2024 ACTIVITIES

St Andrews Legacy started its second decade of activity by welcoming friends old and new, pressing forward into the future by revisiting the past.

We were delighted to welcome back representatives of the Grenadier Guards, two of whom were with us in 2014 and 2015. Scott Blaney is currently training to be a fully qualified PGA professional and his high standard of play throughout the week showed what can be achieved by hard graft and dedication. Bernie Broad also returned to St Andrews, and once again demonstrated that severe injury can be overcome by force of character. They were joined by first-time visitor Andy Green and accompanied by Regimental Casualty Officer Matt Ellmer. The UK contingent was completed by Mark Horwood of the Welsh Guards.

It was also a pleasure to reacquaint ourselves with veterans from American Lake Golf Course, near Tacoma, Washington. Jim Martinson, Steven Elliot, and Aaron Boyle blazed the trail ten years ago, and Jim himself helped to identify Sam Williams, Scott Robinson and Michael Gayken to continue the partnership.

The first course we visited was Dumbarnie Links, only four years old but already a must-play destination. After the welcoming warmth of a tot on the first tee, it was off to experience a round on Clive Clark’s design. The vets soon learned that in Scotland whisky is mixed with rain, sun, mist, and unpredictable breezes…

Next stop was Crail Balcomie, where in fact St Andrews Legacy was launched in 2013. The conditions were ideal and the day was made more special by meeting Pam Smith, the former captain of Crail Golfing Society, who has a long connection with us.

The final two days of golf took place at St Andrews Links.

The Jubilee Course was played in a challenging crosswind, coming out of the south, but the classic hard-running links challenge was exciting and energising.

Next day it was The Old Course, a place many have played but which retains its uniqueness to each individual: no two people have ever played it the same way.

Thank you to all the venues for their warm welcomes, and to St Andrews Golf Club and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club for their hospitality. We are very grateful to Lucia Farah for her gracious welcome to St Andrews. The veterans stayed at David Russell Apartments.

Read the 2024 newsletters: the people, the places, the magic…