Our golf Club is not the oldest in the World - but it is certainly is amongst the "Elders". The Club is listed as a Registered Club in the 1892 Trinidad and Tobago Collens Year Book. While Scotland and England can boast of much older Clubs, the oldest Club in the Western Hemisphere (St. Andrew's Golf Club of New York) is a mere six years older than our Club. There appears to have been a strong Scottish influence amongst the founder members of the club, and this, no doubt, had some influence on the choice of name - after the "Home of Golf" in Scotland: and today, the headquarters of the Roval and Ancient.

The first known club House and 9 hole course were on the present Queen's Park Savannah. The Club house was the old “Stewards Box" and was probably on the same site as the present members stand. The upstairs was used as the Club House and Bar etc., and downstairs was used to house clubs etc. The caddy master at this time was one Drake, who was a real "Boss" and was a very strict disciplinarian. The first tee was on the North side of the former horse race track in front of the club house, and was, it appears, something of a double dogleg. The 1 st green was to the North of the existing Cemetery. and the shortest way to the green with the second shot, was over the Cemetery. Records, in the form of Committee Minutes still in existence, show that after a while the cemetery was deemed to be out of bounds, since too many balls were falling short and causing damage to the head-stones.

Roy Rudder (The Boss) 1908 - 1984 The first St Andrew's golf Club Professional

The second hole took one West and the green was opposite Q.R.C. (Queen’s Royal College). The third went North up the line of Oueen's Park West and any good strong hook was liable to meet any vehicle or passer-by heading South full on. An even stronger hook would finish up in Whitehall or the Archbishop's parlour. The 4th and 5th winkled through 'The Hollows" whilst the sixth green was just about opposite President's House. The 7th, 8th and 9th came South, with the final green by the Club House. An interesting course by any standards - if a bit flat. The annual rental for these facilities - including the Stewards Box, was $ 100.00 TT - the only condition being that the Club House had to be made available for horse race-goers during race meetings. There must, therefore, have been a very interesting “evacuation" every time a race meeting came up, and afterwards a “'re-possession". The main article for course maintenance at that time was a horse drawn mower - the horse having to be specially shod in order to minimize damage to the grounds.

Around 1920/1921 it became clear that with the increasing number of football and cricket pitches being set up, it would shortly not be a proposition to play golf on the Savannah without loss of life, and an alternative site was sought. A possible area in the region of Diego Martin was considered, but eventually turned down because the Committee felt it was too far away and also because the tramcar routes across the area were deemed to be unfair hazards. Eventually, a site was obtained near the present St. James Barracks. A Club House was built just North of Serpentine Road. The 9 hole course laid out, worked its way over what is now the St. Mary's College Sports Ground. One of the holes ran parallel to the Serpentine Road while the second green was approximately where the College swimming pool now is. Rental for this area of 9 holes was 1/-(24 c) per year. The most expensive golf balls were 60 c each, but good ones were also available at 24 c. Golf started at St James around 1923, but around 1932, Government indicated that they required the land and a further search started for an alternative site for a course.

Perhaps one of the more notable landmarks in Trinidad Golf in general, and St Andrew's Golf Club in particular during the St. James era, is that during the time there, a lad by the name of Fitzroy Rudder started working as a caddy.

After much fund raising activity, 96 acres of land were bought in Maraval from the de Boissiere family for the princely sum of TT $16,000.00. Much of this was recovered very rapidly by the sale of building sites to the North West. Setting out nine hole courses on flat land such as the Savannah and St. James was one thing, but it was decided that a proposed eighteen holes over 96 acres was a different kettle of fish, and should warrant the guidance of a professional golf architect. Some drawings were made showing a few contours of the area and the next time Mr George de Nobriga, who was then an active member, went to the U.K. he was asked to look into the possibility of engaging a golf architect. Funds, however, were limited. He was recommended to a certain Mr.Colt, who turned out to be the leading man in his field at that time, and therefore rather expensive. Mr. Colt however, looked upon this as a challenge and said he had never before been asked to design a golf course 5,000 miles away on a piece of land he had never seen, and probably never would. He offered to do the job for nothing, but was eventually persuaded to accept 50 guineas as a token. He produced a fine plasticine model to scale, and on his return to Trinidad, Mr. de Nobriga and many other dedicated members set about following Mr Colt's design to produce the eighteen hole course at Maraval, which eventually gave so much pleasure to golfers for nearly 40 years. The original construction, needless to say, was supervised throughout by the indispensable Roy Rudder, who by this time had been the Club Professional for many years.

The first nine holes South of Golf Course Road, were in play by 1935, and about a year later, the area to the North of the road was incorporated to make up the full 18 holes. A wonderfully compact course in a limited area which was indeed a tribute to the architect, who, incidentally, as far as is know, never did get to see the course! The "Old" Club House as present day golfers now call it, with its panoramic view over almost the entire course, was constructed for TT $ 8,000. However, one has to move with the times, and in 1970, it was decided that it was indeed time to find a new location for St. Andrew's. Interest in golf was increasing at a tremendous rate and the course and the club house facilities were becoming quite inadequate for the rapidly increasing membership. After much negotiation, a very suitable area was found at Moka in Northern Maraval, and plans were started for the next big move.

BUILDING THE COURSE AT MOKA

In 1969, when considering the move from La Seiva to Moka, a team from the Club spent months cutting their way through bush to determine whether an 18 hole Championship Course could be built on the proposed site. The site was 112 1/2 acres and though 130 acres was recommended, the team said yes, but things would be tight.

Golf Course Architects Fream Storm Associates of California had been in touch with the Club and they prepared a cost estimate for consideration. Early in 1971 the decision to move was taken and the green light was given to Peter Hale and his team. Among these were Richard Morton, Bill Agard, Bert Roxborough, Hugh Laughland and always involved was Club Secretary, Dick Taitt. Over the following months Ron Fream and Terry Storm made visits to Trinidad and schedules were developed. They had started discussions with the St. Kitts Government on their Frigate Bay Course and also the T&T Government on expanding Chaguaramas and they were with us often. Final designs started to take place while Peter Hale visited the U.S.A. to discuss grasses and maintenance with the U.S.G.A. and equipment, both maintenance and irrigation, with De Bra in Florida.

Work started in the dry season of 1972. Staff was hired. Earnie Gee, an experienced and qualified Golf Course Superintendent, was brought in from the U.S. to head the construction team. Joining him locally were his understudy Godfrey De Souza and others. Danny Munroe was appointed foreman. Hugh Laughland got our maintenance shed built and heavy equipment from Seereram Bros. started clearing and shaping the back nine - Val D’Or estate. Thick black smoke filled the skies for months as mountains of trees and bush burnt with thousands of old tyres. Some on the spot changes were made. The IO th green was put on the other side of the river where it is now, the 15th hole was shortened; the green was to be on the hill behind but too much rock had to be moved and the 18th green was put over the river instead of where the practice green is now. A grass nursery was developed on the first fairway and water was run from our reservoir in the hills behind the 12th green. All grasses were Bermuda. David Knott donated a bag of TIFDRARF from Tobago Golf Club for our greens, while the 419 for our fairways and the COMMON for our rough was brought in from Atlanta. Grassing the back nine started in 1973 after the water tank and pumping station behind the 12th green was completed and the irrigation system installed. While this was going on, the front nine on Moka estate was being formed. A variety of trees were brought in, many from La Seiva and professional Roy “Boss” Rudder was in charge of this programme. The back nine was opened for play with our Christmas Hamper tournament in December 1974 while the front nine was commissioned in June of 1975.