Taking a stand against erosion of ‘local times’

From a vantage point the envy of golfers across the world, Gordon Murray has his say on the ‘fear factor’ that has engulfed St Andrews...

What do we have to fear by taking a stand? They can’t take away any more; they’ve already taken nearly everything

Gordon Murray’s view of St Andrews Links is certainly worth seeing, but also listening to. His living room bay window has a surely unequalled panorama, high above the 18th tee of the Old Course, the 17th green and Road Hole bunker, the 1st green, the historic links stretching away to the horizon.

The thousands of pilgrims pausing on the ancient Swilcan Bridge to have their picture taken for mantelpieces and office desks across the world are right under Gordon’s gaze, when he isn’t playing golf himself, which is most days.

The 72-year-old was born and bred in St Andrews, and retired here 20 years ago after a successful business life in Aberdeen, to this apartment overlooking the most precious piece of ground in golf, bequeathed to him. Gordon could probably name his price for this unique property, but he thinks it’s far too precious for that, and it’ll be handed on to his two sons.

Money doesn’t matter to him, but golf does, and specifically St Andrews golf. For much of his time since returning to the town Gordon has been a vocal advocate for the rights of St Andrews golfers; sometimes a lone voice.

“There’s a fear factor, sometimes people here are kind of passive,” he says with a combative twinkle. “Don’t get me wrong, I don’t blame them – they’re kind of frightened it’ll harm what they have at the moment.

“But we’re getting to the point that we’ll have nothing. What do we have to fear by taking a stand? They can’t take away any more; they’ve already taken nearly everything.”

Gordon’s issue is the continual erosion of St Andrews’ golfers rights to play the Old Course, which were enshrined – in fact the whole reason for – the Links Act established in 1974 which resulted in the formation of the St Andrews Links Trust.

“Their remit was to run the courses on behalf of and for the benefit the townspeople of St Andrews. Well I’m sorry I believe they’re not carrying through that remit,” he continues.

“The last guy alive instrumental in drawing up the act was probably Sandy Rutherford and I met him out in South Africa once. I asked him straight out if he thought the Links Act has been interpreted in the manner they intended, and he just “No. It’s totally outwith the spirit of that.”

Gordon understands the necessity of the Trust to make money, but thinks that side of their operations – “it’s loaded for visitors now” – has overwhelmed their basic duty to protect the rights of St Andrians and specifically the “local times” reserved for members of the town clubs.

“I don’t have a problem with the Trust being run as a good business,” he said.

“That should be for the good of the courses. But you should remember what you were put in place for.

“The local times have been steadily eroded over the years. It’s become an easy target. If the R&A want 10 times for a match it’s granted just like that. If it’s the local clubs, it’s a different matter. It even happens now at the New Course, which used to be pitch up and play.

“A few years ago there was amendment made which made every R&A member, no matter where they come from, eligible for local times. There was no consultation with the other local clubs, they just did it.

“The ballot for tee times is fine if it’s a fair ballot, but it’s not. I’m a member of both the St Andrews and the New Clubs and if it’s local guys getting the local times there’s no problem for me.

“What I do have a problem with is when you look at the ballot and there’s a member of the R&A from Timbuktu getting a local time. I bring this up and I’m told, “it’s in the Act”. It’s certainly not in the spirit of the Act and it was put there without consultation.”

The R&A’s position within the Links is “out of proportion” to what was intended, he adds.

“They have a majority of trustees. They have a majority on the ICLC (Inter Club Liaison Committee), which was supposed to protect the rights of the local clubs. Nothing gets done on the links without their approval,” he continues.

“As long as the R&A are happy, the Trust are happy. And that means while the rights of local clubs are eroded, (the R&A) get more and more.

“The R&A certainly think they own the Old Course. It’s the tail wagging the dog, they can say what they like and they tell (the Trust) what to do.”

Gordon is more than aware that some outwith St Andrews will view this as the epitome of a first world problem – St Andrews people griping about what is unquestionably one of the greatest deals in sport, £250 for an annual links ticket to play the greatest golf property in the world. “It’s not about the cost,” he argues. “We know we have this great privilege even as it’s being eroded.

“But anyway it’s not a privilege for St Andrews people, it’s a right. The links is held in trust for the people of the town. Yes, it’s the greatest deal in golf, but it’s that way because it belongs to us.

“In any case we don’t have the cheapest golf in the world, the R&A has. An R&A member pays less than a local does, although they won’t divulge it. I know many R&A members and they laugh about it – it’s a golfing utopia for them.

“They buy holiday homes here and think that should get them access to local tee times. They and the international members of the other clubs shouldn’t be allowed the local times.”