Auchterlonies of St Andrews have been making their world renowned hand crafted golf clubs since the 1800s from their shop which to this day is located just a few yards from the world-famous Royal and Ancient Club House and the 18th green of the Old Course, St Andrews.
Four of the six sons of master plumber David Auchterlonie, made significant contributions to golf on both sides of the Atlantic and to the company whose traditions of excellence continue today.
Willie Auchterlonie, born in 1872, and younger brother Laurie, grew up in the home of golf, and went on to win two of golf's most prestigious titles. Willie became Open Champion, at the age of 21, - playing with clubs he made himself - and brother Laurie took the US open title in 1902.
In the mid 1890s, Willie and two other brothers, David and Tom, founded their golf club manufacturing companies in St Andrews. It was Tom Auchterlonie that established the business that remains today in Golf Place, St Andrews, where, as youngsters, the brothers first learned their golf, playing between the lamppost using champagne corks as balls!
Tom's son Eric continued the family business until he retired in 1986, which still uses today the traditional skilled techniques that give Auchterlonie golf clubs their world-wide reputation. It was Eric who introduced the famous wooden-headed putters which carry the Auchterlonie crest.
Auchterlonies shop is now one of the biggest and most popular in St Andrews stocking the finest names in golf wear, equipment and accessories such as Nike, Cutter & Buck and Ashworth as well as a wide range of exclusive Old Course products.
Auchterlonies is now managed by Bob Millar, who himself has more than 30 years experience in the golf industry serving his seven year apprenticeship as a clubmaker in his native St Andrews and was also a former Scotland internationalist golfer in his youth. |
|