Old Tom Morris left St Andrews to become the professional at Prestwick?

Although Old Tom Morris is forever associated with St Andrews, one of the most important moments in his career came when he left the Home of Golf to take up a new role at Prestwick Golf Club in 1851.

At the time, golf professionals were not just players. They were craftsmen, teachers, clubmakers, ballmakers and greenkeepers. Morris moved to Prestwick as the club’s first professional and was responsible for maintaining the course (Keeper of the green), making equipment and helping members improve their game.

His arrival transformed Prestwick into one of the leading golf clubs of the era. Morris redesigned and improved the links, introducing ideas about course strategy and maintenance that would influence golf for generations. The club later became the birthplace of The Open Championship, hosting the first 12 editions of the event between 1860 and 1872.

The move also marked the beginning of Morris’ evolution from a talented golfer into one of the most influential figures in golf history. While St Andrews remained his spiritual home, his years at Prestwick helped shape the future of professional golf, championship golf and golf course design.