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St Andrews Links

Coordinates: 56°21′06″N 2°49′05″W / 56.35167°N 2.81806°W / 56.35167; -2.81806
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St Andrews Links
West Sands Beach running along the coast to the left with the St Andrews Links and the town of St Andrews to the right
Map
Interactive map of St Andrews Links
Club information
56°21′06″N 2°49′05″W / 56.35167°N 2.81806°W / 56.35167; -2.81806
Coordinates56°21′06″N 2°49′05″W / 56.35167°N 2.81806°W / 56.35167; -2.81806
LocationSt Andrews, Fife, Scotland
EstablishedOver 6 centuries
TypePublic
Operated bySt Andrews Links Trust
Events hostedThe Open Championship
Alfred Dunhill Links Championship
St Andrews Links Trophy
Old Course
Par72
Length6,721 yards (6,146 m)
Course record61; Ross Fisher (2017) [1]
The Castle Course
Par71
Length6,759 yards (6,180 m)
New Course
Par71
Length6,625 yards (6,058 m)
Jubilee Course
Par72
Length6,742 yards (6,165 m)
Eden Course
Par70
Length6,250 yards (5,720 m)
Strathtyrum Course
Par69
Length5,620 yards (5,140 m)
Balgove Course
Par30
Length1,520 yards (1,390 m)

St Andrews Links is a historic golf links complex in the town of St Andrews in Scotland, where golf has been played since the 15th century, earning it the nickname "home of golf". There are seven public golf courses owned by Fife Council and operated by the St Andrews Links Trust charity. An area north of the town holds six adjacent courses: the Old, New, Jubilee, Balgove, Eden, and Strathtyrum. The seventh, the Castle Course, lies one mile to the south-east. The Balgove Course has nine holes, the rest 18.

The Old Course is widely considered one of the world's best and regularly hosts the Open Championship. The St Andrews Links Trust organises several amateur tournaments at the links, of which the most prestigious are the St Andrews Links Trophy for men (comprising one round on the New or Jubilee Course followed by three rounds on the Old Course)[2] and the St Rule Trophy for women (two rounds on the New followed by one on the Old).[3]

Several golf clubs are based at the links.[4] The oldest and most famous of these clubs is The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (founded 1754), which co-administered the rules of golf until the R&A was spun out of it in 2004; its clubhouse is by the first hole of the Old Course. Others, with clubhouses on the block just south of the links, include the St Andrews Thistle Golf Club (founded 1817 and 1865),[5] St Andrews Golf Club (founded 1843), The St Rule Club (golf section founded 1898), The New Golf Club (founded 1902), and St Regulus Ladies Golf Club (founded 1914).[6] While members of these clubs have favourable access to the Links courses, non-members may also play for a fee; most courses require advance booking, and many slots on the Old Course are subject to ballot (lottery).

The St Andrews Links Trust built the St Andrews Links Clubhouse in 1995 by the first holes of the New and Jubilee courses.[7] Pilmour Cottage, a 19th-century villa, was redeveloped from 1998 into the Trust's headquarters and the Eden Clubhouse which serves the Balgove, Eden, and Strathtyrum courses.[8] The two "Clubhouses" have no eponymous clubs and are open to all. The Old Course Hotel is a landmark building abutting the 17th hole of the Old Course (the "Road Hole").

In general, St Andrews is a popular hub for golf tourism, as there is a high density of links and heathland courses in the area. In addition to the public courses there are two courses at the privately owned Fairmont Hotel (Torrance and Kittocks) to the south of the town; and the Duke's and Drumoig, both inland parkland courses to the west. A few miles further South are the modern links of Kingsbarns and the traditional Balcomie links at Crail. Also nearby are the courses at Elie, Lundin, Leven, Scotscraig and Anstruther. Within 45 minutes' drive are Monifieth, Carnoustie and Panmure.

History

[edit]
See also: Old Course at St Andrews § History
St Andrews Links Clubhouse which is open to the public and serves the Jubilee, the New, and the Old Course
The St Andrews Links crest on the Old Course starter's hut

The history of St Andrews Links goes back to 1552 when John Hamilton was granted a charter to establish a rabbit warren to the north of the links.[9] The St Andrews Links Charter refers to the public ownership of the links and the right of the people of St Andrews to play golf and other games.[10] The right to play golf on the links were subsequently confirmed in local and royal charters.[10]

