The author of this post is Alexa Hammer, who is a University of St Andrews student and golfer writing about her experiences. See more of her work on her Hammer & The Links page!

This is the 2^nd Lessons of the Links post! Below I share more information I have learned since living in the Home of Golf. I hope you learn something new too!

The Swilcan Bridge
When you think of St Andrews, Scotland, often the first image that comes to mind is one of the Swilcan Bridge, more specifically the iconic photo with Jack Nicklaus standing on the Swilcan waving back. Even though it is small in size, the Swilcan is big in name across the world of golf. The 8 foot long and 6 foot wide bridge crosses over the Swilcan burn and divides the 1^st and 18^th fairways of the Old Course.

After spending more time in St Andrews and walking across the Swilcan a few dozen times, I wanted to know more about the humble, yet iconic attraction. The wee bridge was originally created around 800 years ago as a packhorse bridge when the town of St. Andrews was known as a great market and trading spot. The burn interfered with the travelers’ trade routes. Thus, a way to cross the burn and reach the center of town with livestock and packhorses, or horses carrying loads of trading goods, was needed. As time passed, the bridge evolved from the packhorse bridge to the “Golfer’s Bridge.”

Revetted Bunkers
Being from Florida, I wasn’t familiar with the term ‘revetted bunker’ before moving to Scotland. The majority of bunkers I come across in Scotland are revetted bunkers, and I can only think of a few places in the states that have the stacked sod faces. Since I did not originally know what a revetted bunker was, I thought I would clarify the term for those who don’t know.

(Photo of the infamous revetted Road Hole bunker found greenside on hole 17 at the Old Course)

Revetted bunkers are stacked sod wall bunkers. They are constructed by simply stacking layers of sods on top of another. Depending on the size and height of each bunker, the number of layers of sod ranges anywhere from 20 to 50 layers. Despite revetted bunkers being more complicated in design, there are many benefits of this style bunker including less maintenance, greater face height with less erosion, wind/weather durability, better drainage and unique aesthetics.

In more modern golf course construction around the world, some revetted style bunkers are now being constructed using a synthetic grass material that looks like stacked sod.  As good as some of the synthetic material may be there is nothing like the authentic revetted bunkers, with the natural stacked sod, of true links courses.

Playing The Old Backwards
Have you ever heard of any course being played backwards? The Old Course was played in two different directions for much of its existence. It was really two separate courses -The Old Course and The Reserve Old Course. The first hole of the Reserve Old Course was played from the 1^st tee to the 17^th green. The second was played from there to the 16^th green and so on until the 18^th green was reached. Playing the course in reverse was actually quite simple due to the double greens, open and treeless nature of the course, and the relatively circular routing of the holes.

(View from behind 18^th green of The Old)

The First Open Championship
The first Open Championship, or The British Open as many Americans call it, was first played at Prestwick in 1860. This true test of links golf is “golf’s oldest championship.” The first time The Open Championship was played at St Andrews was in 1873, also the first year the Claret Jug was presented.

Being over 150 years old, The Open has only been hosted at 14 different venues, including St Andrews, Royal Portrush, Carnoustie, Royal St George’s, Prestwick, Royal Lytham & St Annes, Royal Liverpool, Muirfield, Turnberry, Musselburgh Links (The Old Golf Course), Royal Cinque Ports, Prince’s, Royal Troon, and Royal Birkdale. The Old Course has hosted The Open the greatest number of years (29 times). Next year’s Open will be held at Royal Birkdale for the 10^th time.

Look out for future Lessons of the Links posts – more to come!