St Andrews In The Snow – Episode #2
Posted on 12. Feb, 2009 by Andy Brown in Golf, St Andrews
Having trouble viewing this video? Try the Windows Media Video (WMV) version.
After two days of fantastic sunshine I thought we were all set for a mild patch, how wrong could I have been!
I awoke to find a deep blanket of snow, my walk at Tentsmuir beach in near tee shirt conditions the day before was a distant memory.
It then stuck me that I had never seen the Old Course under snow, only in pictures – so this was my chance to change that.
Thus this afternoon Elle and I drove into St Andrews and shot this 2 minute video. It was fun to shoot and the constrast to the footage shot for Episode 1 is clear to see!
The question of the day is as follows: “What are the worst conditions to have ever played golf in?” Please leave your answers below in the comments section.
Take care and remember it’s nice to be nice.
Cheers
Andy
The Question of the Day:
What are the worst weather conditions you have ever played in? Please leave your answer in the comments section below. Thank you.
Michael Landgrebe
01. May, 2009
Love this video Andy,
I have never seen The Old Course like that….Awesome and ironically inspiring.
Michael
Kahu Maremare
19. Apr, 2009
Kia Ora Andy. (Maori informal phrase for ‘how are you’.)
Really liked the interview with the people fro the Dunvegan Hotel and the one of St Andrews covered in snoW. I have a question.
Why do they at times play the course in reverse?
Keep up all the good work you’re doing its ‘Great!
Andy’s Reply:
Hi Kahu,
Playing the course in reverse is an annual 3 day event to recreate the way the Old Course used to play many years ago.
Cheers
Andy
Ron
03. Apr, 2009
Andy
Great vidio showing the vagaries of the british weather,as an artist,this is what I love about the UK
My worst weather experiance was last Friday,27.March.being battered by hailstones.ouch.
Ron.
Fran
25. Mar, 2009
This looks like Buffalo, NY. The worst day of golf I ever had was in Hilton Head, South Carolina. It was February and and we started playing with temps around 60 when all of a sudden the temps dropped and on the 15th hole it started to snow. In a matter of minutes, there was an inch of snow on the ground. Needless to say, it was hard to putt.(A little humor there)
Trevor
24. Mar, 2009
That’s easy – In October 2004 our we played the Jubilee course. The forecast was bad and on arrival the club house would not let us enter the front door as the wind off the sea, from the South East was so bad. Anyway we decided to go out: It started to rain, horizontally in the wind gusting up to 40 mph. Constant rain. Standing on the T clasping my 4 Rescue club I felt my shoes filling rapidly with water. On the first hole all our trolleys had blown over at least 3 times each. Pleting rain, gale off the sea on the right, lucky to see where the ball went. Wonderful!
We survived the first 9 and then threw in the towel, sorry, we grabbed the towel in the change room. Completely soaked. Gore tex was defeated. The caddy said (dryly) “That’s as bad as it gets”.
Russell Garland
16. Mar, 2009
Here at Mt Maunganui on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand, conditions are just hell. I mean it’s purgatory out there. It’s warm, there’s no wind and the course is in immaculate condition. There’s just the sound of the tui (native song bird) in the pohutukawa (native trees), just heaven on earth.
And the trouble with these conditions? What do you blame the bad golf on????
Guy
13. Mar, 2009
Hi Andy,
Looks like your enjoying yourself, liked the Faldo vid he has always been one of my heros.
Played Scarborough north cliff a couple of years ago half of it is links, storm force wind and driving rain no escape whatsoever after that i never wanted to play golf again.
Remember pal its nice to be nice, tarra
Greg
03. Mar, 2009
Sound quality is much improved, but if you could resist the nervous tension that causes you to move around so much while filming it would look much more professional and less distracting.
As for the worst weather I ever played in; it would have to be the day I was walking a very long course in 100+ degree fahrenheit weather (38-40 Celsius). Playing the par 3 at the farthest spot on the course with nothing around for protection, save a willow bush, and being extremely lightly dressed, a thunder storm came from out of nowhere, but not raining water, rather ice! I took to the cover of the willow, which provided virtually none, and huddled up for the duration that lasted for what seemed a very long time. So much hail fell that the course looked like those pictures of St. Andrews in your video, but I was so lightly dressed that I had to fight to not pass out from the sudden cold – far colder than I ever got in the Fulda Gap in Germany in the harshest winter storms! Though the lightning hadn’t abated I decided the willow didn’t provide enough protection to make it worthwhile, so I ended up walking back to the clubhouse through the ice instead of freezing in place in August in Florida.
e j carr
03. Mar, 2009
andy, by far Ballybunion, last november. Arrived in a gale,50 mph winds , sideways rain that lasted for two days. I usually carry my bag, but decided to use a trolley. Wind actually lifted bag off of trolley and carried it down the fairway. Hitting drivers into 120 yd par threes? yikes.
