Club’s bicentennial celebrations

A St Andrews golf club is to celebrate its 200th anniversary with a series of events.

The St Andrews Thistle Golf Club, known as the Wee Club, was formed in 1817 as the Thistle Golf Society and counts Old Tom Morris as a former honorary member.

During 2017 it will host tournaments, competitions and special events to mark its milestone.

Celebrations will tee off in April when the captain’s drive-in will precede the launch of a specially-commissioned exhibition at the British Golf Museum about the history and traditions of the club and social history of its members.

A round-robin against other Thistle golf clubs will also be held in April and a putting challenge against the St Andrews Ladies Putting Club in June.

A head-to-head match will be played against Scotscraig Golf Club, which also celebrates its 200th anniversary this year, in July.

A grand match on July 2 will see some 200 golfers play the Old Course on a Sunday, when golf is not normally permitted, by special dispensation of St Andrews Links Trust.

Members and invited dignitaries will toast the club’s history at a gala dinner in the Old Course Hotel in October.

Any offers of support or sponsorship for events can be made through Jim Knox, chairman of the anniversary sub-committee, by emailing jimk1509@talktalk.net.