HOME AT FIRST's

a
GOLF CLUBS IN—

a

— Center of the Golfing Universe —

 
ST. ANDREWS LINKS

THE HOME OF GOLF

THE SIX NEWER COURSES

The greatest public golf course complex in the world includes the world's oldest course, one of the world's newest great courses, and five other courses offering a full
range of golf challenges for golfer's of all abilities and most budgets.

 

The new Castle Course bordering the ancient town of St. Andrews, Scotland.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Photo standrews.org.uk
 

          St. Andrews, as most everyone knows, is “The Home of Golf”. If golf did not actually begin here, it was here on the Fife Coast that the game first gained a solid footing and put down long roots into the sand.
         St. Andrews Links has taken a unique route to the top of the golf world. Apparently committed to the idea that golf is a sport for everyman, St. Andrews holds firm to its place as a public facility with play and practice available to golfers of most every level of golf expertise and financial standing. The St. Andrews town fathers oversaw the links property as a public facility until the town council was dissolved in 1974. Next, an act of Parliament created a trust to continue the public operation, the equivalent of Augusta National being administered as a public trust—like a national park—by an act of Congress. Such an invasion of tourists and commercial tourism at Augusta National is hard to imagine.
          At St. Andrews, “Europe’s largest public golf complex” has become still larger, adding the cliff-top Castle Course in 2008 to much fanfare. Of the six 18-hole championship courses at the St. Andrews Links complex, four rank on Golf Digest’s current “Best 100 Golf Courses Outside the United States” list: The Old Course (#2), The New Course (#63), The Castle Course (#65), and the Jubilee Course (#92). Mix in the less-challenging, less-costly, and less-crowded 18-hole Eden and Strathtyrum courses, and the downright cheap 9-hole Balgove Course to see St. Andrews’ full range of courses and prices, all open to the public on the near-sacred linksland by the ancient town that has watched (and not always approved) the 700 years of growth of golf from curious pastime to international industry.

COURSES AT ST. ANDREWS LINKS

Six Newer Courses at St. Andrews

THE NEW COURSE

    The New Course, St. Andrews, Fife, East Central Scotland   

The venerable Old Tom Morris designed true links New Course at
"The Home of Golf" remains a daunting challenge, and a relative bargain.

        Were St. Andrews New Course anywhere else but St. Andrews it would be a draw of the first rank. The 1895 Old Tom Morris design is one of the best produced by the 19th century four-time Open Champion and course architect who created many of Scotland's (and the world's) great courses, including Carnoustie (after Alan Robertson and before James Braid made their contributions), Balcomie Links at Crail, Cruden Bay, Glasgow Killermont (with Braid), Leven Links, Machrihanish, Nairn (with Braid), Prestwick, and Royal Dornoch.

 

The New Course at St. Andrews Links: 10th green at sunset.
Photo courtesy standrews.org.uk.
 

        The New Course is a classic links of the first order, a challenge to all facets of most golfers' games except their budget. With greens fees half the cost of those of The Old Course, the New Course is a relative bargain.

THE JUBILEE COURSE 

    The Jubilee Course, St. Andrews, Fife, East Central Scotland   

The Jubilee Course started as a 12-hole ladies' course wedged between The New Course and the sea.
More than a century and several makeovers later, the Jubilee Course often  is ranked in the Top 100 in the World.

        St. Andrews has been mindful that beginners and ladies require special conditions in order to enjoy golf and improve at the game. In 1897 St. Andrews designed the Jubilee Course as a shorter, easier course than the Old and New Courses. Architects shoehorned the 12-hole links between the new New Course and the bay. Over the years the Jubilee Course — named for the 60th anniversary of Queen Victoria's reign — has been enlarged to 18 holes, lengthened, and, as recently as 1988, upgraded to championship standard by architect Donald Steel.

 

ONE OF FOUR St. Andrews courseS THAT HAVE BEEN LISTED in the world's top 100 OUTSIDE OF THE USA,
the century old Jubilee Course was re-designed into a championship course in 1988 by Donald Steel.
Photo courtesy standrews.org.uk.
 

        Like its neighbor The New Course, the Jubilee Course is a classic links of the first order, a challenge to all facets of most golfers' games except their budget. With greens fees half the cost of those of The Old Course, the Jubilee Course is a relative bargain.

THE EDEN COURSE

    The Eden Course, St. Andrews, Fife, East Central Scotland   

The century-old Eden Course is the first St Andrews course inland from the coast.
Designed by Harry S. Colt and modernized by Donald Steel, Eden presents a fair test to golfers of all levels.

        A century ago a second wave of golf mania swept across Britain. Demand for tee times was such that St. Andrews decided to add a fourth course. In a radical departure from its past, the new course was not a classic Scottish links, but an inland course designed by an Englishman, Harry S. Colt. Colt was no fashionable interloper. His contributions to the international pantheon of top courses include Pine Valley (top-rated USA course), a redo of Muirfield (an Open venue) near Edinburgh, Royal Liverpool (Hoylake — an Open venue) and Royal Lytham and St. Anne's (an Open venue) near Liverpool, England, and Royal County Down and Royal Portrush (former Open venue) in Northern Ireland. Colt's courses reflect the "natural" style of his times, with bunkers that blend with course topography and greens that rock and roll.

 

The 6th displays the rolling character of the greens of the Eden Course.
Photo courtesy standrews.org.uk.
 

