The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Seve and Jack’s exhibition match at Ladybank club
VENUE: Cupar club hosted golfing greats after Old Course withdrew permission at the last minute
Two of the greatest golfers of all time, Jack Nicklaus and Seve Ballesteros, might have expected to get a tee time at the Old Course in St Andrews.
Instead the pair were forced to play an exhibition game in the unlikely setting of Ladybank, near Cupar, as fans climbed trees to get the best view.
The 1983 battle remains the greatest moment in Ladybank Golf Club’s history and memories are being shared of the famous day to mark this week’s 35th anniversary.
Club historian, former captain Bob Drummond, said: “We have had a number of glittering occasions, but nothing has ever matched the atmosphere generated on the day that the world’s two greatest golfers flew in.
“Ladybank was already enjoying an enhanced reputation, having been accorded Open qualifying status in 1978, but hosting such an occasion really put Ladybank on the national and international map.”
The famous duo were scheduled to play a head-to-head exhibition game on the Old Course to celebrate the re-opening of the most famous golf hotel in the world.
But the St Andrews Links Trust which controls play on all six of the town’s courses withdrew permission at the last minute, fearing it would cause too much disruption to regular play, and Ladybank stepped in as the substitute venue.
Around 5,000 fans waited patiently in the sweltering heat as the helicopter carrying the stars arrived half-an-hour late to a thunderous roar of welcome.
Ballesteros took an early lead in the match and would eventually win by a resounding six shots with a recordequalling two under par 69.
“Only at St Andrews have I played before more enthusiastic crowds,” Nicklaus said afterwards.
The match took place just a week before the Open at Royal Birkdale.
“Seve says he has learned from me, now I have to start learning from him,” said Nicklaus. Seve has not won the Open in Scotland yet, but he will.”