September 26, 2002
| The Texas A&M men's golf team traveled where few NCAA golf teams have been before-the birthplace of golf, Scotland. The trip opened the fall season in exciting fashion at the inaugural International Collegiate at the St. Andrews Bay Resort.
The trip was special on two fronts for the A&M golfers. First, they were a part of history, being one of the first teams to compete in a recognized NCAA event in Europe. Second, generous Aggie golf contributors made the trip possible for the program. A&M supporters helped to fund the team's trip and were rewarded for their support by joining the team in Scotland. The tournament was played over three days on the par-72 Torrance Course, one of two courses that make up the St. Andrews Bay Resort. Texas A&M finished seventh for the tournament and showed a lot of promise in doing so. "I am excited about the season to come because I saw a lot of raw talent and potential this week," Head Coach J.T. Higgins said. Higgins accepted the invite to the historical inaugural tournament in Scotland for a variety of reasons. First, he described the trip as an opportunity of a lifetime to travel and experience the birthplace of golf and the history that surrounds the location. The tournament was also a chance to reward the efforts of supporters of the program and to give them a chance to get to know the team. The trip will also benefit the squad in recruiting efforts, as tournament officials were so impressed with the Aggies that they were invited back for the fall of 2006. A&M would have been invited back sooner, but the tournament institutes a four-year window for return.
Golf fans know that a trip to Scotland is like a trip to Cooperstown for a baseball fan. The Aggie golf team took full advantage of the golf history that surrounded them during their trip. Though the focus of the trip was to compete in the International Collegiate, the Aggies squeezed a lot of golf nostalgia into the weekend. Historic St. Andrews St. Andrews is the birthplace of golf. Nestled neatly in the town of St. Andrews is the Old Course, which was founded in the 1400s. The Old Course has been home to the British Open 26 times, dating back to the first competition in 1873. When the team was not participating in the tournament, sightseeing and more golf filled the weekend. A few members of the Aggie golf team were selected from a lottery system to play the historic Old Course. Along with additional rounds of golf, the team toured the historic town, visiting the famous St. Andrews Cathedral and the Golf Museum. A shot of a lifetime, or just one of many to come? Many young golfers aspire to walk an 18th fairway on a major golf course to the sound of a loud ovation. Well, there is a freshman on campus that knows the feeling. Andrew Parr, a native of London, Ontario, Canada, left Scotland with a memory he will not soon forget. Parr's magnificent shot occurred at the 18th hole on the Old Course at St. Andrews. The hole is positioned right on a busy street corner in the town and is known for the large number of spectators it attracts being nestled in the city. His approach shot, with a wedge, landed just six inches from the cup. What happened next was just as exciting as the shot. Parr walked the remainder of the 18th fairway to a standing ovation from the on-lookers surrounding the hole. "It was a storybook experience hitting that shot on the Old Course," Parr said. "It is a shot hopefully you'll use down the road." Aggie Goodwill
When the British Open is held at the Old Course at St. Andrews, players make an annual stop at the Dunvegan Inn. Once inside, they head to the Clarret Jug Room for a unique American dining experience in Scotland. The room is covered with pictures of famous golfers from over the years that have dined at the establishment. The Aggie men's golf team can now be added to the list of clientele thanks to the owner's invite, an Aggie named Jack Willoughby. Higgins noted that anyone who is anyone in the golf world has eaten in the Clarret Jug Room. More Aggie hospitality was received in Scotland when four A&M golf supporters were standing outside of the Old Course at 4 a.m. The men were waiting in line to see if a spot would open to play the famous course that morning. Decked out in Aggie apparel, they were approached by a gentleman named Sam Mackenzie. He was quick to point out to the A&M supporters waiting in line that he was a proud member of the class of 1956. When the A&M golf supporters asked Mackenzie where they could get a cup of coffee, he led them to the Royal and Ancient Golf Club clubhouse, an establishment not open to the public. It turned out that Mackenzie was a member of the prestigious club and invited his fellow Aggies inside for a cup of java. Talk about a memorable cup of coffee at the golf course! |
