St Andrews installs safety net to protect drinkers from stray balls

IT HAS been described as “bizarre” by Colin Montgomerie while Tony Jacklin, the most successful British golfer of his generation, admitted he was “intimidated” by it.

The 17th hole at the hallowed Old Course at St Andrews, which is widely acknowledged as the birthplace of the sport, has a reputation as one of the most feared fairways in the world.

But the 495-yard Road Hole, as it is known, has now become even more treacherous for players and patrons of the five-star Old Course Hotel.

Scaffolding has been erected on the roof of the hotel, which some risk-taking players choose to shoot over as part of their tactics on the par four hole.

However, many players are failing to make the extra distance and wayward balls are landing in the Jigger Inn beer garden, putting customers at risk.

Hotel managers have now gained planning permission from Fife council to install a 45ft safety net over the premises to protect its customers.

Hotel sources yesterday played down reports that Scottish golfers, not the more competent American players, were the reason for the safety feature being installed. However, they acknowledged that, as more novices took up the game during lockdown, there had been a “change in the type of golfer” playing the course and they were more likely to hit wayward shots.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re Scottish, American, or any other nationality, it’s a notoriously difficult hole whether you’re a pro or an amateur,” the hotel source said. “But the main change has been the scaffolding for the new roof, which is putting some people off their shots and means the roof is 8ft higher than it was previously. That’s what’s causing the problems.”

Staff say it is “like a gunshot” when balls hit the walls of the hotel.

Describing the challenges of the Road Hole, Montgomerie, who won a record eight European Tour Order of Merit titles, said: “You start by hitting over some railway sheds, parts of a hotel, then you land on a sixpence because the fairway narrows considerably. It’s bizarre in many ways, yet it’s superb in others.”

Jacklin, who in 1970 became the first British player to win the US Open in more than 70 years, said: “It’s intimidating, in part because you’ve got to fire straight across the hotel.

“Any time you don’t see where your golf ball is intended on landing, you get a little bit uptight. If you go too far you’re on the road itself. It’s one of the great holes in golf.”

‘The 17th hole at the Old Course is intimidating because you’ve got to fire straight across a hotel’