The Himalayas aren’t just a towering mountain range in Asia—it’s also a wild undulating road among celebrities. The old course at St. Andrews and West Sands Beach. Making the green even more special is its role as the home of the St. Louis Ladies’ Dress Club. Andrews, the oldest ladies dress club in the world.
Just a 10-minute walk from downtown St. Andrews, Old Tom Morris– The designed “miniature course” debuted in 1867 as the Ladies’ Golf Club of St. Andrews, with the stated aim of providing daughter members of the R&A with a suitable venue for hurling.
By 1904 the putting club had several hundred members, about a third of whom were men who were not considered full members but assisted with scoring and could participate in some competitions. More than a century later, in 2010, the passing of the Equality Act in the UK Parliament determined that a club must decide whether it wants to be fully mixed or single. The Ladies Putting Club of St. Andrews decided on the latter.
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The challengers
The club’s membership now stands at 142 ladies, mostly between the ages of 75 and 85, although there is at least one active member who is 93. The club’s putting season runs from April to the end of October and there are two tournaments a week: Wednesday afternoons, played in doubles over 36 holes, and an 18-hole event from Thursday to morning. There are also inter-club matches between clubs in the area, including R&A.
Course hole locations change weekly and vary widely. After each event, tea and coffee is served with cakes and biscuits, as well as prizes – incl ball markersnotepads and key chains — awarded to the winner of the day.
The Himalayan Course is open to the public daily in season, with designated meeting times available to members only. A round in the Himalayas is definitely one of the game’s best offerings. Prices are £4 per round for adults and £2 per round for seniors and children under 16.
For more on the Ladies Club of St. Andrews, watch “Challengers”, an award-winning video series from Charles Schwab that profiles innovators pushing the boundaries of the game. Other pioneers featured in the series include course photographer Evan Schiller and clothing brand Holderness & Bourne.
You can watch “Ladies of the Himalayas” in action here.
