THE INTERNATIONAL reputation of St Andrews has suffered another blow only weeks before the Open Championship thanks to an article in one of the world’s most widely-read golfing publications.

Hard on the heels of St Andrews Community Council’s brutally criticised rejection of the possibility of an honour for legend Jack Nicklaus during his last Open appearance in the town, millions of readers of Golf Digest have now been told that the price of a packaged round of golf over the Old Course can be “outrageous”.

Two senior writers from the highly respected US magazine—which describes itself as the “No 1 golf publication”—spent several days in the town at the end of last year as they researched an article which highlights apparent division between St Andrews Links Trust and several members of the local business and golfing tourism sector.

There were similar stirrings during the recent debate over the “seventh course” now being built by the links trust at Kinkell, with concern raised over the commercial operation of the trust and alleged unfair competition to local businesses.

One of the authors of the Golf Digest piece is Dean Knuth, a member of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club and a former senior director of handicapping at the US Golf Association.

The article refers generally to role of the links trust in preserving and maintaining the public courses in the town, and the authors claim to have interviewed over 30 people.

At the core of the article is the exclusive commercial deal struck between the links trust and London company Keith Prowse Ltd.

The hospitality firm offers packages called the “Old Course Experience” which include hotel accommodation, two rounds of golf, including one on the Old Course, and transport.

According to Golf Digest, when the cost of all components apart from the round on the Old Course is taken away, the amount remaining—effectively the charge for the coveted round on the Old Course—is some $1800.

It is also acknowledged, however, that by by using other methods US visitors can play over the course for as little as $219.

While the cost of packages can be justified by what people are obviously prepared to pay for a luxury visit to the town, what will be more alarming to those in the links trust will be the general tone of the article.

It refers to animosity and suspicion in the town, and suggests that the “scalping” of golf tourists is being officially sanctioned.

Yesterday the links trust issued a statement which pointed out that 90% of visiting golfers pay the standard green fee.

The article in Golf Digest, said the trust, concentrated on the “tiny minority” who choose to come to Scotland on a luxury package. It was also claimed that parts of the story appeared to have been fuelled by unsubstantiated allegations from some people in St Andrews.

Just a few weeks ago Golf Digest rated the Old Course as the best outside the US.