We were each wearing four layers of clothing standing on the first tee at the Old Course at St. Andrews.

The morning was overcast and dry but with an Artic wind biting at us as we prepared to tackle this year’s Open Championship venue.

The R & A had very kindly arranged for a number of the golf media attending the now annual ‘sit down’ with officials to play the famed course.

Also given it was still February it meant carrying a small section of artificial turf to play all shots off the fairways and around the greens.

Bernie, Martin and James on 1st tee Old Course, St. Andrews.

I had been drawn to join  very good friends and colleagues Martin Dempster (The Scotsman), Euan McLean (Daily Record) and James Haddock (SKY TV).

With threw four balls in the air to work out teams, and it was James and myself set to go head-to-head with the all-Scotland duo of Martin and Euan.

And the bet – a pot of tea!

However  it was a dozen holes before Martin and Euan managed to wrestle the tee from James and myself who were well in command and leading 3 up, but with the wheels soon to start wobbling in the ‘star’ team.

Before we knew it James and I were standing on the 18th tee all square.

However due justice prevailed when James, and in Open Championship-like victory manner, holed a testing, curling, knee-knocking par putt on the final green to deny the enemy – Martin and Euan – 1up.

Euan, James and Bernie at the end of the day’s play on the Old Course at St. Andrews.

On a personal level I went out in a limo managing 21 points with five three-point pars but then coming home in the back of an ambulance with only one par, including ‘wiping’ the last for just 15 points.

However it was a fun day and all thanks to Mike Woodcock and Mary Flanagan from the R & A for their very generous arrangements.

… and we never did get that pot of tea.

Here’s a selection of snaps from the golf.

[metaslider id=48611]