A record number of golfers turned out to play in the historic 100th staging of the Town Match in St Andrews on Saturday.
Known as the largest annual one day amateur golf match in the world, 916 players competed over the Old, New, Jubilee and Strathtyrum Courses for the anniversary event – the highest ever number to tee up.
First played in 1913, the Town Match involves a team from The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews playing against a side from the town of St Andrews in a foursomes handicap match play format.
On Saturday, 229 matches took place across the four St Andrews Links courses with the first tee off at 6.40am and play continuing until dusk in a celebration of the town’s rich golf heritage. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews ran out winners by the score of 122½ to 106½ with Ian Pattinson, Captain of the Club, presented with the victorious silverware – the Bobby Jones Casket – in front of the Clubhouse.
The Town Match is one of the events included in the Club’s Autumn Meeting each year and strengthens the bonds with local clubs – St Andrews, New, St Regulus and St Rule – in the town through spirited competition.
David Sandford, who has played in the Town Match every year since 1996 as a Club Member, is one of the organisers of the eagerly-awaited event.
“The Town Match embodies the community spirit of St Andrews,” said David. “In the early years, it was basically a match played over the Old Course. Now it has expanded and developed with every year more people playing.
“It’s an exceptional golf event being the largest single day golf match in the world and this year members of the Club and players from local golf clubs again competed, including staff from The R&A and students from the University of St Andrews.
“It’s a great social event too with players visiting their opponents’ clubs for food or drinks afterwards. The whole town and the local clubs enjoy the occasion. Over the years, players have even travelled from America solely to play in the Town Match. The clubs are most grateful to St Andrews Links Trust for reserving the times on the four courses which makes this memorable event possible.”
Of the 229 foursomes matches played on Saturday, 67 took place on the Old, 69 on the New, 68 on the Jubilee and 25 on the Strathtyrum. Each player received a commemorative bag tag to mark the 100th playing of the match.
View a short video of the 2025 Town Match on The R&A’s LinkedIn channel here.
