Scotland’s Leading Golf Links

St Andrews Old Golf Course – Alan Robertson and the first Keeper of the Green Tom Morris

Allan Robertson was born in 1815 to a family of golf ball makers and caddies in Saint Andrews. It is said that Allan Robertson was raised on a fairway with a putting green as his playground. His house overlooked the 18th hole of the St Andrews Old Course, and for over 100 years the family had been senior caddies, first class golf ball makers and competitors in golf matches and competitions. They had made feather balls by hand since the early 1700s. In the early 18th century handcrafted golf clubs and balls were expensive, The balls cost at least as much as a club and were not long lasting. As a result the game was mainly played by the nobility and wealthy gentlemen. However, the skilled craftsperson could make a living by ball and club making. Some were also skilled golfers who would caddy which was poorly paid or give golf instruction, but mainly could earn by playing for bets. The best players could be considered professional. The Robertson family had been involved in golf from 1610. Agnes, daughter of Thomas Buddo married David Robertson. Thomas Buddo was a ball maker in St. Andrews,. From this marriage, the ball making trade passed through the Robertson family to Alan Robertson’s father. Not much is recorded about Alan Robertson’s grandfather Peter. He was a caddie at St Andrews and a huge fan of golf. Alan’s father was a senior caddie serving the Royal and Ancient golf club; he was also a skilled feathery ballmaker, as was his father and he taught Alan the trade. When his father died in 1936 the business passed to Alan who was 21 years old. He developed an outstanding reputation due to his skilled craftsmanship coupled with his exceptional talent as a golfer.

Robertson was considered the premier ball and club maker of the time, and exported his merchandise all over the world. It was a lucrative trade with an ever-increasing market. Today a Robertson ball carrying his stamp "Allan" is highly prized by collectors. There was an ongoing trade with America with hickory shafts being exported to Scotland and golf clubs and balls being imported back as early as the 1740’s. Originally reports noted that a ball maker would make 2 to 3 feathery balls a day. By 1838 it was estimated that an expert ballmaker could make 50 to 60 a week. Robertson’s team had crafted over 2,500 golf balls in his most productive year. However, it was hard work and whether that rate could be sustained is questionable. A review of autopsy reports has indicated that it took its toll on ball makers.

Robinson was not professional to the Royal and Ancient golf club but he controlled the caddies and play on St Andrews Old Course links. He also set handicaps for the club members. He was not permanently employed by the Golf Club but he was contracted  by them periodically to  keep St Andrews Old Course in good condition and make or repair golf equipment.

He perfected the ‘bump and run’ shot to the greens and was a skilful iron player generally. He wore a red coat when playing and his friendly way endeared him to all golfers, the members and the townsfolk. He would help anyone who shared his love of golf. Robertson significantly improved the St Andrews Old Course by enlarging its greens, to allow for the increase in golf popularity.

Alan Robertson employed Tom Morris in 1835 as an Apprentice for four years to be followed by five years as a journeyman. The Morris family were traditionally weavers along with several other St Andrews families. However, the weaving trade was in decline which was probably why they found something else for Tom. He learnt to make feathery golf balls as the main product with a small amount of club making and repair. It was hard work making a leather cover and stuffing it with goose feathers while stitching the leather. With Robinson, his cousin Willie and Tom working they could make about 50 balls per week which because of the intense labour involved could sell for about £1 each. This was similar to the price of a club.

Alan had somehow recognised a potential golfing talent in Tom when he employed him. He schooled Tom in the game as well as the trade. He was the perfect model and was the best golfer in St Andrews and before long would be considered the Champion Golfer of Scotland. Tom caddied for the members of the Golf Club and played in matches with a partner from the club or against other caddies. When he was twenty he was the second best golfer at St Andrews. Later he was released from work to partner Alan. Robinson was a born performer with a little bow and doffing his hat to the gentlemen. When playing although he was skilful he was also full of tricks to gain an advantage. He was a gentlemen who preferred not to wound his opponent’s pride with his exceptional abilities. He would sometimes deliberately allow his opponents to get ahead before finishing them off on the final holes. He passed on his skills and knowledge to his apprentice Tom Morris. When playing as partners they rarely lost a single match. On the 17th hole of the St Andrews Old Course Allan hit a shot that astounded his opponent. It was one of the first approach shots using an iron golf club. But this wasn’t Allan’s only innovation. He was granted permission to redesign the Old Course, and in the process established the first double greens.  By 1857 two holes had been provided on all but the first and last greens. This significantly reduced congestion and delays.

In 1843 a number of artisans and others formed their own club to play on St Andrews Old Course. It was first named St Andrews Mechanics but soon after the formation changed to St Andrews Golf Club, to widen its appeal in the town. Alan was prominent as a member, he proposed the first handicap system at the club to make its competitions fair to all members. Many describe him as the first professional golfer, he was certainly the best golfer of his generation and was mentor to the great Tom Morris. Alan’s brother David emigrated to Australia and became one of the founders of the Australian Golf Society. The society was later the ruling body for golf in the region. When Alan was Captain of the St Andrews Golf Club in 1854 David sent him 2 gold nuggets as prizes for the members to compete for.

