 60 per cent didn't mind playing in rain and 80 per cent claimed they had actually started a round in a downpour.

Casey Martin has been the focus of much attention at the Bob Hope Classic, currently in progress over four courses at Bermuda Dunes, California. He will be familiar to enthusiasts as the player who has been forced to use a golf buggy because of a congenital ailment known as Klippel-Trenaunay-Webber Syndrome in his right leg.

As a result of a court ruling, the USPGA Tour had no option but to allow Martin to use the buggy, given his status as an exempted player. But it laid down strict rules as to what it could look like.

For instance, most private buggies in the Palm Springs area are elaborate and expensive, as might be expected for such luxuries as a CD player, air-conditioning and a Rolls Royce grille. None of these items is to be found in Martin's vehicle. In fact it doesn't even have a windshield or roof and the player is forbidden from taking his golf bag or a cooler on board.

Applying the strict letter of the law, the tour have decided it should be for transport - nothing more.

This day in golf history. . . . On January 22nd 1956, LPGA players and fans at the Tampa Women's Open, had an emotional conversation with the ailing Babe Zaharias on a special radio link. Eight months later, Babe died from a recurrence of colon cancer.

Teaser: In strokeplay, A and B both started with 14 clubs. They were using iron clubs of the same model. At one hole, B's caddie inadvertently put one of B's clubs into A's bag. At a subsequent hole, A played a stroke with B's club by mistake. What is the ruling?

Answer: Rule 4-4a states: "The player shall start a stipulated round with not more than 14 clubs. He is limited to the clubs thus selected. . . ." Player A complied with the first sentence and therefore incurred no penalty for carrying B's club. However, when A played a stroke with B's club, he did not comply with the second sentence and was subject to penalty under Rule 4-4a.