Peter Killick
19. Feb, 2009
As they say : “Behind every great male golfer is a great woman” I believe we can hear yours laughing in the background It would be nice to put a face to Mrs Brown in a forthcoming episode Enjoying your snapshot of the Home of Golf Please keep up the good work
Kind regards
Peter
Willaim Henry
18. Feb, 2009
Andy. back sometime in the early eighties I was playing at my home course”Waverley Golf Club” Melbourne Australia.
It was very hot about 39C to 41C when Melbourne was hit by a dust storm which has been shown many times on TV about freak weather. We played the course in reverse and had to stop play after I hit a cracking drive down the par4 first. The storm took about 20 minutes to go through and the course look like a battle ground after it went through. I’m not sure of the figure but many thousand of tons of dust was deposited all over the city and suburbs. it was so dark that the automatic street lighting came on in the city as well as all the office buildings. The our clothing and our faces made us look like we were set to going to battle camoufflaged. We did finish the round having to remove uprooted trees and all sorts heavy branches and dirt from the course and greens.
Peter Williams
18. Feb, 2009
Hi Andy.
Like the Home of Golf. Pity about the hat!!
Worst weather ever was at Lanhydrock in Cornwall in a mid winter rain hail and sleet storm.
Houses had been built along the perimeter at the bottom of the course, and the occupants were stood in their warm dry front rooms shaking their heads in disbelief whilst sipping strong drink.
We received no offers of aid, but we did finish the round!
Bob's wife
17. Feb, 2009
Tho’ I’m the Scot, I missed accompanying my husband & his brother last year, playing & filming the Home of Golf in a superb week. Good fun seeing your own film of St. Andrews, Andy. Thank you.
My own worst weather when I played golf, Illinois in USA at 103oF & little less than 100% humidity.
Kieren
16. Feb, 2009
Hi Andy
Great to see the old course in the snow, especially with people snowball fighting in the background. Classic!!
Worst games I have experienced is driving horizontal rain at Lytham Sta Annes (UK). Golf rounds ruined but the drink rounds where as good as ever ;o)
Much improved footage and sound quality this time around. Keep up the good work.
All the best
Kieren
http://www.how-to-reshaft-golfclubs.co.uk
Will Hamill
16. Feb, 2009
The worst weathre that we ever played in back at my own course was in oct of 2008 on a saturday morning in gale force 8 gusting 9. MY course is Tulfarris just outside Dublin Ireland. The wind was so bad on the second hole which is a short par 3 about 150yds everybody had to use drivers and nobody made the green out of 40 golfers. On the good side there was some monster drives hit on the 15th longest was385yds.
It was a charity event so a good day was had be all in the 19th.
WILL………………..
website is great keep up the good work.
Robert - New Haven
16. Feb, 2009
Worst weather I played golf in was at Lochwinnoch with rain bouncing off the road and a howling wind which made a tough course even tougher with the adjustable legs still in the post, etc. I wore a new set of Sunderland Rainwear and I was NOT going to give up. I focused on every shot and took my time because there were only about four nutters on the course. My best ever game of golf came from that day, because I scored a net par in the horrendous conditions. I have a net 59 in perfect morning conditions at the same course, but this was the very best day’s play for me.
Two other experiences and while rain and wind combined is worst FOG is tough but like others have said, Biggar used to often be foggy and the 3/4 swing and careful follow through was rewarded with a ball in the middle of the fairway every time. If I hammered the ball, in beautiful weather, which is my wont, I had more than a few out of bounders on the tenth and eleventh there.
Then at Paisley where myself and my friend Alan used to play down the Barshaw public course at almost eleven o’clock at night in pitch darkness. We played the 18th as if it was foggy and walked to our balls every time, right in the centre of the fairway. In daylight I blocked it right 95% of the time.
Great job on the website. Good luck to you and your wife with what is a wonderful project.
Keith
16. Feb, 2009
Great videos Andy keep going!!!!! On Sat 14th Valentines day, my wife and I plus my daughter and husband played our club course and nearly SWAM round due to all the casual water and stickey mud, not great scores, but the 19th was very welcoming when we finished! Keep up the good work.
Regards Keith.
