St Andrews Links · Kingdom of Fife
The Old Course
Not the toughest. Not the longest. Unquestionably the most important golf course on the planet.
Type
Links (Historic)
Par / Yards
Par 72 · 6,566
Green Fee
£££££
Designer
Evolved naturally
Postcode
KY16 9SF
Pilmour House, St Andrews · 01334 466718 · standrews.com
Overview
I've played the Old Lady a dozen times and enjoyed it immensely. There is no course on earth more revered — and few that expose your game quite so quickly. If you get the chance, grab it with both hands and your best Harry Vardon. The shared fairways, the double greens, the sense that you are walking ground that shaped the entire game — none of it gets old. Every round is different. The course and prevailing conditions see to that.
The full Links panorama — golfers gather on the 16th, the Eden Estuary beyond and the Angus Glens on the horizon. A day of golf at its most complete.
The course
At first glance it looks simple — wide fairways, space everywhere. That impression doesn't last long. In reality there's usually only one proper line off the tee and into the green. Out beyond, waiting are over 150 bunkers with names that have become part of the game's mythology — Hell Bunker, the Principal's Nose, the Coffins — plus vast double greens and subtle contours that decisively dictate every shot. This is where a caddie earns his keep. Trust him, follow his line, chuckle at his one-liners and the course begins to open up. Ignore him and suffer the consequences.
From a personal perspective, I've enjoyed the 5th hole, a par 5 at 568 yards sharing a massive double green with the 13th, the second shot flying over the famous "Spectacles" bunkers. I also like the 11th, a strong par 3 featuring the notorious Strath Bunker nestled immediately in front of a wicked, undulating green. Besides that, the course is a breeze.
Signature moments
1st hole
The opening shot
A nervy opener with the town watching. The widest fairway in golf — and somehow it still feels tight. Miss right and you're in the Swilcan Burn. Take a breath and swing.
17th hole
The Road Hole
Perhaps the most famous par 4 in golf. The Railway Sheds force your tee shot left 'for safety', but there's no safety with the Road Hole Bunker, a thin strip of green and the road and wall behind.
18th hole
The walk home
Valley of Sin, the Swilcan Bridge, the town welcoming you back. There is no finish like it in golf. Whatever your score, the walk up the 18th at St Andrews is one you will remember for the rest of your life.
Golden hour on the links — the flag lit gold, the Eden Estuary and Angus Glens beyond. The course at its most photogenic.
St Andrews Links from the new deck of the Old Course Hotel. I've been taking pictures from this spot for years — now I can enjoy a slider and a cucumber spritz while waiting on the right light.
Insider Knowledge
A caddie is not an optional extra here; it's the difference between an interesting round and an extraordinary one. I've known some of them through the years, like "Tip" Anderson, who famously caddied for Arnold Palmer and guided Tony Lema to victory over Nicklaus in 1964. I have to say, though, that the quality of the caddie programme at St Andrews has never been better.
The most important golf course on the planet. Not the toughest, not the longest — but the one every golfer is playing towards, in one way or another. Play it once and it will recalibrate your understanding of the game entirely.