American wins contest to name the newest course at St. Andrews: "The Castle Course"

In November, we alerted our faithful readers to the contest to name the 7th course being built by the St. Andrews Links Trust, keepers of the venerable Old Course and five of her sisters.

Well, the St. Andrews Links Course No 7 Working Party has chosen their favorite moniker: The Castle Course. Because there were several folks who suggested this grand name, they tossed all the submissions in a smart driving cap and plucked out the winner: Edwin Burtnett. Because Burtnett is an American, you can be certain that this contest wasn’t rigged. I’m guessing you could almost hear a sigh of resigned disappointment emanating from the Links Trust clubhouse when a Yank was drawn.

Nationality aside, Mr. Burtnett will be invited to the VIP opening ceremony of the seventh course next year and will be given the opportunity to play one of the first rounds on the new course.

To quote one of my favorite lines from Monty Python’s “Life of Brian”: “Lucky, lucky bastard.”

In case you’re wondering, the winning name refers to Kinkell Castle, which once stood on the site of the new David McLay Kidd layout. The course occupies a 220-acre clifftop perch just southeast of St. Andrews.

I still think my entry, The Newest Course, would have been apt in its understatement and consistency with the other courses of the Links Trust, but never mind. No sour grapes here.

But if Mr. Burtnett entered the contest after reading my original blog about it, I hope he sends me a postcard.