Thumbs Up for Old Tom!
The Old Tom Statue Project Group, who received the green light last December (2023) to commission a statue of Tom Morris, have taken a step closer to realising their dream and seeing ‘Old Tom’ take his rightful place on the Scores.
Ronald Sandford, Chair of the group says: “I am delighted we got the go-ahead from the St Andrews Links Trust to create this wonderful statue of Old Tom. He was a legend in his own lifetime and known then as the Grand Old Man of Golf. Be it winner of four Opens, or the creator of over 100 courses, he is Scotland’s greatest golfing icon and it is appropriate that St Andrews should herald one of its finest sons. Mrs Walker, Old Tom’s Great Great Granddaughter, and her cousin Melvyn Morrow were also said to be delighted with the news.”
Scottish sculptor, David Annand, is creating the statue. His previous work in the golfing world includes the statue of golfing pioneer, Dr John Rattray, installed at Leith Links. Locally, his works will be well known by many – Hamish McHamish on Logies Lane and Bishop Wardlaw, founder of the University of St Andrews, who stands proud in St Mary’s Quadrangle.
David says: “It is the opportunity of a lifetime to create this historic statue that will stand overlooking his shop and 18th green for all time coming. It may well be a new target line for those playing from the 18th tee. My hope is that a few words with Old Tom before you tee off the first will settle any first tee nerves!”
Speaking of the vision to have a statue for Old Tom, Ronald adds: “A few years ago I was playing Rosapenna in County Donegal, designed by Old Tom Morris in 1891, and it was there that my friends and I discovered this wonderful statue sculpted by Paul Ferriter. I immediately said ‘there should be a statue of Old Tom Morris in St Andrews’. That statue was my inspiration and proved to be the beginning of a long running odyssey.”
CAPTION: The site for the statue in preparation – on the Scores – ensuring Old Tom will have pride of place, looking towards his iconic Old Course.
Right: the initial clay model sculpted from historic images of Old Tom, such as the famous photo of Old Tom with his son,
Young Tom (left), captured by
Creating History …
The statue is being funded through private donations, local charities, and golfers from around the globe, such is the affection for Old Tom Morris. Financial support for the project has been encouraging with grant-awarding bodies and individuals making generous pledges to allow the project to progress to this stage.
Ronald explains: “This global initiative welcoming donations is very much in tune with the collective response in 1909 when townsfolk and people much further afield, raised the sum of £600 to fund a statue of Tom Morris to be erected in the town or near his beloved Links. It is unclear why, as reported in The Citizen in 1910, this statue became the medallion on the west edifice of the R&A below the clock. This is our chance to deliver on that 100-year ambition of a statue to the legendary Tom Morris.”
The project costs are estimated to be just over £100,000.
It is hoped the statue will be unveiled on Wednesday 2nd October 2024 on the eve of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
A gofundme page has been set up. Just click on the image of Old Tom below to access it.
- Bank of Scotland, Account Holder The Old Tom Statue Project
- Account Number 26212960
- Sort Code 80-22-60
- IBAN/SWIFT GB97BAOFS8022602612960 LOYDGB2L (The IBAN maybe necessary for Overseas Members)
Need more?
The OTSPG is a group of St Andrews locals who wish to see Tom Morris recognised in his hometown. The group includes:
- Ronald Sandford (Chair)
- David Sandford
- Callum MacLoed
- David Strachan
- Allan Peden
- Athole Reid
- Golf historian
- Roger McStravick
- Book designer and Past Captain of New Golf Club of St Andrews
- Chic Harper
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