Young golfers step back in time with Old Tom Morris

TO CELEBRATE the first St Andrews Festival of Golf, some St Leonards pupils got into the spirit of things by travelling back to the time of Old Tom Morris.

The youngsters donned clothing from the late 19th century and used hickory golf clubs as they played a re-creation of a course which was reportedly laid out by Old Tom on the grounds of St Leonards.

Old Tom Morris — in the form of well known local golf historian David Joy — was also on hand to oversee proceedings.

Old Tom laid out a six-hole, par three course on the grounds of St Leonards in 1894.

The course was used up until the First World War, providing a form of exercise for pupils at the school, which was all girls at the time.

David Joy said: “Old Tom volunteered to set out the course for the school as he had a fondness for the children.

“It would have been a charming, six- hole area.

“I’m sure a lot of the school’s masters and mistresses would have taken advantage of it.”

Picture: Dougie Nicolson. Year 10 (third year) pupils receiving a golf lesson from Old Tom Morris aka David Joy, seccond right, with Tom’s caddie Jimmy Bone, right, as pupils (from left) Ellie Hutson, Charlotte Leek, Alasdair Mcdougall and Curtis Stiles swing their hickory clubs.