Robert Hutton
16. Feb, 2009
Hello Andy,
Its great to see the development of your site. The fresh broadcast idea is awesome. I remember well how fickle the Scottish weather is. You could probably have shown that “this morning it was clear and beautiful and now, after lunch, we are snowed in and might be for months.” Maybe that just happen in Ullapool as it did to me in 1977. For future programmes, please show the ordinary man at St. Andrew’s, if he can be found. I know it is easy for the rich American or Japanese visitor or the Professor who teaches at the local highbrow uni, but what about Joe Public Andy? I want the world to see that ordinary people of Scotland are playing the greatest game on earth and playing it well.
The Golf Channel has it’s playing lessons from the pros with their actor and sportsman talent, but how about three holes with a local pro and a reasonable player who is actually an ordinary everyday working man. I will happily buy something online from the pro shop of a golfer who would do such a thing.
When you go into the country and shoot your videos, could you please cover some of the lesser known gems, like Taymouth Castle, Troon Darley, Ranfurly Castle or Houston or the wickedly unfair (in places) Lochwinnoch where adjustable legs are required to keep your handicap down. Three or four pins visible for your approach, hanging lies, and loads of opportunities to play every shot in the game in a three and a half hour slog instead of the five and six hour slog in the USofA.
Give my regards to Scotland and let the people know that even as we speak I am singing Dougie McLean’s version of Caledonia.
Let me tell you that I love you
And I think about you all the time.
Caledonia’s been calling me
And now I’m going home.
Good luck with this wonderful venture. New Haven might have its Yale and Yale’s very private golf course, BUT IT’S NOT SCOTLAND.
Robin
16. Feb, 2009
I was born in St A and lived there for 18 years. As a boy, played all the courses for free, being the child of a St A ratepayer! Still can hardly beleive it.
Nostalgic to see the video – the flat where my mother lived is at the sea end of Murray Park, and shows in video no 1.
My boy scout hut overlooked the Castle, you must have filmed from just in front of it.
Looking forward to more footage of golf in Scotland (I now live in Hampshire)
Fred
15. Feb, 2009
Just seen your video’s,very enjoyable,look forward to more.
I could have played St Andrews way back in the early 80′s for £18,didn’t take up the offer,how much I have regretted that decision since.
I once played in very high winds on a course in Gt yarmouth,at a par three of 160 yards i hit a wedge towards the green,there was so much sand being whipped up it was impossible to keep your eye on the ball,when we got there we couldn’t find the ball ,the 5 mins was nearly up when a shout went up that it was in the hole.It was a club competition,so i won a bottle of whiskey and a certificate to frame.
Adrian
15. Feb, 2009
Played a texas scramble in August 2003. We teed off in perfect weather conditions: sunny, about 20 degress, some of these cumulus far away. After 10 holes it got darker and darker, heavy winds came up, started to rain – and then, you wouldn’t believe it….. it started to snow like hell. Within a few minutes temp sank down two degrees! Anyway, we managed to finish and then had a few single malts in front of the Cheminee!
The Armchair Golfer
15. Feb, 2009
Awesome, Andy. I look forward to future episodes from the home of golf!
I’ve actually played in some pretty foul weather back in my high school days on the golf team. One time, in a match played in the Tehachapi Mountains (California), the match was actually postponed after nine due to, yes, snow. Golf season was in the spring, and on the California high desert we often got high winds and chilly days in March when the season got underway.
I’ve never been one to shy away from playing on a marginal weather day. In fact, I’ve always reveled in it a bit. I also like the fact that it chases a lot of other people off and you can have more of the course to yourself.
John Skinner
15. Feb, 2009
Hi Andy, great contrast between the 2 episodes. We had snow in the south as well 2 weeks ago. Worst conditions I played in was just at the beginning of last year (2008). We were playing in our Sunday medal at Charminster GC (Dorchester, Dorset). Half way through the round the heavens opened and it quickly turned to sleet, covering the course with a white blanket. Although we all hunkered down for the 4-5 minutes, sharing umbrellas and hiding in the hedge rows, the comp continued. Within another 5 minutes the sleet had cleared leaving large puddles down every fairway. The early starters had the best of it, some finishing before it came in. Later starters had to endure putting across ice sheets on a couple of greens. Questions were asked at committee meetings seeking shot allowances for those caught out, no joy from them blaming the rule book. It is still a Sunday often talked about in the club house. We must all be mad.
Keep up the great work, and everyone keep on sending in the great comments.
