St Andrews Links Junior Golf Association celebrated another successful year at its annual prizegiving ceremony. More than 60 prizes were presented by St Andrews Links Trust Chairman Peter Forster to boys and girls aged between 5 and 18 who have competed in a total of 39 tournaments and events throughout the season.

A rapid influx of tee time applications yesterday for play at St Andrews Links in 2010 suggests the outlook for Scottish golf tourism next year might be brigthening.

Former Alfred Dunhill Links Champion Nick Dougherty presented the prizes to the winners of the HSBC Wee Wonders tournament. The 36-hole event was played on the Strathtyrum and Balgove courses and was the culmination of 135 regional qualifiers, in which 109 competitors aged 5-12 took part. Children aged 5-10 played 27 holes on the Balgove and those aged 11-12 played 36 holes on the Strathtyrum.

Jason Barnes from Chart Hills won the Eden Trophy after a 2 and 1 victory over Chris Harrison from Sandiway.

Rachel Hanlon from the St Regulus Club made it a local triumph in the Strathtyrum Trophy when she deafeated Elaine Clark from Manchester at the first extra hole.

Richard Robson-Crosby, of Ponteland in Northumbria, won the St Andrews Boys' Open this afternoon with a 3 and 1 victory over Matthew Fitzpatrick from Hallamshire.

The St Andrews Junior Ladies’ Open was won by Carly Booth from Comrie. The Curtis Cup player defeated Emma Fairnie from Dunbar 3 and 2 to claim the Golf Monthly Trophy.
 

After a successful Open at Turnberry the spotlight has turned once again to the Old Course as the countdown begins in earnest for the 150th anniversary championship next year at the Home of Golf.

Ryo Ishikawa, a 17 year-old Japanese golf professional, was in St Andrews on Saturday to play a round of golf on the Old Course and met with Alan McGregor, Chief Executive of St Andrews Links, before heading to Turnberry to compete in The Open Championship. Ryo became the youngest winner of a men's regular tournament on the Japan Golf Tour in 2007, when he was just 15 years old. Ryo hopes to return to St Andrews next year to play in The 2010 Open.

Bubba Watson, one of the longest hitters on the PGA Tour, played a practice round on the Old Course today with his wife Angie.

Work began on the West Sands development yesterday. The improvements includes the reconstruction of the road that runs between St Andrews Links and West Sands.

The winner of the St Andrews Links Trophy 2009 is Alan Dunbar of Rathmore, Northern Ireland. He entered the tournament as a reserve. A final round 70 left him on 285, two under par. A last green birdie put him a single shot ahead of Matt Haines (Rochester and Cobham Park) in second and two ahead of Rhys Enoch (Truro).

Leading the Links Trophy on 140 is Paul O'Hara (Colville Park) after he added a 72 to yesterday's 68. Rhys Enoch (Truro) is two further back after two 71s.

An easterly wind has brought challenging conditions to the New Course

Final practice on the Old Course

Sam Hutsby (Liphook) is the top-ranked player in this year's Links Trophy. He finished fourth last year.

For only the third time in its twenty-six year history the St Rule Trophy was won for a second consecutive time today. Scotland's Kylie Walker finished the 54 hole contest over the New Course and the Old Course on 218, nine under par. Carly Booth was second on 220. Pamela Prestwell made it a Scottish clean sweep of the top three on 225. Kylie, Pamela and Louise Kenny took the team honours for the home country.

Tilly Holder of Woburn leads the way after round one. An excellent 73 in strong south-easterlies on the New Course gives her a two shot lead over Rebecca Watson (Holston Hills, USA) and Emily Ogilvy (Auchterarder). Defending champion Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) is one further back.

There will be golf played on the Old Course on Sunday 17 May. The R&A Gold Medal is being contested by the top golfers from local clubs.

Neil Armstrong was a welcome guest of St Andrews Links today, playing the Jubilee Course with friends. 'I've played here many times,' he said on a glorious day for golf.

Using a set of Tom Stewart hickories, former Ryder Cup man Pierre Fulke had a great day on the Old Course, playing it the way Bobby Jones and Old Tom Morris did.

The twenty-first Links Trophy promises to be the best yet

One of the greatest figures in the game made a return to the Home of Golf today. Arnold Palmer was applauded on to the first tee by a sizeable crowd. Playing into a strong westerly wind, the seven time major winner, who turns 80 this year, struck an excellent drive on the first.

Several changes have been made to the Course Manager positions at St Andrews Links following the retirement of Roddy Barron from the Strathtyrum Course.
 

The eighth annual Father & Son Tournament was won for a second year in succession by Louis and Holger Peens from South Africa. The popular better ball stableford competition is held over four top quality courses, with the concluding round on the Old Course. The Peens beat Canadian pair Per & Mikkel Hansen into second place. The competition honours Old Tom Morris and his son Tommy. The 2010 event takes place 17-22 April

Four of St Andrews Links’ seven courses have been listed in the prestigious Golf Digest Top 100 Courses ranking for the first time prompting the magazine to name the town as the world’s “pre-eminent destination” for golf.

After only four months in operation The Castle Course has been listed at number 65 in the list, two places behind the New Course. The Jubilee Course has moved into the top 100 at number 92, while the Old Course is in second position overall.

Angel Cabrera and his son Frederico on the Old Course during the Dunhill Links

Top Scottish chef Ian MacDonald has joined St Andrews Links Trust

One of Scotland's most elusive and beautiful birds is being encouraged to take up residence at the Links

The Trustees and the Links management Committee both have new chairmen

St Andrews Links Clubhouse has undergone a substantial refurbishment and reopened to the public on Saturday (21 February) after a six-week closure.

The popular public facility, which was built in 1995, now features an open plan restaurant which can host up to 170 people. Glass walls on three sides give spectacular views of the Old Course and the famous skyline of St Andrews.

One of the most comprehensive and popular publications in golf, the yearbook contains a full review of the local, national and international golfing year as well as previews of the year ahead.
 

Three new appointments have been made to the committees that oversee St Andrews Links, the largest golf complex in Europe which includes the Old Course.

Ken Stewart and Kate Ferguson have been nominated as trustees while Richard Philip joins the links management committee

St Andrews Links Trust has renewed its contract with Compass Group (UK & Ireland) Ltd to deliver premium tee time packages on the Old Course.

The contract has been renewed with effect from 2010 and will continue on a rolling basis.
 

Golfers are reminded that tee times on the Old Course during 2009 can be obtained through the daily ballot and that tee times are available on the New, Jubilee, Eden, Strathtyrum and The Castle courses.