2006 Masters champion Phil Mickelson will be one of the founding members of the St. Andrews Grand, a world-class private club with residences located in Fife, Scotland and overlooking the first tee and final hole of the Old Course at St. Andrews, the most prestigious address in golf. Mickelson’s commitment to the club speaks to his appreciation of the sport of golf at St. Andrews, where the game has been played for 600 years. The announcement was made jointly by Mickelson and St Andrews Grand.
The St. Andrews Grand itself, with its six stories of red sandstone topped by a distinctive cupola, was originally an opulent hotel but is now a masterpiece in mothballs. Its renovation will restore the structure as a world-class golf and sporting club with luxury residential suites, allowing occupants a sweeping view of the Old Course, the St Andrews Bay, and the historic 12th Century town of St. Andrews.
The renovation, which will preserve the exterior architecture, begins in July and is expected to be complete in spring 2008. Wasserman Real Estate Capital LLC, based in Providence, Rhode Island (USA), is developing the project.
“There are 60 million golfers in the world, but only one St. Andrews, only one home of golf and only 115 memberships at the St. Andrews Grand," says David Wasserman, a principal at Wasserman Real Estate Capital. "We are pleased, and proud, that Phil Mickelson has chosen to become one of our founding members. Phil recognizes that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It is impossible to put a dollar value on what it means to own such an heirloom and pass it down from generation to generation.”
“The St. Andrews Grand is thrilled to have attracted founding members like Phil, whose achievements mirror the world class success that many of the club’s other founders have achieved. To have a member like Phil, who has captured more than 29 PGA Tour victories, including two Masters and the PGA Championship, is fantastic. He is one of his profession’s most respected individuals, and he is a fan favorite (few golfers sign as many autographs as he) and community role model. He and his wife have three children and their future played a role in his decision to become a charter member of St Andrews. With only 115 memberships available, he realized the scarcity would prove desirable and valuable.”
“I became a founding member of the St Andrews Grand because of my love of the St. Andrews community and the Old Course, as well as my respect for its traditions,” Mickelson says. “But I also recognize that the memberships themselves will be valuable family heirlooms, passed on to future generations who share a passion for this storied site. My family and I have a long history of coming to St Andrews, and we now look forward to returning with extended family and friends.”
Mickelson says he had applied for and secured a membership in the Grand club, then subsequently approached the club about promoting it. “I look forward to sharing my enthusiasm for this golfing treasure with as many people as possible,” he adds.