Paul Birchall
14. Feb, 2009
The worst weather I played golf in, was dense fog,so I couldn’t see where the ball had gone. Fortunately it was my home course which I knew like the back of my hand. Strangely, having no target to aim at was immensely enjoyable because I had to imagine every shot because I couldn’t see the fairways or greens, visibility was about 20 yards. I had to swing easy and try to hit straight, I probably played one of my bettter rounds due to so much visualisation.
All the best, Paul Birchall
Phil Snelman
14. Feb, 2009
Worst weather? I can handle, frost, snow and wind but like most golfers RAIN is THE worst weather to play in.
Tried playing St Anne’s Old Links 2 years ago in pouring rain and had to abandon after 10 holes. A thoroughly damp experience (and a waste of £45)
George
14. Feb, 2009
Not necessarily the worst weather but lousy conditions. I’ve played what used top be great Navy courses but no more. I played the Subic Bay course in the Philippines after the volcano. We had to carry a piece of Astro-turf to hit off because of the ash. And again in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba had to carry turf because Castro cut off water to the base so there wasn’t enough water to keep the fairways watered.
Bill purchase
14. Feb, 2009
Thanks for the photo s of st andrews, nice to see some snow after the heat we have had in Horsham Victoria Australia. Last Saturday the tempreture got to 47.7 degrees cel, and fire which took Horshams Golf club and ten homes in the area. No golf on the course for about ! month or so, to many burnt trees that could fall, around $3 million dollars damage.
Regards bill
Ian Urquhart -York
13. Feb, 2009
Hi Andy The Old Course even looks good covered in snow.
I once played at Foxton Hall in Alnmouth Northumberland and it was blowing so hard you could not hit your ball in front of you more than 20 yards
Lennart
13. Feb, 2009
Andy,
Great to see the old course come alive, I am going there in August and are watching the web cams now and then, but with your shows, it comes alive much more, keep doing it. I would like to see more stuff from the course itself and from some other classical links like Carnoustie and Dornoch.
I have played winter golf with orange balls, where there has been ice on bunkers and water hazards, long bump and run, but difficult to put. /Lennart
Larry
13. Feb, 2009
The worst time was a college tournament with wind gusts up to 70mph! They didn’t cancel it becuase so many teams had travelled. The pins wouldn’t stay in the cups and the balls would blow around on the greens. My best shot was on a par 3 where I just rolled the ball along the ground onto the green. Keep the great videos coming!!
Gary Miller
13. Feb, 2009
I have played 9 holes of golf in Febuary in about one foot of snow. We used green tennis balls and set up 5 gal. buckets for the holes. This was played at Springbrook Golf course in Battle Creek Mi.
After we froze playing golf we ajorned to the bar and decided to play matchstick darts., This is a game played with darts about an inch long. We had a great time.
Hugh
13. Feb, 2009
Great footage,beaut views.Look forward to the next ish. Have played in icy frosts in Orange(NSW),gale force winds in Wellington(NZ),fog in Hamilton(NZ),40+deg heat on sand/deisel greens in Central Queensland and just the other day-pouring rain in Brisbane (QLD) ! We’re a weird bunch us golfers ay ?
fred taylor
13. Feb, 2009
The worst weather was when I played in a tournament when temperature was 28 degress with 15 mile per hour wind and it was sleeting. This was in Oklahoma during the month of April.
Phil Bundy
13. Feb, 2009
Andy, Congratulations, you’re onto some great things! I loved the fun second episode, and I’m looking forward to more. Keep up the great work! Phil
Dianne
13. Feb, 2009
Hi Andy & Elle, Thanks for the wonderful pictures of the old course! The worst weather I’ve played in was in a tournament where it was raining so hard that my wind & rain pants filled up with water. Enjoy all the information about Scotland!! Will respond later from Texas. Dianne
william
13. Feb, 2009
firstly i agree with alans comment more natural this way great site st andrews in the snow
worst weather ive played in well being from northern ireland the weather is mixed a lot of the time but hale stones is the worst not easy watching a tee shot in that
good show again
regards william
Tom T,
13. Feb, 2009
Andy: Clever idea & well done, including the upbeat music. I once played with a buddy in freezing weather & frozen flags. Also, I played solo in dense fog & birdied the #1 handicap hole since I kept my head down on each shot- no reason to “peek” when I couldn’t see more than 5 meters ahead. Best wishes. My DVD of Secrets was shipped on 2/12- can’t wait. Tom T
david hawkins
13. Feb, 2009
worse weather i have ever played in – FOG
visibilty 3 yards and do you know every shot we played
(four ball) was straight…
Sonny
13. Feb, 2009
I am from Zimbabwe, where we only play golf in the warm sunshine. But in Feb last year I played in what I consider to be the worst weather ever, Lea Valley golf coarse London England, temperature 3 degrees Celcius, westly wind about 12mph snowing but no settling, midway through the game we get two minutes of hail stones. My four ball all hide behind a tree for cover. We stood there untill it stopped but took us another five minutes to agree to carry on. Never again
Barry Oakland
13. Feb, 2009
Hi Andy,
Great stuff. I played in the snow using an orange ball on a course at Spaarnwoude, north of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Lots of water hazards on that course, no problem, rip it & see it bounce off the ice. Great round of golf, unique buzz.
