5<\/p>\n St. Andrews Golf Company was established in 1881 and is now Scotland’s last remaining golf club manufacturerCredit: SWNS 5<\/p>\n The company produces around 2,000 individual clubs per yearCredit: SWNS 5<\/p>\n They have a team of three full-time clubmakers and three part-timersCredit: SWNS<\/p>\n It is home to three brands – George Nicoll, Tom Stewart, and St. Andrews Golf clubs.<\/p>\n Led by chairman Hamish Steedman, the company prides itself on being the last clubmaker in the world to use traditional skills to craft both modern clubs and vintage-style hickory clubs.<\/p>\n The company produces around 2,000 individual clubs per year, with a team of three full-time clubmakers and three part-timers.<\/p>\n But as staff retire, Hamish says the company faces challenges with finding and training new staff in the art.<\/p>\n Hamish, who has been with the company for 25 years, said: “We are the oldest continuous manufacturers in the world.<\/p>\n “Our passion to retain the skills and handcraft playable sets of hickory golf clubs makes us unique – we’re the last ones really doing that.<\/p>\n “We’ve been undergoing a bit of change recently.<\/p>\n “We’ve been lucky that we’ve had a very loyal workforce for many years.<\/p>\n “Some clubmakers started with George Nicoll when we were based in Dunfermline back in the 60s and 70s, and they’ve now retired, so we have to find new clubmakers.<\/p>\n “You can’t go down to the job centre and pick up half a dozen clubmakers – you have to train them and work with them, so that’s been a challenge recently.”<\/p>\n Tiger Woods announces new job with Augusta as five-time Masters champion misses tournament through injury<\/p>\n The company ships most of their clubs out internationally, with a large customer base in the United States – and they have crafted clubs for golfing legends, including three time Open champion<\/a> Henry Cotton, and 1930s Grand Slam victor Bobby Jones.<\/p>\n “George Nicoll has exported clubs to every country in the world where golf is played, particularly in the early 50s,” said Hamish.<\/p>\n “Sometimes they’d be sending out 10,000 sets of clubs a month.<\/p>\n “Sir Henry Cotton, who won the Open championship three times, was a lifetime ambassador for George Nicoll.<\/p>\n “We are represented globally – around 85% of what we manufacture is exported.<\/p>\n “That’s the most exciting thing about working in this industry – the people you meet internationally.”<\/p>\n Hamish, who has a passion for keeping the clubmaking craft alive, has described St.\u00a0<\/p>\n Andrews Golf Company is one of Scotland’s “best kept secrets” – but says he is always eager to open the doors to anyone interested to learn more about the trade.<\/p>\n “Our doors are open – we’re always happy to invite people to the factory to have a look around, and visit our workshop to learn how to grip their own clubs,” he said.<\/p>\n “I think it’s hugely important to keep this craft alive.<\/p>\n Read more on the Scottish Sun<\/p>\n “We see so many skills being lost for the sake of keeping shareholders happy or trying to improve the bottom line.<\/p>\n “But we think there’s a balance to be struck and we need to retain some of the traditional skills that have been an important part of our country and our heritage.”<\/p>\n![\"St](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/george-nicoll-tom-stewart-st-991451072.jpg\")
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