steventoomey.com — The St. Andrews Grand

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The building I know best as Hamilton Hall will be transformed from a unique university dormitory to an ultra-exclusive membership club and residence by 2008. I lived in Room 57, overlooking the R&A clubhouse and the North Sea, during the 1996-1997 academic year.

Perhaps ironically, while the St. Andrews Grand will be situated a mere 30 seconds from the first tee of the Old Course, members won’t have special playing privileges on the world’s most historic links (at least judging from the website’s marketing copy).

Despite this, one taker is Phil Mickelson, who purchased a share of the sixth-floor penthouse for $3.4 million. I enjoyed a substantially better deal — thanks to my student status, I played unlimited golf on 6 courses (including the Old) for just $200 per year. Sorry, Phil.