Cheers keep up the great work, Barry
Joyce
13. Feb, 2009
Thanks as I am enjoying your pictures and comments so much since I have never been to England/Scottland. I am now a southern California golfer but used to live in Colorado and many times it would start snowing before the game was finished. Many of those games were played in Vail, Colorado. Beautiful but cold!
Trevor
13. Feb, 2009
Looks amazing, we don’t see much snow down here in SA. Had the pleasure of playing in cold but sunny conditions last April in the Tartanday Challenge on the Old Course “the whole tour was an experience never to be fogotten”.
Tartanday SA
Bob
13. Feb, 2009
It’s a fun site. Congratulations on pulling it off. Will become a loyal fan. Nice informal look to it. Tired of all the overly controlled commercial stuff.
Keep at it!
Bob
Ashley
13. Feb, 2009
fantastic site Andy,
the worst conditions i’ve ever played in were last week here in Adelaide 45 degrees celsius and a dust storm at 10 am .even the birds stayed on the ground but 44 of us were silly enough to play
Pink Diva
13. Feb, 2009
Andy,
Here’s a couple things that would be cool for you explore for a future video:
Find the St Andrews Links Webcam
Go to the Pro Shop, video the shop and interview the Mgr
Find out who is the oldest member of St. Andrews and interview them!
-Pink Diva Golf
Larry Quah
13. Feb, 2009
Heartiest congratulations, Andy, that St Andrews has come alive on video. It was nice to see the Swilken Burn all covered in snow and you making snow balls. The worst weather I have ever played golf in was in the Philippines (Jan 09) with extremely strong winds left by a typhoon that by-passed Luzon Island. The intermittent rain was very miserable too!
Alan
13. Feb, 2009
I feel like you’re bringing me home to my roots. Fantastic stuff, Andy.
I’m sure the people leaving comments about your videography are correct, but don’t take too much of the “amateur” out. It’s a lot of fun that way.
greenfee
12. Feb, 2009
What are you talking about about? I’d play in that!!!!
Great stuff Andy, I’m going to keep checking in.
Marci Diehl
12. Feb, 2009
HI Andy! Loved the video! I sit here in western New York State as the wind whips at 40+mph, with rain/snow mix, after a warm(ish) spell melted 90% of our thick ice. Looking at St. Andrews under snow was great (well, not so much for you, maybe…). The region I live in is probably much like Scotland. I’m about 35 min. from Oak Hill CC.
A great idea to go out and get some shots. I never got to go to the British Open and it’s the one tournament in the world I wanted to get to! I love Scotland. My mother was a MacDonald.
So — in answer to your question… I can say that although I never had to PLAY in the conditions (being the faithful trooper/ following Tour wife…) the worst condiitons I ever walked in were in Hawaii for the Hawaiian Open at Wailai CC. We awoke at the hotel in Honolulu at 5am to an eerie howling noise. TJ looked out the window and the palm tress were bent at 45 degree angles, with pelting rain. Typhoon weather. He had a tee time at 7:15. Play was not called off or delayed, so we went to the course. The ball couldn’t get off the ground on drives and the wind blew putts back. Umbrellas were wrecked, we took shelter when we could, and TJ shot a 65! Good thing it was warm. I was soaked.
Elizabeth
12. Feb, 2009
Andy, another great fun video!! Love the location! Back here in Upstate New York we just went the opposite… we were sitting with a few feet of snow on the ground dreaming of being out on the links. Then two days ago and 45-50 degrees later walla no snow
Thanks again for the fun video, PLEASE keep them coming!!
Elizabeth, Owner – http://www.sassygolf.com
If you don’t mind we will keep linking your videos on our Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/people/Sassygolf-Gloves/1634671903
Don
12. Feb, 2009
We had a group in Ohio (USA) that played every Saturday before Christmas, for over 25 years. We played in 28 degree (F) weather the last time, and bounced the balls over the water hazards. Only three days were unplayable (sleet storms). The course had to be played backwards, teeing off from next to the greens and hitting back towards the tees. Once on the tees it was an automatic two putts.