The Godfather of golf has been honoured in his home town.
The New Golf Club of St Andrews recognised Old Tom Morris’s place in sporting history by unveiling a blue plaque that recognises not only his golfing achievements but his association with the club, where he was a founding member and its first honorary member.
One of his great-great granddaughters, Sheila Walker, was on hand to unveil the plaque, watched by club captain Lt Col (Retd) John Newman-Carter and committee members.
The unveiling of the plaque, at the Gibson Place entrance, is the first of two blue plaques which will be installed at the club.
A second is to be installed on the north elevation of the club, which overlooks the Links and has magnificent views of the 1st and 18th fairways of the world-famous Old Course.
The funding of the plaque was supported by a bequest from Harrison Deane Mackey of New York, who was an overseas member between 1988 and 2009, and is with the agreement of the St Andrews Preservation Trust.
St Andrews born, Old Tom Morris took up golf in the town. Later, he was instrumental in the formation of the New Golf Club, which was constituted in February 1902. In March he was elected its first honorary member.
The New Club is possibly unique in having only one honorary member at any one time and there have been only four since 1902. The current is golfing legend Arnold Palmer, honorary member since 1973.
Between Tom and Arnold the others were the famous golfers Sandy Herd (1938-1944) and Bobby T Jones (1958-1971).
Tom attended the club daily and it was where he spent his last hours.
On Sunday, May 24 1908, after carrying out his duties as an elder in Holy Trinity Church, he joined fellow members in the club, taking his usual window seat overlooking the Old Course.
Later, he rose to go to the lavatory. His friends heard a cry and found Tom had fallen down the cellar stairs.
He was laid on the dining table in the front room before being taken to the Memorial Cottage Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.