St. Andrews Links Act 1894
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long titleAn Act to empower the Commissioners of the city and royal burgh of St. Andrews to acquire the Links of St. Andrews for a public park and recreation ground and for other purposes.
Citation57 & 58 Vict. c. lxxxiv
Dates
Royal assent20 July 1894
Other legislation
Repealed bySt. Andrews Links Order Confirmation Act 1974
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted
St. Andrews Burgh Extension and Links Order Confirmation Act 1913
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long titleAn Act to confirm a Provisional Order under the Private Legislation Procedure (Scotland) Act 1899 relating to St. Andrews Burgh Extension and Links.
Citation3 & 4 Geo. 5. c. xxviii
Dates
Royal assent4 July 1913
Other legislation
Amended by
  • St. Andrews Links Order Confirmation Act 1932
  • St. Andrews Links Order Confirmation Act 1946
  • St. Andrews Links Order Confirmation Act 1974
Status: Amended
Text of statute as originally enacted
St. Andrews Links Order Confirmation Act 1924
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long titleAn Act to confirm a Provisional Order under the Private Legislation Procedure (Scotland) Act 1899 relating to St. Andrews Links.
Citation14 & 15 Geo. 5. c. xii
Dates
Royal assent29 May 1924
Other legislation
Repealed bySt. Andrews Links Order Confirmation Act 1974
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted
St. Andrews Links Order Confirmation Act 1932
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long titleAn Act to confirm a Provisional Order under the Private Legislation Procedure (Scotland) Act 1899 relating to St. Andrews Links and adjoining lands.
Dates
Royal assent16 June 1932
Other legislation
Amended bySt. Andrews Links Order Confirmation Act 1974
Status: Amended
Text of statute as originally enacted
St. Andrews Links Order Confirmation Act 1946
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long titleAn Act to confirm a Provisional Order under the Private Legislation Procedure (Scotland) Act 1936 relating to St. Andrews Links.
Citation10 & 11 Geo. 6. c. i
Other legislation
Repealed bySt. Andrews Links Order Confirmation Act 1974
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted
St. Andrews Links Order Confirmation Act 1974
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long titleAn Act to confirm a Provisional Order under the Private Legislation Procedure (Scotland) Act 1936, relating to St. Andrews Links.
Citation1974 c. iii
Dates
Royal assent10 April 1974
Other legislation
Repeals/revokes
  • St. Andrews Links Act 1894
Status: Current legislation
Text of statute as originally enacted

The land was acquired by James Cheape, owner of the adjacent Strathtyrum estate, in 1821 and sold by his brother's grandson, also named James Cheape, to the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews in 1893.[11][12][13] Control of St Andrews Links was regulated by the St. Andrews Links Act 1894 and St. Andrews Links Order Confirmation Act 1974 which resulted in the creation of the St Andrews Links Trust.[14]

Public courses

[edit]

Except as noted, the courses are in the community council area of St Andrews royal burgh.[15]

Old Course

[edit]
Main article: Old Course at St Andrews

The Old Course, believed to be the oldest golf course in the world, dates back more than 600 years.[16]

Old Course[17]
Tee Rating/Slope 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Out 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 In Total
Par Men/Women 4 4/5 4 4/5 5 4 4 3 4 36/38 4 3 4 4/5 5 4 4 4/5 4 36/38 72/76
SI Men/Women 10/12 6/14 16/8 8/6 2 12/10 4 14/18 18/16 15/13 7/17 3 11 1 9/5 13/9 5/7 17/15
Black M: 73.1 / 132 376 411 370 419 514 374 359 166 347 3336 340 174 316 418 530 414 381 455 357 3385 6721
Blue M: 71.4 / 129 355 395 337 411 514 360 349 154 289 3164 311 164 304 388 523 391 345 436 361 3223 6387
Green M: 69.9 / 125
W: 75.5 / 138 		339 375 321 401 454 325 335 145 261 2956 296 150 304 377 487 369 325 426 342 3076 6032

New Course

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The New Course, located adjacent to the Old Course, was paid for and commissioned by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club who asked Old Tom Morris to be designer. The New Course opened for play in 1895.[18]

The New Course[19]
Tee Rating/Slope 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Out 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 In Total
Par Men/Women 4 4 5 4 3 4/5 4 5 3 36/37 4/5 4 5 3 4 4 4/5 3 4/5 35/38 71/75
Black M: 72.8 / 127 336 367 511 369 180 445 356 481 225 3270 464 368 518 157 386 394 431 229 408 3355 6625
Blue M: 71.6 / 125 299 367 511 351 167 433 336 472 225 3161 457 331 493 147 370 379 416 211 397 3201 6362
Green M: 69.9 / 121
W: 75.4 / 128 		282 356 500 351 158 401 320 464 204 3036 427 308 447 133 363 312 388 192 386 2956 5992

