16 May 2022
New buggies, staff appointments and on-course improvements coincide with anniversary at The Duke’s course
One of the most prestigious golf courses in St Andrews is preparing to mark a significant milestone. The recognition surrounds a key member of staff at The Duke’s who has spent the last two decades providing a world-class experience at the only heathland course at the Home of Golf. It also accompanies a tranche of investments at the well-regarded venue.
A lot can happen in 20 years, as anyone visiting the five-star Old Course Hotel Golf Resort & Spa will confirm. The Duke’s, for instance, has matured gracefully since opening 26 years ago, undergoing a detailed revamp in 2006 that included upgraded drainage and bunker changes alongside the unveiling of three stunning closing holes.
Overseeing that evolution has been Ayden Roberts-Jones, who started at the resort as senior PGA assistant in 2002. Now manager of The Duke’s, he has been integral to the continued development of the golf operations and more recently supervising the introduction of a new fleet of buggies.
“The Duke’s was my introduction to Scottish heathland golf and I was captivated by it,” he said, recalling his debut at the resort. “We went through a lot of changes during those early days which were dramatic but certainly enhanced the course and its playability. We’ve now engaged in a programme of improvements that will take The Duke’s, once again, to another level in terms of delivering a world-class golfing experience.”
Roberts-Jones confirmed the completion of a detailed winter maintenance schedule by The Duke’s greenkeeping team, whose numbers have increased by 50% in less than a year. The programme of works, he explained, also included changes to the stunning par 4 10th. This, along with a new portfolio of photography, means the carefully maintained course, which is also part of the prestigious collection of Kohler championship courses, is set for a summer to remember.
“As well as completing an extensive winter programme of upgrades, the greenkeeping team has also finished tweaking the right-hand side of the fairway of #10 creating a new landing area which provides different options off the tee. It’s exciting – we’re pushing forward with our service delivery and marketing initiatives which include new imagery of the course. It highlights the ambition of the team at The Duke’s to deliver the most manicured golf experience in St Andrews.”
He continued: “The expansion of the greenkeeping team means the consistency and playability of the course has gone up a notch. It means we can maintain each hole more frequently and provide the attention to detail that our guests expect from a five-star resort.”
In the latest round of golf course ratings, The Duke’s has been ranked #15 in Golf World’s Top 100 Best Golf Resorts in Great Britain and Ireland (May 2021). Also, at the annual Scottish Golf Tourism Awards, the team at the Old Course Hotel were winners of the Best Large Hotel category.
The Duke’s will play a central role in the recently announced Old Course Hotel Pro Am which will bring together championship courses at The Home of Golf in an exciting format for both amateurs and professionals. The inaugural Old Course Hotel Pro Am will take place between 21-23 September 2022.
“The changes we’ve brought in recently are part of a much wider plan to deliver continued improvements across all departments at The Duke’s,” said Roberts-Jones. “Being part of a team with such a dedicated approach to securing enhanced service levels year on year makes me extremely proud.”
ENDS
- The Duke’s is part of the prestigious collection of Kohler championship golf courses which together have hosted six majors and a Ryder Cup. It forms part of The Old Course Hotel and enjoys breath-taking panoramic views of St Andrews. For more details, visit thedukescourse.co.uk.
- The Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa is a prestigious AA five star resort that overlooks the famous Old Course and the West Sands Beach in St Andrews. For more information, visit oldcoursehotel.co.uk.
- The Duke’s was originally laid out by the legendary Peter Thomson, five-times Open Champion, with additional architectural input from Ross Perrett and Tim Liddy.
- The stunning layout features sweeping fairways, captivating approach shots and undulating greens framed around 133 bunkers.
- The Duke’s is proud to have hosted a clutch of high-profile tournaments including the Scottish Matchplay in 2003, the Scottish Strokeplay in 2007, the European Amateur in 2014 and the Scottish Men’s Open Amateur in 2019.
- The inaugural Old Course Hotel Pro Am will be played over three courses at The Duke’s, Kingsbarns Golf Links and Dumbarnie Links between 21-23 September 2022. For more information about The Old Course Hotel Pro Am including format, itinerary and accommodation options, visit oldcoursehotelproam.com.
- The new golf course imagery of The Duke’s was created by Mark Alexander. For more details, visit markalexandergolfphotography.com.
- The attached images are of Ayden Roberts-Jones, manager of The Duke’s and a golf course photograph, taken by Mark Alexander Golf Photography, of hole 7.
For further quotes, interview opportunities and images, please contact:
Yvonne Alexander
PR Director, The Word Association
M: +44 (0) 7976 369260
E: yvonne_twa@yahoo.co.uk
W: www.thewordassociation.biz