Visit the Grave of Old Tom Morris

Old Tom Morris (1821 - 1908) is a father figure of golf, and his legacy is firmly entrenched in his hometown of St Andrews. Morris worked as a greenkeeper, clubmaker, ballmaker, golf instructor, and course designer, as well as playing match and tournament golf. He came second in the first Open Championship in 1860, and won the following year. He followed this up with further victories in 1862, 1864 and 1867. He still holds the record as the oldest winner of The Open Championship at 46. Morris played a role in designing courses across the British Isles. He either designed or had a hand in Prestwick, Muirfield, Machrihanish, the New and Jubilee Courses at St Andrews, Balcomie at Crail, Askernish, and across in Ireland - Lahinch and Rosapenna. Glasgow Golf Club’s Killermont course was his last 18 hole design, opening in 1904, just four years before his death. Morris was also a pioneer of modern greenkeeping. He introduced the concept of top-dressing greens with sand and many other novel ideas including the raking of bunkers and installing yardage markers. He was the first to use a push mower to cut greens. Morris kept working right up until his death, just before his 87th birthday when he fell down a flight of stairs in the clubhouse of The New Golf Club. He is buried beside his son in the churchyard of St Andrew's Cathedral. Young Tom was a champion golfer in his own right and won four Open Championships in a row, a record that still stands today. We believe it's well worth 10 minutes of your time in St Andrews to walk up and pay your respects to a man that had such a large and long lasting impact on the game we all love.