In the 1850’s there were not many golf courses worldwide, possibly 20 with most in Scotland. The high cost of equipment meant that golf was mainly a game for a few wealthy people. Balls were particularly expensive and they did not last long, perhaps two rounds. The ball of choice for wealthy golfers from 1620 to the about 1850 was the ‘feathery’. A tremendous boost to the development of golf came with the invention of the gutta-percha ball, known as the ‘Gutty’.

In 1848 the new golf ball was tried out by Robert Adams Patterson, a divinity student at St Andrews University. It took time to be a saleable product. It was made from liquid rubber (gutta percha) found in Malaysia. From the early 1960’s the feathery’s days were over. The arrival of the gutta-percha ball or "gutty", as it was called, revolutionized the game of golf and allowed its spread to the masses. The gutty period lasted from 1848 until the late 1890’s, nothing like as long as the feathery but the Gutty had a much greater impact on the game of golf, due to its affordability, playability and durability. When the Gutty ball came into use Robertson fought against it, knowing that it threatened his business. The relationship between Robertson and Morris soured when the gutty ball was introduced. Robertson caught Morris playing with a gutty, and fired him on the spot. He attempted to suppress the popularity of the new and cheaper ball, which hastened the end of his own 100-year-old business making the featherie ball. Morris accepted the march of progress and was offered a job at Prestwick. He moved to Prestwick in 1851, on the west coast of Scotland, to build a new golf course, where he served as professional and greenkeeper. The gutty ball revolutionized golf and Robertson's feathery business did indeed collapse, although Robertson quickly moved to manufacture the gutty. As the gutty improved later it could be mass produced which would significantly help the growth and development of golf but made production uneconomic for small businesses. Alan was remembered for many things. Perhaps his greatest achievement was in 1858 when he became the first man to break 80 on St Andrews Old course. He did this the year before his death, ironically playing a gutty ball. Robertson died a few months after an attack of jaundice. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews issued a statement on his death exalting his contribution to golf and organised an annual collection to provide for his widow. Robertson's portrait is displayed in the Royal and Ancient Golf Club's gallery. His grave is in the churchyard of St Andrews Cathedral, just west of the central bell-tower. It is a sandstone obelisk bearing his sculpted portrait. His epitaph reads: "Allan Robertson - who died 1st Sept. 1859 aged 44 years old. He was greatly esteemed for his personal worth and for many years was distinguished as the champion golfer of Scotland." His legacy was that the Open Championship in golf came about as a result of his death. Since he was recognized as the best player during much of his lifetime, golfers at Prestwick Golf Club formed a competition in 1860, to decide who would succeed him as the "Champion Golfer". The Open, continuing annually ever since except for war years is the longest-running golf championship and the oldest of the four major championships. Allan Robertson is the father of modern golf. He is the reason we use iron golf clubs. He is the reason we read about Tom Morris. An innovator of the sport, an expert craftsman, and possibly unbeaten throughout his lifetime. This is the story of golf’s forgotten legend. Golf’s heritage is more than just the techniques and craftsmanship. Beyond the physical sport there’s an honourable etiquette that has been passed down through the centuries. One man was responsible for gracefully stitching together the greatest players and the titled gentry. It’s often said that his greatest gift to the sport was his humour and charm. His name was Allan Robertson.

The first Keeper of the Green at St Andrews Old Course.

The Royal and Ancient could not find anyone suitable to tend the Old Course after the death of Alan Robinson. They tried to persuade Tom Morris to return. Whereas his family would be pleased to return Tom made sure that he would be properly rewarded and would be free to maintain and improve the course.

In 1864 Tom Morris returned to St Andrews from Prestwick to supervise the links for the Royal and Ancient. He introduced many greenkeeping innovations and improvements to the links. These included grass cutting machinery, heavy rollers, sanding and watering greens. He widened the fairways provided sand boxes and separate areas for teeing off and defined the holes by fitting metal cups.

His son Tommy was 13 years old and showing great promise at Golf. He had been well educated at a private school in Prestwick and he had no intension of caddying for the Royal and Ancient Golf Club. He travelled to Perth with his father hoping to play in a professional tournament there. This was refused but they paired him for a game with a local boy who was said to be a promising golfer. Tommy beat him easily and at the end of the day his score on the Perth course would have won the professional tournament.

By 1866 Tom’s second year on the job he had the fairways wider, bunker walls repaired, divots filled and the putting greens larger, smoother and greener. He had discovered top dressing when at Prestwick and it was now applied to make fine greens at St Andrews Old Course. He went over budget determined to improve the course and the club could see the value and did not complain. In 1867 Tom and Tommy went to play a professional tournament at Carnoustie. At 16 years of age Tommy beat a field of 31 professionals, it was a sign of things to come. Tommy would make St Andrews proud in the years to come.