To celebrate the birth of Bobby Jones, the greatest golfer of the 20th century, and his special relationship with St Andrews, two unique events are being held in March next year by St Andrews Links Trust.
Born in 1902, Jones won the Open Championship at St Andrews in 1927, and then in 1930 won the Amateur Championship here as the first leg of his unique “Grand Slam”. In 1958, Jones became only the second American to be granted the Freedom of the City. He is the also only person apart from Tom Morris to have a hole on the Old Course named after him.
On Friday 15th March 2002 there will be a special Bobby Jones Commemorative Dinner in the Younger Hall, St Andrews, the location where Jones received the Freedom of the City. The evening will include archive footage of Jones, speeches by Sir Michael Bonallack, John Imlay and Sid Matthews, a five course dinner with wine and commemorative gifts. The highlights of the programme will be guest speakers from Atlanta, Jones’ home town, including his grandson, Robert Jones IV.
On Sunday, 17th March (the date of Jones’ birth), the Bobby Jones Centenary Tournament will take place on the Old Course, following special dispensation from the Links Management Committee to open the course on a Sunday. The tournament will be an individual Stableford with a shotgun start at 11am. The handicap requirement is men 24 and women 36, and fairway mats will be in use.
Participation in either event, or both, is possible and both golfers and non golfers are welcome. A ticket for the dinner is £60 and entry to the golf is £80, and for both events the combined ticket is £120.
Bookings are limited, especially for the golf, and are being accepted on a first come, first served basis with priority for golf given to those also booking the dinner. Bookings open on 12th November 2001. For more information or to reserve places, please phone Sheila Buntin on 01334-466623 or email: SBuntin@standrews.org.uk.