Swilcan Bridge

{{short description|Small stone bridge in St Andrews Links golf course, Scotland}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}

{{Use British English|date=November 2017}}

{{Infobox bridge

| name = Swilcan Bridge

| image = File:Swilken Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 999441.jpg

| caption = The Swilcan Bridge

| carries = Pedestrians

| crosses = Swilcan Burn

| other_name = The Swilken Bridge
Swilcanth
Golfers’ Bridge

| material = Stone

| number_spans= 1

|coordinates = {{coord|56.3432|-2.8070|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}}

}}

The Swilcan Bridge, or Swilken Bridge, or Swilcanth as it was known,{{cite web |url=http://blog.standrews.com/2019/01/31/the-swilcan-bridge-and-burn-a-history/ |title=The Swilcan Bridge and Burn: A history|publisher=St Andrews Links Trust |date=31 January 2019 |accessdate=22 May 2021}} is a small stone bridge in St Andrews Links golf course, Scotland. The bridge spans the Swilcan Burn between the first and eighteenth fairways on the Old Course, and has become an important image in the sport of golf.{{cite web |url=http://www.pga.com/openchampionship/2010/news/swilcan-bridge-070910.cfm |title=Old Course's humble Swilcan Bridge one of golf's great attractions |publisher=PGA of America |first=Melanie |last=Hauser |date=9 July 2010 |accessdate=4 March 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709225308/http://www.pga.com/openchampionship/2010/news/swilcan-bridge-070910.html |archivedate=9 July 2015}} The bridge had previously been known as the Golfers' Bridge for hundreds of years.

File:Swilken Bridge, Old Course geograph-6310525-by-Gordon-Hatton.jpg and the Hamilton Grand in the far distance]]

The bridge itself is small; at its furthest extent, 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 Grand on one, often a packed grandstand of enthusiasts on another, and rolling hills facing toward the North Sea, on the third.

The approach to the bridge was on turf, although there had been a stone path in the distant past. Due to the prominence of the bridge, many people often congregated near it—for example to see and photograph players standing on it, and to stand on the bridge when golf was not being played—which caused the turf to become badly eroded. This was addressed by frequent returfing or reseeding of the area, and experimenting with artificial turf, but the problem remained. In 2023, the area that saw the most wear was paved with stone, as it had been in the distant past. This led to criticism that it looked like a "DIY patio".{{cite news| title=St Andrews Old Course bridge renovation compared to 'DIY patio' | website=BBC News | date=6 February 2023 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-64538420}}

It is customary for champions of golf to publicly show some sort of homage or respect to the structure. For example, in early July 2010 at The Open Championship, Tom Watson was photographed kissing the bridge.{{cite news |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/golf/blog/devil_ball_golf/post/Tiger-Woods-shows-respect-as-Tom-Watson-finishes?urn=golf,256546 |title=Tiger Woods shows respect as Tom Watson finishes at St. Andrews |work=Yahoo Sports |first=Jay |last=Busbee |date=16 July 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100719081902/https://sports.yahoo.com/golf/blog/devil_ball_golf/post/Tiger-Woods-shows-respect-as-Tom-Watson-finishes?urn=golf,256546 |archivedate=19 July 2010}} At the 2005 Open Championship, Jack Nicklaus gave his final farewell to professional golf while standing on the bridge.

On the second floor of the World Golf Hall of Fame museum in St. Augustine, Florida, there is a life-size stone replica of the Swilcan Bridge, accompanied by a floor-to-ceiling photograph of the Royal & Ancient clubhouse and Hamilton Hall in the background.{{cite web |url=http://www.pga.com/openchampionship/2010/news/swilcan-hof-071210.cfm |title=Swilcan Bridge replica a true World Golf Hall of Fame highlight |publisher=PGA of America |first=Helen |last=Ross |date=12 July 2010 |accessdate=4 March 2014 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731110245/http://www.pga.com/openchampionship/2010/news/swilcan-hof-071210.html |archivedate=31 July 2017}}