What it’s like competing on the Old Course at St. Andrews

There’s getting to play the Old Course at St. Andrews and then there’s playing in competition on the Old Course.

It’s always special to play one of the most historic courses in the game and the place credited as the home of golf. When the Notre Dame men’s and women’s golf teams headed across the pond for the inaugural St. Andrews Links Collegiate, they got to experience the Old Course in a way so few people can.

“One word would be special,” Fighting Irish freshman Rocco Salvitti said of the opportunity to compete at St. Andrews. “It was definitely more than I expected.”

GOLF tagged along with the Notre Dame squads as they prepared for and played in the one-of-a-kind college event featuring three other schools: Georgetown, North Carolina and Vanderbilt. The journey and event were documented in GOLF’s latest documentary, Beyond The Bend, which you can watch in full above.

The tournament was the first-ever U.S. college event held at St. Andrews with the opening two rounds taking place on the Jubilee course before moving to the Old Course for the final round.

It was also a unique experience for all the schools involved as each had both its men’s and women’s teams competing simultaneously.

Salvitti got the chance to stick around the 17th green after his round and watch both his men’s team and women’s team teammates finish their rounds.

Travel

One of those players he got to watch was graduate student Lauren Beaudreau who had it to five under during her final round at one point.

“My parents were here, so it was just great to close out such a memorable week with a really nice round,” Beaudreau said, after a final-round 70.

Graduate student captain Palmer Jackson enjoyed getting to have an Old Course caddie for the final round.

“I was just talking to my caddie about where certain guys in the Open hit it and historic shots, it was just kind of a really cool experience,” Jackson said.

For more on Notre Dame’s journey to the Home of Golf for the St. Andrews Links Collegiate, you can watch GOLF’s full documentary, Beyond The Bend, here.

Jack Hirsh

Golf.com Editor

Jack Hirsh is an assistant editor at GOLF. A Pennsylvania native, Jack is a 2020 graduate of Penn State University, earning degrees in broadcast journalism and political science. He was captain of his high school golf team and recently returned to the program to serve as head coach. Jack also still *tries* to remain competitive in local amateurs. Before joining GOLF, Jack spent two years working at a TV station in Bend, Oregon, primarily as a Multimedia Journalist/reporter, but also producing, anchoring and even presenting the weather. He can be reached at jack.hirsh@golf.com.

 

 

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