Scotland Golf Guide: St. Andrews

The bridge at the 18th, the Old Course, St Andrews

Background to The Old Course:

Architect:
The so-called oldest golf course in the world has evolved over time. Those who played a major role in shaping it in the 19th and 20th century are Daw Anderson, Old Tom Morris and Dr. Alister Mackenzie.

Type:
A flat links course "within sight and sound of the sea".

Landscape:
The outward 9 expand out to the seafront and the back 9 bring you home. Holes 7 to 12 are the most picturesque, which are located out on the coast peninsular.

Historic facts:
- St Andrew's is the home of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club, founded in 1754 that administrate the rules of golf around the world (except for the United States) and run the Open Championship. The R & A oversee the rules of 109 countries and an estimated 26 million golfers in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas.
- St Andrews Links is the largest golf complex in Europe.
- The 11th hole on the Old Course was made infamous by Bobby Jones who, despite winning all four championships in 1930, cut his teeth at St Andrews in 1921 and was destroyed by Hill Bunker to the left of the green, which caused him to walk out in disgust.

Playing the course

At first glance, the Old Course at St. Andrews can see fairly benign, but with its hidden hazards and exposure to the elements it provides an examination of a golfer's accuracy and course management to equal any in the world. Physically it is not a strenuous test, but it will test your mental agility to the max.

Course views (click for enlargement)

Score card

Address:
St Andrews Links Trust, Pilmour House, St Andrews,
Fife, KY16 9SF, Scotland

Website:
www.standrews.org.uk

Phone & fax:
+44 (0)1334 466666, Fax: +44 (0) 1334 479555

Courses & lengths:
New Course: 18 holes, 6604 yards, 5992 yards (ladies).
Old Course: 18 holes, 6609 yards, 6032 yards (ladies).
Jubilee Course: 9 holes, 6742 yards, 6043 yards (ladies).
Eden Course: 18 holes, 6195 yards, 5455 yards (ladies).
Strathtyrum Course: 9 holes, 5620 yards, 4705 yards (ladies).
Balgove Course: 9 holes, 1520 yards.

Tee times:
Varies throughout the year; high season is between 6.30am and 8.30pm.

Handicap:
24 for men, 36 for ladies.

Green fees:
High season runs from April to October, fees are £110 ($200) for the Old Course, dropping to as little as £10 ($18) for the 9-hole Balgove. Prices drop in low season (November to March).

Packages:
Available on all courses bar the Old Course. You can purchase three, seven and fourteen day tickets for unlimited play on all other courses at a rate of £120 ($200), £240 ($380) and £430 ($700) respectively during high season.

Other costs:
Caddies cost £35 ($60) and trainee caddie £25 ($45). Trolleys are £3 ($5) per round, allowed on all course except the Old Course. There are a small number of two-person electric buggies for hire on the New and Strathtyrum Courses. They can be hired by senior citizens for £18 ($30) and medical certificate holders for £12 ($20). Balls cost £2.70 ($4) for 50.

Facilities:
From the Eden and Links clubhouses you can hire sets of new Titleist 762 irons, 980 fairway woods, 983K drivers and Scotty Cameron putters in a Titleist stand bag along with Footjoy golf shoes (with a complimentary pair of socks). Get your swing going at the Golf Practice Centre.

Location:
On the edge of the university town of St Andrews, the courses can be accessed by car from Edinburgh along the M90 and A915 and from Perth on the M90 and A91.

More information

Adventure Golf: Scotland