A DEDICATED golfer with a famous name made for Royal Dornoch to celebrate teeing-up at his 700th golf course.
Retired Perthshire dairy farmer Tom Watson marked the milestone with a trip north, where the Blairgowrie and Elie member – and former starter at Gleneagles – added the Struie Course to the long list of golf courses he has been ticking off methodically since his schooldays.
The visit was prompted by a seniors match between Blairgowrie and the victorious hosts, with visiting vice-captain Colin Allison presenting Tom with a crystal decanter in the clubhouse to mark the occasion.
Tom (85), who became a junior member at Blairgowrie in 1948, had feared his bid to reach the landmark would be stymied by the pandemic and a back issue which kept him away from the golf course for seven months.
He said: “I played the Struie Course with Blairgowrie vice-captain Colin Allison and Royal Dornoch duo Struan Robertson and Alistair Fleming, who used to be a member at Blair before he headed north.
“I often played with Alistair when he lived in Alyth so it was lovely to find he was joining us.
“I have been keeping track of the courses I have played since I was a youngster, when I played a public course in Glasgow called Linn Park in April 1948, getting on a tram car from my grandparents’ home.
“That pre-dated playing Blairgowrie, where I have been a member since May 16 that same year. An uncle paid 10 shillings for a two-year junior membership.”
Far traveled Tom was thrilled to chalk up number 700 in the Highlands.
“When I was listed in the seniors team to go to Dornoch I realized the Struie would be ideal to take me to the 700-mark,” he said.
“I have been fortunate enough to play the Championship many times down the years but never the Struie. I was taken back by just how good it is.
“It turned out to be a much bigger and more challenging course than I had ever imagined.
“It has had to live in the shadow of the Championship, one of the world’s great golf courses. But it is definitely a top-notch course in its own right.
“I really couldn’t have chosen a better spot to mark the milestone. It worked out perfectly and everyone at Royal Dornoch made me very welcome.”
Tom admits sharing a name with an eight-time Majors winner has provided amusing moments in clubhouses on either side of the Atlantic.
“Through the years there have been times when people have done a double take when I have given them my name,” he said.
“When Watson was in his heyday, I often had people in pro shops subconsciously lifting their eyes when I gave them my name.
“I did get once a chance to play with Tom at Longniddry.
“But I have always said that’s where the similarity ends, although we both rate Royal Dornoch very highly.”
As to a favorite on his travels, perhaps a clue lies in the name of the home he shares with wife Ena by Blairgowrie’s Lansdowne course.
“It would be wrong to say any course was better than any other so I wouldn’t really want to single anyone out.
“We did call our home Pinehurst. I have played the famous No2 course 12 times and, of course, it is regarded as one of the finest courses designed by Dornoch-born Donald Ross.
“You can see the influence of Dornoch in the upside-down saucer greens, which was his trademark.
“I still mean to carry on golfing so hopefully there will be scope for a few more courses to be added to the list.”
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