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The traditional season opening event at St Andrews Links takes place this weekend when the world-famous Old Course is played in its original direction for three days.

The Old Course in Reverse event enables golfers to play the Old Course on its original clockwise routing starting from the first tee and playing to the 17th green, then the 18th tee to the 16th green and so on.

It will be played in this direction on Friday, April 4, Saturday, April 5 and Monday, April 7. A daily ballot for tee times will be held for each of these days.

The Old Course was played in this direction until the 1870s when Old Tom Morris created the present first green. This made it possible to play in the anti-clockwise direction and until the early 20th Century the course was played in both directions in alternate weeks.

Until the 1970s the course was set up in the clockwise direction for four weeks in the winter. St Andrews Links Trust, which manages and maintains the seven public courses in St Andrews including the Old Course and the new Castle Course, recently revived this routing and it has proved popular as a season-opening event.

Alan McGregor, general manager of the Links Trust, said, “We are very much looking forward to another busy season at the Links and the Old Course in Reverse weekend has become a key date on the calendar.

“Golfers from near and far have relished the challenge of playing the Old Course in a different direction and there is no doubt it plays with your mind as many hazards come in to play that are not normally in range. It gives people the opportunity to experience golfing history for themselves.”

* For information on the Old Course in Reverse or on how to enter the daily ballot visit www.standrews.org.uk.