How it all began
St Andrews Links Trust has always supported junior golf and a major step forward in 2001 was the creation of the St Andrews Links Junior Golf Association. After meeting with local golf clubs, the Trust and the Scottish Junior Golf Partnership developed a coaching programme for young golfers in St Andrews. Open to children aged between five and 18 and at school in St Andrews, the new programme built on the success of existing local schemes.
An online auction of the Old Course Starter's box took place in August 2001 to raise funds for the programme. The auction ended at midday on September 10, reaching a price of £59,000. Bidders from the US and Denmark competed against one another until the final second, with the US party putting in the last bid on the stroke of noon. This windfall helped kick-start the SALJGA programme in helping it become what it is today.