St. Andrews Golf Festival in Scotland to Present Old Tom Morris Award


The inaugural St. Andrews Golf Festival, which is set for March 28-April 1 at the "Home of Golf," will celebrate the game at an awards reception on March 31st.

The festival plans to recognize and honor individuals who have made significant contributions in categories such as golf literature, photography, golf art, golf humor, women's golf and more. The event will take place at St. Andrews University's historic Younger Hall, where Bobby Jones, Seve Ballesteros, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and other icons of the game have earned honorary degrees from the ancient university.

Honorees will receive the "Old Tom Morris Award," a commemorative bust named after the St. Andrews born golf pioneer who is universally recognized as the game's founding father. Tom Morris, Sr. (Old Tom Morris) played in the first 36 British Opens (1860-1896) and who won the Open four times in 1861, 1862, 1864 and 1867. To this day, he remains the oldest Open champion at the age of 47.

Old Tom also was also a prolific architect who designed or remodeled 75 courses, including Carnoustie, Muirfield, Royal Dornoch and Prestwick. From 1865 to 1904 he served as the greenkeeper for the Royal and Ancient Golf Club at St. Andrews. The 18th green on the Old Course is named in his memory. Old Tom died in 1908 at age 87.

It has been written that Old Tom Morris "came to symbolize all that was finest in Scottish character and in the ancient Scottish game." It is in this spirit that the St. Andrews Golf Festival created the Old Tom Morris Award. The Festival Awards Gala evening is presented by Golf Illustrated. The award categories are:

• St. Andrews Golf Festival Award for Honour and Integrity
• Literati of the Links Award for Golf Literature
• Keepers of the Green Award for Courage
• St. Andrews Golf Festival Award for Golf Art
• St. Andrews Golf Festival Award for Golf Humor
• Lawrence Levy Award for Golf Photography
• Golf Surveys Ltd. Award for Lifetime Achievement in Golf Course Architecture
• Babe Zaharias Award for Outstanding Contributions to Ladies Golf
• Planet Golf Award for Best Golf Course Design
• Spirit of St. Andrews Award (Golf Illustrated readers vote)

About the St. Andrews Golf Festival

The St. Andrews Golf Festival, golf's first-ever organized celebration in the historic town where the game has been played for some 600 years, has an impressive schedule of events, exhibitions, tours, lectures, films and skills competitions planned for the launch of the five-day extravaganza.

Exhibitions will be held at a number of hotels in St. Andrews and will include tributes to: Old Tom Morris, Bobby Jones, Seve Ballesteros, the History of Golf in St. Andrews, a Keepers of the Green display, the Ryder Cup, Women's Golf and much more.

A selection of planned daily activities include: putting competitions on the Links Trust putting green for charity; golf simulator virtual drive off the 1st tee of the fabled Old Course; SNAG Golf; a guided walking tour of historic golf locations in the town; screening of films; book signings; art and photography exhibits and fundraising for the Seve Ballesteros Foundation. The town's bars, restaurants and hotels will also host ale tastings.

For a listing of Festival events, visit www.standrewsgolffestival.com. The schedule is continually updated with additional activities of interest to golfers and non-golfers of all ages. In keeping with the spirit of a game that is accessible to everyone, there is no charge to attend the St. Andrews Golf Festival celebrations.