For More than Golf, St. Andrews in Scotland is the Place.For More than Golf, St. Andrews in Scotland is the Place World-famous as the home of golf and currently Prince William, the first-time visitor might be mistaken into thinking that St. Andrews on Scotland's east coast, exists only to serve those whose obsession is with the game. And while that is true up to a point, the town is far, far more than a golf museum, having been involved with some of Scotland's most momentous occasions in a history stretching back to the Bronze Age Bronze Age, period in the development of technology when metals were first used regularly in the manufacture of tools and weapons. Pure copper and bronze, an alloy of copper and tin, were used indiscriminately at first; this early period is sometimes called the . More of golf later, but St. Andrews - named after the apostle, St. Andrew, whose relics were brought to the town - became a prominent site for pilgrimage in the Middle Ages while its bishop became the senior bishop in Scotland. Its religious center was the now ruined, but nonetheless imposing, Cathedral, attracting thousands of pilgrims every year, but whose prominence soon came under the microscope of the Protestant Reformation. This was a brutal time for the town as martyrs such as Patrick Hamilton There have been several well-known people named Patrick Hamilton, including:
He belonged to a younger branch of the Wisharts of Pitarrow near Montrose. He may have graduated M.A. (1513) and Walter Myln (1558), were burnt at the stake. All over St. Andrews are inscriptions either carved into the road, such as "PH" for Hamilton outside St. Salvator's Church or on the Martyrs Monument overlooking the Royal and Ancient (R&A) Golf Club. Founded in 1413, and widely regarded as the Scottish Oxbridge, St. Andrews University Andrews University is a Seventh-day Adventist university in Berrien Springs, Michigan. Originally founded in 1874 as Battle Creek College in Battle Creek, Michigan. attracts students of a particularly high caliber and is well-known for subjects such as medicine and international relations international relations, study of the relations among states and other political and economic units in the international system. Particular areas of study within the field of international relations include diplomacy and diplomatic history, international law, . While many locals may grumble about town/gown relations, there is no doubt that the thousands of students pour vast amounts of money into the local economy - especially the ubiquitous pubs - and lend the town a vibrant, dynamic feel. They also retain many rituals dating back to medieval times
Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament , which, although some dismiss as student high jinx Noun 1. high jinx - noisy and mischievous merrymaking high jinks, hijinks, jinks jollification, merrymaking, conviviality - a boisterous celebration; a merry festivity plural, plural form - the form of a word that is used to denote more than one , maintain a connection with an ancient past. These include the Kate Kennedy procession, Raisin Sunday and the traditional walk along the pier after Church on Sunday, with undergraduates sporting their bright red robes. The University Church is St. Salvator's on North Street (there are really only three in the town - North, South and Market Street) and on Sundays, features the stunningly professional University Choir, a procession of University dignitaries, resplendent re·splen·dent adj. Splendid or dazzling in appearance; brilliant. [Middle English, from Old French, from Latin resplend in their respective robes - Divinity, Science, Medicine et cetera ET CETERA. A Latin phrase, which has been adopted into English; it signifies. "and the others, and so of the rest," it is commonly abbreviated, &c. 2. Formerly the pleader was required to be very particular in making his defence. (q.v. - and all under what must be one of the most impressive Church organs in Scotland. A "must-do" in St. Salvator's and indeed all over the town, is the succession of Christmas Carol concerts that occur during early December. Well, there's no getting away from it. Golf is what most people know this place for and indeed as the home of the Royal and Ancient - blazored custodians of the game's rules - St. Andrews is where golf aficionados come from the four quarters of the globe to tee off on either the famous Old Course or any one of numerous others - Jubilee, Kings Barnes, St. Andrews Bay St. Andrews Bay can refer to;
Overwhelmingly, it is the Americans and the Japanese, who come in droves to tee off in front of the imposing R&A Clubhouse, although numbers of even these hardy players have fallen, following 9/11. St. Andrews is due to host the British Open next year and in its Millennium event, attracted up to 40,000 people per day. Accommodation will be at a premium, but it's a great way to watch some of the world's top golfers and take in some of the town's fascinating history. World number one Vijay Singh For the politician, see . Vijay Singh (born 22 February, 1963) is a professional golfer who was number one in the Official World Golf Rankings for 32 weeks in 2004 and 2005. , seen here on the second, is bound to be a serious contender. Hotels tend to be on the pricey side, but the excellent Tourist Information Office on Market Street, will happily point out good value B&Bs, as well as offer a host of cultural and social activities. From Edinburgh St. Andrews is around one hour north, Dundee 30 minutes across the stunning Tay Bridge with the superb fishing villages of Crail and Anstruther, just a few miles away. Thirsty travelers can relax in numerous pubs including The Victoria, Central, (Market Street) Lafferty's, The Gin House, (South Street) or The Whey whey liquid residue from milk after the removal of cheese curds in the manufacture of cheese. An excellent protein supplement but difficult to handle in the liquid form, except to pigs maintained close to the cheese factory. Dried whey is easy to handle but processing costs are high. Pat, (Bridge Street) to name but a few. And just to give readers an idea of the worth of the place Wisconsin-based Kohler Co. has within the last week or so bought the Old Course Golf Resort and for a reported [pounds sterling]35m. Destination Kohler, the company's hospitality brand, will own and operate the Old Course Hotel including the spa and two restaurants, plus the nearby Dukes golf course. The American conglomerate, one of the oldest and largest privately held companies privately held company A firm whose shares are held within a relatively small circle of owners and are not traded publicly. in that country, already owns Whistling Straits in Wisconsin, home to this year's US PGA Championship. British readers will know Kohler through its kitchen and bathroom accessories, but it also has other interests including furniture brands Baker and McGuire and makes engines and generators up to 2.5 megawatts. http://www.standrews.org.uk and http://www.saint-andrews.co.uk |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion