A Trip Through St. Andrews
It is on my short list of greatest movies ever and I’m sure that has something to do with the venue for the opening scenes of Chariots of Fire.
The British film won the Oscar for Best Picture in 1981. It is the fact-based story of Olympic champions Eric Liddell, a Scot, and Englishman Harold Abrahams.
The famous beach scenes which accompany the inspirational theme music were filmed at West Sands, the beach alongside the Old Course at St. Andrews. The very last scene of the opening credits crosses the first and 18th holes of the Old Course at St. Andrews, with the Royal and Ancient as a backdrop. A plaque commemorates the film.
On each trip to St. Andrews, I make a point of visiting the beach. It makes me want to run but, of course, an unspoiled walk along the sands is more appropriate for a golfer so I take a stroll. With the sea to starboard, the Old Course on the port, I walk the beach. And as much as I love walking through the center of St. Andrews and through the streets of the university, the only thing better than walking that beach is the mystical march down the first fairway of the Old Course with all the anticipation of 17 similar adventures to follow.
The beach is one of the places I must return to in St. Andrews and one of the things I must see no matter how many times I’ve been there before. Without a trip to the beach, St. Andrews wouldn’t be complete for me.
That makes the historic venue the No. 1 must-see place to visit in St. Andrews if you’re heading for the Open Championship this year. Here are four more places that complete my top five list of things to do in St. Andrews:
* The Royal and Ancient Museum. You want golf history? This is a treasure-trove of memorabilia and photos. It is small and quaint by museum standards but all the better for quick trips that don’t interfere with tee times or allow a quick visit between rounds.
* The grave of Old Tom Morris. If you have to ask why, you don’t want to go anyway. The grave is in the town cemetery just a very short walk from the center of St. Andrews. If you do visit, count yourself an incurable golfer who appreciates the history of the game and the substantial role Old Tom played in it.
* Auchterlonie’s Golf Shop. The retail giant in St. Andrews, it is on a most prominent corner at 2 Golf Place, only a block from the first tee of the Old Course. There are shops of all descriptions in town but there is only one Auchterlonie’s for golfers.
* The old book stores. For inveterate bookstore browers like myself, the old shops of St. Andrews offer an adventure as you navigate through a maze of narrow aisles, up and down ancient wooden stairwells and step up ladders to reach the upper shelves. A suggestion: Although you’re certain to be focusing on golf books, perhaps even rare first-editions from great golf writers, don’t miss out on some of the other finds that are available in these unique book stores. Great reading on the flight home.
Tags: Chariots of Fire, Old Course, R&A Museum, St. Andrews
