In bright sunshine, and watched by a host of dignitaries and invited guests, the famously keen golfer unveiled the commemorative plaque on the first tee of the par 71, championship-length cliff-top course, reckoned to have cost between £10 and £12 million.

At the same time, the man who named it, Edwin Burtnett, from Tampa, Florida, struck the first tee shot. The six-handicapper, who won the worldwide competition to name the course, had earlier joked that he was likely to "duff the shot."

His drive went some 60 yards along the fairway where sharp-eyed clubhouse employee, Scott Ronaldson (18). retrieved the Callaway 2 ball as a memento.

Prince Andrew described himself as extremely pleased and honoured to perform the opening ceremony but "slightly less pleased" that, owing to a commitment in Glasgow, he was unable to play the course.

"I'll be back," he promised, before thanking the people of St Andrews who had taken golf and those who came to play the game "to their hearts," and the greenkeepers who spent so much of their time keeping all the Links Trust courses in such good condition.