SPECTACTORS dining al fresco in the tented village have been able to do so without fear of having their grub nicked from their hands by the dive-bombing rats in the sky. There’s not a seagull to be seen since the R&A employed the services of a Harris Hawk, an Indian Eagle Owl and an African Tawny Eagle to scare off the pesky predators.
It’s given a whole new meaning to birdies and eagles. But heaven help the locals when the visiting wildlife depart and the pests return in their droves seeking revenge for being cleared out of town temporarily.
THERE'S a commemorative plaque at St Andrews highlighting the contribution made by Polish signals officer Jozef Kosacki, inventor of a device for detecting mines. Now there’s another Pole desperate to see his name commemorated in the Auld Grey Toon if he can produce a spectacular finish at The Open.
Adrian Meronk has already made history after registering the first ever victory by an Eastern European on the DP World Tour
when he won the Irish Open to earn a passport to St Andrews.
THERE has been no shortage of famous faces and members of royalty in and around the Old Course. Line of Duty’s Martin Compston, Love Island’s Nathan Massey and ex-One Direction singer Niall Horan are among those who’ve been spotted mingling with the punters.
There were also rumours that Robbie Williams was spotted driving around town. And on the royal front, Princess Anne and Prince Albert of Monaco have been guests of the R&A.
WE have had all four seasons this week – wind, rain, leaden skies and glorious sunshine. Given St Andrews’ strange micro climate, it would come as no great surprise if we also got a flurry of snow.
But the risk of hypothermia? That might be pushing it a tad – unless the media centre air conditioning isn’t reined in.
It’s saying something that sweaters are the order of the day to combat the chill air. Believe me, it’s a damn sight warmer outside!
THE local constabulary has done a fine job by and large under trying conditions. But two of their number earned a black mark yesterday for blighting the entrepreneurial skills of a couple of teenagers bagpipers.
The youngsters were coining it in from their pitch in Golf Place, largely from the largesse of visiting Americans who showed their appreciation in the form of the folding stuff. But they were quickly moved on by the boys in blue who explained that their music was disturbing the calm of the neighbourhood.
Given that 70,000 golf fans were roaring and cheering the equivalent of a short chip away it’s fair to say that it was a ludicrous over-reaction on the part of the law.
THE Auld Grey Town is buzzing. The electrifying atmosphere and incredible hype generated by events at the Old Course has
everyone on a high.
So much so that it’s impossible to be laid-back - unless you’re a seal. Hundreds of the creatures enjoyed their five minutes of fame on TV stretched out on the west sands basking in the sunshine, apparently without a care in the world.
Not even the presence of a record 290,000 fans at The Open this week has disturbed the peace and tranquillity of the local sea life, it seems.
