| Swilcan Bridge | |
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Photo of the Swilcan Bridge, St. Andrews, Scotland |
The Swilcan Bridge, or Swilcan Burn Bridge, is a famous small stone bridge in St Andrews Links golf course, Scotland. The bridge spans the Swilcan Burn creek between the first and eighteenth fairways on the old course, and has itself become an important cultural icon in the sport of golf.
The bridge itself is extremely small; at its furthest extents it measures about 30 feet long, eight feet wide and six feet tall, in the style of a simple Roman arch. Originally built at least 700 years ago to help shepherds get livestock across, it has the modern photographic advantage of great backdrops on three sides: the course’s grand Royal and Ancient Clubhouse and Hamilton Hall on one, often a packed grandstand of enthusiasts on another, and rolling hills facing toward the North Sea, on the last.
The list of golf enthusiasts, and other celebrities, to have had commanding or silly portraits taken at the bridge has always read like a Who's Who of the sport, but it is customary for champions of golf to publicly show some sort of homage or respect to the small and unimposing structure. The most recent display was by Tom Watson in early July 2010 at The Open Championship, when he was photographed kissing the bridge, in what was possibly the last time in his career that he will play at St Andrews. Also, at the 2005 Open Championship, Jack Nicklaus gave his final farewell to professional golf while standing on the bridge.
Other notable celebrities of past and present include: James Johnstone, Sam Snead, Donald Trump, Lee Trevino, J.H. Taylor, Bill Murray, Paula Creamer, Jack Nicklaus, Bobby Jones, Margaret Hamilton, Arnold Palmer, Hugh Grant, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Harry Vardon, Michael Douglas, Bob Martin, Henry Cotton, Dennis Hopper, Gene Sarazen, Kevin Costner, Tom Morris and Byron Nelson.