Struie is 700th course for 85-year-old Tom
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A dedicated golfer with a famous name made for Royal Dornoch to celebrate teeing up at his 700th course.
Retired Perthshire dairy farmer Tom Watson marked the milestone with a trip to Sutherland, where the Blairgowrie and Elie member – and former starter at Gleneagles – added the Struie course to the long list of courses he has been ticking off methodically since his school days.
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 that kept him away from golf for seven months.
He explained: “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 predated 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-travelled Tom was thrilled to chalk up number 700 in the north Highlands.
“When I was listed in the seniors team to go to Dornoch I realised the Struie would be ideal to take me to the 700 mark," he said.
“I have been fortunate enough to play the championship course many times down the years but never the Struie. I was taken aback 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 major 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 favourite 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 any out," Tom said.
“We did call our home Pinehurst. I have played the famous No 2 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.”
