Tom Morris Golf Shop

Tom Morris Golf Shop, also known as the T. Morris shop or the Tom Morris shop, was a golf shop located at 7-8 The Links, in St Andrews, Scotland and originally ownwed by Old Tom Morris. The shop overlooks the 18th green of the Old Course at St Andrews,[2] and was the oldest golf shop in the world.[2] By 2010, the Tom Morris Golf Shop had been taken over by the St Andrews Links Trust, and eight years later it had closed, becoming The Open Store instead.

Tom Morris Golf Shop
Logo of Tom Morris
Photo taken 25 May 2009
Alternative namesT. Morris, Tom Morris
General information
TypeShop / Workshop
Address7-8 The Links (1866-2018)
6 Pilmour Links(1866-1908)
8 Golf Place (1864-1866)
15 The Links (1846-1851)
Town or citySt Andrews
CountryScotland
Coordinates56.342837°N 2.802980°W / 56.342837; -2.802980 ,
Current tenantsTom Morris Ltd
(St Andrews Links Trust)
OwnerSheila Walker (7-8 The Links)
Website
www.tommorris.com
Listed Building – Category C(S)
Official name7 and 8 The Links, Tom Morris House and Golf Shop[1]
Designated23 June 1999 (1999-06-23)[1]
Reference no.LB46273[1]

History
T. Morris golf shop (circa 1890)

In 1835 when Old Tom Morris was 14,[3] he became apprentice to Allan Robertson, who was the pro at St Andrews Links, working in his master's St Andrews workshop, producing golf balls and clubs.[4] A contract was signed for 9 years, with 4 years as an apprentice, and 5 as a journeyman.[3]

When Robertson found out that Morris had played with the newly introduced gutta-percha ball in 1846, Robinson instantly sacked him.[5] In 1848, having left his job with Robertson, Morris opened his own business making golf equipment, with his first golf shop at 15 The Links, St Andrewsr[6][7] which he ran until 1851 when he accepted a position with Prestwick Golf Club as the first Keeper of the Green.[8] When Morris returned from Prestwick to St Andrews in 1864 as the Keeper of the Green, and he remained in this job until 1903.[5][9][10] and at the same time he started his second golf shop, when he took over a small shop and house at 8 Golf Place until 1866. He then moved again, this time into 6 Pilmour Links,[10] and also took over George Daniel Brown's golf shop at 8 The Links.[10] This is the golf shop that is known as the Tom Morris Golf Shop.[10] Morris lived in at 7 The Links, which is a flat above the shop.[9]

The St Andrews Links Trust took over the Tom Morris Shop and Tom Morris Ltd in 2010,[11][12] Sheila Walker, the great-granddaughter of Old Tom Morris, still own the property and lives above the shop. The shop was refurbished in 2011 by the St Andrews Links Trust.[13] In 2018 The R&A entered into a partnership with St Andrews Links Trust to manage its retail and merchandise operations. The result of this was that the Tom Morris Shop closed and was replaced by The Open Store.[14]

References
  1. "7 and 8 The Links, Tom Morris House and Golf Shop". Historic Environment Scotland. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  2. "Memorabilia find cause to re-open oldest golf shop in the world". Scottish Daily Record and Sunday Mail Ltd. 2013-02-28. Retrieved 2020-11-20.
  3. "Old Tom Morris returns to St. Andrews 1865". Bill Keenan (lorespot.com). 2013-02-28. Retrieved 2020-11-20.
  4. "Old Tom Morris". top100golfcourses.com. Retrieved 2020-11-20.
  5. "Tom Morris – The Grand Old Man of Golf". British Golf Museum. 2013-02-28. Retrieved 2020-11-20.
  6. "Pro Shop – Old Tom Morris' first golf shop in the world, documented". mygolfway. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
  7. "Legend Morris was a 'millionaire'". PSP Media Group Ltd. Retrieved 2020-11-20.
  8. "Tom Morris, Sr". Prestwick Golf Club. Retrieved 2020-11-20.
  9. "15 Things to do in St Andrews when you are not playing Golf". Golfiana Caledonia LLP. Retrieved 2020-11-20.
  10. Roger McStravick (14 July 2015). St Andrews In The Footsteps of Tom Morris (PDF). Saint Andrews Golf Press. ISBN 978-0-9571643-6-9. Archived from the original on 2020-11-20.
  11. "New lease of life for Old Tom's St Andrews shop". JPIMedia. Retrieved 2020-11-20.
  12. "Famous Tom Morris Golf Shop Replaced by Open Merchandise Store". Golfshake.com Ltd. Retrieved 2020-11-20.
  13. "9 Things to Know about Old Tom Morris". Swapper, LLC. Retrieved 2020-11-20.
  14. "Retail and merchandise partnership agreed between The Open and St Andrews Links Trust". St Andrews Links Trust. Retrieved 2020-11-20.
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