Why toasties, not tee times, are all the rage now in St Andrews
It’s been that silver lining in those lockdown life clouds. As a Fife resident, the opportunity to make the occasional trip to St Andrews to break up the monotony of daily exercise on the doorstep, enjoyable as though that may be, has been grabbed.
A couple of times, the trip has been made for a game of golf but, on the other occasions, it has simply been for a stroll through the Auld Grey Toun with my good lady who, as you might expect, always enjoys returning to her birthplace.
Soon after we arrived on a visit early in December, it didn’t get my full attention, unfortunately, because of news having just broken about Peter Alliss passing away, but a return trip on Sunday was uninterrupted. The sun was out, the temperature was nudging double figures and, as has become a custom of ours, we parked down near the Links Trust clubhouse and West Sands.
That started, really, when I stood listening to Christy O’connor Jr one day – it must have been during the 1990 Open Championship – and he mentioned St Andrews was the only venue where he never used courtesy cars. The Irishman preferred strolling through the town, soaking up its atmosphere and enjoying the sights, and, for me, too, there are few greater pleasures in life.
I’ll let you into a secret, in fact. During the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, I’ve often stretched my legs up in the town rather than out on the links. Yes, I know that’s probably wrong, but it’s true.
This particular stroll through the town was extremely enjoyable but, at the same time, a stark reminder that the St Andrews most people know and love is not that St Andrews at the moment becasue of the Covid-19 restrictions.
Market Street and South Street, normally a buzz of activity, were almost deserted, apart from the people in queues outside coffee shops and takeaway food outlets.
On the walk from the centre of the town, it felt almost eerie to see places like Greyfriars Inn, Ardgowan Hotel, Dunvegan Hotel, the Golf Inn and Hams Hame all lying closed,
as has been the case for some time.
It’s the same with the likes of Auchterlonies, St Andrews Golf Co, the Old Course Shop operated by the Links Trust and the R&A Shop.
Tills in those places are being heavily hit, too, with doors currently being shut as non-essential businesses.
As it was a Sunday, there was noone out playing on the Old Course but, normally, that paves the way for non-golfers to wander out on to the hallowed turf for photographs, either with the iconic R&A Clubhouse in the background or down on the Swilken Bridge.
Not at the moment, though, and that, of course, is an illustration of the fact everyone currently visiting in St Andrews has been there and done it, numerous times over in many cases, but, at the same time, certainly don’t take it for granted.
As we took a stroll down to the 17th tee, I couldn’t help thinking about how fortunate people are to get that opportunity when, for example, the closest Joe Bloggs can ever get to Augusta National is a view of the main gate from Washington Road.
It gives you goosebumps standing on the Road Hole and 18th thinking about all the great champions who have made that special walk.
And, of course, an opportunity for someone else to experience one of the best feelings in the game is looming on the horizon.
In preparation for the 150th Open Championship, which had been due for July but has been pushed back 12 months by the coronavirus pandemic, lots of building work is currently taking place.
The Old Course Hotel is swathed in scaffolding at both ends as major renovation work is carried out on
Herb Kohler’s prized property, while a sizable extension to the Rusacks Hotel is also taking shape, though the verdict on that is likely to be mixed.
By summer 2022, the world will hopefully be back to near normality and the Old Course will welcome its traditional bumper attendance for the Claret Jug event.
But, for now, it seems St Andrews has become more popular for toasties than tee times.
The Cheesy Toast Shack is located at the St Andrews Sailing Club at the East Sands and a socially-distanced constant queue of people – I can now recommend the popular mac and cheese one – confirmed it has become a centre of attention, while the rest of the place resembles a ghost town
Albon says he has not given up hope on his Formula One dream after being dropped by Red Bull.
London-born Albon, 24, will be on the bench this year after Red Bull hired Sergio Perez alongside Max Verstappen.
Albon has endured a rollercoaster career. He was dumped from the Red Bull academy when he was 16 but beat the odds to drive for Toro Rosso in 2019 and then earn promotion to Red Bull after just a dozen races.
"I have been through this situation many times in my racing career so it hasn't been all that bleak," said Albon, who will be Red Bull's reserve driver for the upcoming campaign. "There haven't been any violins in the background. I am confident in myself. I know I can bounce back and that is my target. If you wallow around, you are not doing anything to open doors or to get a seat back.
"Of course, it was disappointing (to be dropped) and it was always going to be disappointing because this is our dream.
But, very quickly, I realised there is no point feeling sorry for yourself. You have to get back into it and do as much as you can to get back. My goal is to be in a seat next year."
Albon steadily impressed in his first season but finished only seventh in the standings last year, four places and 109 points behind team-mate Verstappen. Red Bull kept faith with him for the 17-race seaalexander son before going outside their driver stable to sign Perez, just five days after the concluding round in Abu Dhabi.
"There is no secret it was a difficult season for me but you have to take it," added Albon. “The team knows what I’m capable of. They’d have got rid of me completely if they didn't believe in me. I know they still trust me and have faith in what I do.”