About St Andrews (Old Course)
The St Andrews Old Course is not merely a golf course; it is the place where the game itself was defined.
Golf has been played on this stretch of Fife linksland since at least the 15th century, and the Old Course remains as testing and as beguiling as ever. Managed by the St Andrews Links Trust, it is open to the public rather than a private members' enclave, meaning any golfer can apply to play here. The shared fairways, the cathedral-scale double greens, the terrifying Road Hole and the iconic Swilcan Bridge have become the most recognisable features in world golf.
- W Sands Rd, St Andrews KY16 9XL, UK
- Free parking
St Andrews (Old Course)
Scotland has produced more great golf courses per square mile than anywhere else on earth, but the Old Course at St Andrews sits apart from all of them. It is the source: the layout from which the conventions of 18-hole golf, of shared fairways and large greens, of blind shots and burn crossings, were drawn. The town wraps around the course on three sides, and the 18th green is visible from the main shopping street, making the relationship between golf and daily life here more intimate than anywhere else in the game. Neighbouring courses at Kingsbarns and further along the Fife coast at Carnoustie are among Scotland's finest, but the Old Course is the pilgrimage that every serious golfer makes at least once.
The course plays to 7,305 yards from the championship tees, par 72, though the yardage is not what makes it formidable. It is the subtlety of the ground game, the swirling coastal wind, and the accumulation of pressure as the round progresses that separate good scores from great ones. The double greens shared between outward and inward holes are unique in championship golf: seven of them serve two holes simultaneously, each green up to an acre in size, demanding precise reading of surfaces that slope in multiple directions. On the inward half, the course turns back towards the town and the wind shifts; what played downwind suddenly plays into it, and the Road Hole arrives at the worst possible moment.
The Open Championship has been decided here more times than at any other venue. Past champions range from Bobby Jones and Sam Snead in the amateur and post-war eras to Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Tiger Woods (twice, in 2000 and 2005) and Zach Johnson in 2015. The Old Course has also hosted the Ryder Cup (1975) and the Dunhill Links Championship as part of its regular rotation. For all the weight of history attached to it, the Old Course is a public facility managed in trust for the benefit of golfers everywhere, and that democratic spirit is as much a part of its character as the Swilcan Bridge or the Road Hole bunker.
What Golfers Say About St Andrews (Old Course)
A selection of recent visitor reviews from Google.
Andy Lowa month agoFinally was able to get a slot during the off-season. The staff at the old pavilion was extremely helpful and kind to help me. She set me up with the clubs and balls since I travelled without any gear. The weather God was kind, it was a beautiful sunny day though the wind is quite strong. I played the round by myself but it was thoroughly enjoyable as I was simply soaking up the moment and the course. The course is flat protected by undulating fairway and bunkers. I had a wonderful day on the old course.
Sweat Less Travela month agoI didn’t play — and I didn’t need to play — the Old Course. Just being there was enough for me and I doubt I have the stamina to walk that long anyway. It’s the home of golf. It’s a shrine. And it’s still a working magnificent piece of links land that’s the most famous golf course in the world. It didn’t disappoint one bit. I am so happy to have seen this place and hope to return again soon, whether as a player or just a spectator. I now understand why people like Bobby Jones and Jack Nicklaus revered this place so much.
Ron Tarling2 months agoVery iconic place with new buildings blending in with the old. For all the golfers out there a dream come true to be standing next to the 18 th hole.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a tee time on the St Andrews Old Course?
Is there a handicap requirement to play the Old Course?
What are the most famous holes on the Old Course?
Can you walk across the Swilcan Bridge even if you are not playing?
What other courses does the St Andrews Links Trust operate?
Other Golf Courses Near St Andrews (Old Course)
More clubs within easy reach of Fife.