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Allan Robertson is the father of modern golf. He is the reason we use iron golf clubs. He is the reason we read about Tom Morris. And he is the reason we play The Open Championship. An innovator of the sport, an expert craftsman, and unbeaten throughout his lifetime. This is the story of golf’s forgotten legend.

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Allan Robertson was raised on a fairway with a putting green as his playground. His house overlooked the 18th hole of the St Andrews Old Course, and for over 100 years the family had been senior caddies, first-class golf ball makers and competitors in golf’s most prized competitions. It was a time when Scotland was at peace, it was a time when St Andrews developing, and it was time for golf to enter a new era.

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In the 19th century craftsmen and caddies were the finest golfers. And Allan was the greatest golfer of them all. He was a gentlemen who preferred not to wound his opponent’s pride with his exceptional abilities. So he deliberately allowed his opponents to get ahead before finishing them off on the final holes. He passed on his skills and knowledge to his apprentice, Tom Morris. And when playing as partners they never lost a single match.

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On the 17th hole of the St Andrews Old Course Allan hit a shot that astounded his opponent. It was one of the first approach shots using an iron golf club. But this wasn’t Allan’s only innovation. He was granted permission to redesign the Old Course, and in the process established the first ‘double green’ and attracted an unprecedented amount of golfers to the iconic town.