Jubilee Course

[edit]

The Jubilee Course is the third championship golf course at the Home of Golf. It was named after Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee celebration in 1897.[20]

Originally intended for Victorian dressed ladies, and other golf beginners, it has evolved into one of the hardest courses at St Andrews Links. The course is commonly used to test junior and amateur golfers for the British Mid-Amateur Golf Championship, as well as the St Andrews Links Trophy.[21]

Initially a 12-hole course,[22] it was expanded to 18 holes in 1905. The course has seen considerable developments under the management of Willie Auchterlonie, Donald Steel, David Wilson and Graeme Taylor. It now plays at around 6,745 yards, and is host to the St Andrews Links Trophy. The Jubilee is one of several courses in Scotland that are under threat from erosion.[23]

The Jubilee Course[24]
Tee Rating/Slope 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Out 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 In Total
Par Men/Women 4 4 5 4 3 5 4 4 3 36 4 5 5 3 4/5 4 4/5 3 4 36/38 72/74
Black M: 72.6 / 131 367 360 546 371 162 498 373 369 192 3238 411 497 538 188 438 356 428 211 437 3504 6742
Blue M: 71.2 / 127 337 352 524 349 141 480 341 344 182 3050 403 488 516 176 423 346 418 199 405 3374 6424
Green M: 69.2 / 123
W: 74.6 / 128 		318 271 506 332 132 422 329 326 139 2775 387 470 479 147 415 341 409 180 372 3200 5975

Eden Course

[edit]

The Eden Course opened in 1914 after demand on the existing courses grew. It was designed by Harry Colt, and alterations in 1989 by Donald Steel maintain Colt's standards.[25] It was named after the Eden estuary by which it resides, as the profits from mussels collected there once made up an important part of the St Andrews economy.[26]

The Eden Course[27]
Tee Rating/Slope 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Out 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 In Total
Par Men/Women 4 4/5 4/5 4 3 4 4 3 5 35/37 3 4 4 4/5 4 3 5 4 4 35/36 70/73
Black M: 70.6 / 125
W: 76.0 / 129 		326 449 417 273 144 407 346 178 505 3045 196 375 341 422 350 170 568 432 351 3205 6250
Blue M: 68.9 / 121
W: 73.9 / 125 		301 438 402 251 125 376 307 155 484 2839 187 364 326 404 334 151 523 407 334 3030 5869
Green M: 67.9 / 119
W: 72.1 / 122 		270 438 402 240 119 371 291 139 466 2736 148 327 283 404 316 108 433 378 317 2714 5450

Balgove Course

[edit]

The Balgove Course, named after the farm on which it was built,[26] is a 1,520 yard, par 30, nine-hole course. It was originally opened in 1972 and remodeled in 1993.[28]

The Balgove Course[29]
Tee Rating/Slope 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Out 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 In Total
Par 4 4 3 3 3 4 3 3 3 30 4 4 3 3 3 4 3 3 3 30 60
White M: 57.0 / 79
W: 57.6 / 80 		220 219 104 194 161 298 103 116 105 1520 220 219 104 194 161 298 103 116 105 1520 3040

Strathtyrum Course

[edit]

The Strathtyrum Course, opened in July 1993, became the first new 18 hole layout at St Andrews in nearly 80 years.[30] It was built on land that was previously part of the Strathtyrum estate and sold to the St Andrews Links Trust by Mrs Gladys Cheape in 1986.[11][31] The west end of the course is in Guardbridge and District community council area.[15]

The Strathtyrum Course[32]
Tee Rating/Slope 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Out 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 In Total
Par Men/Women 4 4 3 4 5/4 3 4 3 4 34/33 4 5 4 3 4 4 3 4 4 35 69/68
Black M: 66.2 / 107
W: 71.7 / 116 		332 350 154 298 497 125 331 183 366 2636 338 512 389 168 350 300 137 376 414 2984 5620
Blue M: 63.4 / 101
W: 68.2 / 108 		327 319 149 256 451 120 290 160 340 2412 292 442 312 143 312 265 120 321 385 2592 5004
Green M: 62.0 / 99
W: 66.8 / 105 		315 312 140 248 384 110 284 154 334 2281 288 401 308 133 264 257 114 314 345 2424 4705

The Castle Course

[edit]

The Castle Course opened in June 2008, becoming the seventh public course at St Andrews. It is in Boarhills and Dunino community council area,[15][33] set on a rugged-cliff top a mile to the east of St Andrews with extensive views over the town, and was designed by the architect David McLay Kidd.[34] The course is a par 71 and measures 6,759 yards from the back tees.[35]

The Castle Course[36]
Tee Rating/Slope 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Out 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 In Total
Par 4 4 3 5 5 4 4 3 4 36 3 4 4 3 4 5 4 3 5 35 71
Black M: 73.6 / 139 346 404 202 540 536 421 456 141 381 3427 167 402 454 179 400 585 406 184 555 3332 6759
Blue M: 71.7 / 137 337 394 179 518 504 399 429 129 351 3240 154 385 415 154 376 555 390 174 533 3136 6376
Green M: 67.3 / 126
W: 73.0 / 131 		300 344 145 476 446 355 341 122 314 2843 130 289 340 119 312 509 346 142 430 2617 5460

References

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  1. ^ Herrington, Ryan. "Ross Fisher breaks the Old Course scoring record ... in disappointing fashion - Golf Digest". Golf Digest. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  2. ^ "St Andrews Links Trophy". St Andrews Links Trust. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  3. ^ "St Rule Trophy". St Andrews Links Trust. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  4. ^ "Courses Guide: Fife". Golf Today. Mediadrive. Archived from the original on 4 November 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  5. ^ "The History of the Club". St Andrews Thistle Golf Club. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  6. ^ "History". St. Regulus Ladies Golf Club. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  7. ^ Crow, Allan (11 October 2024). "St Andrews Links Clubhouse expansion plans as demand to play historic courses soars". Fife Today. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  8. ^ "Last phase of work to tee off at golf links". The Herald. Glasgow. 24 July 1998. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  9. ^ "Royal and Ancient Golf Club House, The Scores, Golf Place". Historic Environment Scotland. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  10. ^ a b "1574 St Andrews - The Student Golfer". Golfiana Caledonia. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  11. ^ a b Hagen, John Peter (2011). Play Away Please: The Tale of the Sale of Golf's Greatest Icon – The St Andrews Old Course Starter's Box. Random House. ISBN 9781907195754. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  12. ^ Malcolm, David (2011). Tom Morris of St Andrews the Colossus of Golf 1821-1908. Edinburgh: Birlinn. ISBN 9780857901071. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  13. ^ Slovick, Lyle (September 2012). "The St Andrews 'Rabbit Wars' of 1801–1821" (PDF). Through the Green. British Golf Collectors Society. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  14. ^ Peper, George (2008). Two Years in St. Andrews: At Home on the 18th Hole. Simon and Schuster. pp. 170–171. ISBN 9781416534310. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  15. ^ a b c Fife Council. "Map of Community Councils and their Boundaries". arcgis.com. Community Councils Layer.
  16. ^ "The Old Course". St Andrews Links. Archived from the original on 21 September 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2008.
  17. ^ "The Old Course scorecard". Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  18. ^ "The Old Course". St Andrews Links. Retrieved 9 June 2008.
  19. ^ "The New Course scorecard". Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  20. ^ "Jubilee Course at St Andrews" (web). 2007. Retrieved 9 July 2008.
  21. ^ "Jubilee Course at St Andrews" (web). 2007. Retrieved 16 February 2008.
  22. ^ Charles Hillinger (6 December 1987). "Where the Games Began". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 9 June 2008.
  23. ^ Ellen Hale (17 July 2001). "Erosion Threatens Legendary British Golf Courses". USA Today. Retrieved 9 June 2008.
  24. ^ "The Jubilee Course scorecard". Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  25. ^ "The Eden Course". St Andrews Links. Archived from the original on 10 May 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2008.
  26. ^ a b "St Andrews Links Trust - Golf". Archived from the original on 8 September 2009. Retrieved 6 October 2008.
  27. ^ "The Eden Course scorecard". Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  28. ^ "The Balgove Course". St Andrews Links. Archived from the original on 6 June 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2008.
  29. ^ "The Balgove Course Scorecard" (PDF).
  30. ^ "The Strathtyrum Course". St Andrews Links. Retrieved 9 June 2008.
  31. ^ Glen, Duncan (1998). Illustrious Fife: Literary, Historical & Architectural Pathways & Walks. Kirkcaldy, Scotland: Akros. p. 14. ISBN 9780861420872. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  32. ^ "The Strathtyrum Course scorecard". Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  33. ^
  34. ^ "The Castle Course: the Seventh Course at the Home of Golf". St Andrews Links. 2008. Archived from the original on 10 May 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2008.
  35. ^ Ian Wood (1 June 2008). "Castle course Poses Sternest of Tests". The Scotsman. Retrieved 9 June 2008.
  36. ^ "The Castle Course scorecard". Retrieved 2 October 2021.
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