        Eden was given a makeover in 1988 by Donald Steel (who upgraded the Jubilee Course at the same time). Eden is a challenging course, but not as long nor as exposed to the elements as Old, New, and Jubilee. A par-70 course, Eden tests shorter hitters with its SSS of 71. Its test of golfers' wallets is less severe than its older neighbors, coming in at less than a third the cost of The Old Course, and about one-third less than both New and Jubilee.

THE STRATHTYRUM COURSE

    The Strathtyrum Course, St. Andrews, Fife, East Central Scotland   

The Strathtyrum Course has been purpose-built for novice and casual golfers, and families.
It provides St. Andrews quality golf and a Donald Steel design for the cost of a typical municipal course.

       After Donald Steel upgraded Jubilee and Eden, St. Andrews commissioned him again 1993 to develop a new piece of ground the Trust purchased from the adjoining Strathtyrum Estate. Steel's assignment was an unusual one for a top course architect but challenging nonetheless: create a course for families and juniors to enjoy. The resulting Strathtyrum Course provides enjoyment to the target group. Long enough to test every club in the bag (par-69), but without too many hazards, tight lies, and devilish rough (SSS 67), Strathtyrum presents a challenge, but rewards effort and interest as well as intensity and skill.

 

Broad fairways populated by occasional (but testing) hazards make the Strathtyrum Course a good choice for
beginners and casual golfers. Low greens fees make Strathtyrum a great value for a St Andrews quality course.
Photo courtesy standrews.org.uk.
 

        Strathtyrum presents a rare value: a course with a St Andrews pedigree designed by a top architect, but priced like a friendly, municipal track. Greens fees are less than one-fifth those of The Old Course, and about half those for Eden.

THE BALGOVE COURSE

    The Balgove Course, St. Andrews, Fife, East Central Scotland   

The 9-hole Balgove Course invites beginners to an inexpensive introduction to golf St. Andrews style.

       Concurrent with the 1993 construction of the Strathtyrum Course was the upgrading of the 1972 9-hole Balgove beginners' course at St. Andrews. Now a par-30, 1,520-yard circuit, Balgove welcomes beginners, casual golfers, and families to experience basic golf with limited challenge. Two trips around Balgove provide 18 holes of practice for less than the cost of a round at Strathtyrum.

 

Twice around Balgove's 9-hole layout provides plenty of learning at a cost below most 18-hole courses.
Photo courtesy standrews.org.uk.
 

        Balgove is St. Andrews' least expensive course, but it maintains the high standard of all St. Andrews courses, permitting even beginners the opportunity to experience playing at The Home of Golf.

THE CASTLE COURSE

    The Castle Course, St. Andrews, Fife, East Central Scotland   

The newest St. Andrews course looks more to the future than the past.

        Across town from the other six St. Andrews courses is the latest development of the Trust: The Castle Course. Closer to Kingsbarns and (the former) St. Andrews Bay courses in physical proximity and style than it is to its trusty brethren north of town, The Castle Course offers a golf challenge deemed right for the 21st century. Still a links — with all the familiar hazards and weather that suggests — The Castle Course sits on a rugged raised coastline that gives it some of the exciting and diverse landscape elements of a cliff-side course. Its opening in 2008 (it is a design by the forward-looking architect David Kidd) disappointed basically no one, and it quickly became ranked in the Top 100 of the World (outside of the USA).

 

The "elevated links" layout of The Castle Course presents the rugged challenge of cliff-side topography,
and some views of land and sea that can be distracting when you need to keep your head down.
Photo courtesy standrews.org.uk.
 

        Recently ranked as high as #65 in the world outside of the USA, The Castle Course will have to climb some to overtake its neighbor Kingsbarns (currently ranked #34). However, its greens fees, at about 75% of those at Kingsbarns (but nearly twice those of The New Course) suggest that The Castle Course is trendy without being outrageous.

THE OTHER SIX: FACTS, FEATURES, HOW TO BOOK

LOCATION:
        St. Andrews Links, Links Clubhouse, West Sands Road,
       St Andrews, Fife KY16 9XL, Scotland
        Tel: +44 (0) 1334 466666
        Bookings: reservations@standrews.org.uk
        Web Site

Courses Open & Playable Year Round: The New Course, Jubilee Course,
        Eden Course, Strathtyrum Course, Balgove Course.

Courses Open & Playable Partial Year: The Castle Course (April–November only)

FACILITIES:
   • Golf Cart (Buggy): £25. Permitted on all the the Balgove Course for use by seniors and
       golfers with medical certificates. On the Castle Course, buggies are free, but come with a
       caddie/driver for whom the appropriate caddie fee must be paid. Buggies should be reserved in
       advance.
   • Pull Cart (Trolley): £15 (electric) & £5 (manual). Permitted on all six courses.
       Rent these at the starters' shed or at the caddie shack.
   • Club Rental: £30/round. Callaway steel and graphite shafts both available.
   • Shoe Rental: £12.50. Includes new pair of socks.
   • Caddies: Caddie: £45; Trainee Caddie: £25. Request Tel: +44 (0) 1334 466633,
       or via automated form: http://www.standrews.org.uk/golf/caddies/request_a_caddie.html. 
   • Practice Center. For practicing driving, iron play, pitching, bunker play and putting.
   • Restaurant & Bar
   • 3 Clubhouses: Links, Eden, and Castle Course. Each has a range of facilities for both
       golfing and non-golfing visitors. Open to the public with ample car parking and handicapped
       accessibility.
   • 4 Golf Shops. Offering clothing, accessories and souvenirs with the official Old Course and St.
       Andrews Links logos. All purchases help finance the maintenance of St Andrews Links.

Visitors Welcome! — booking tee times for all but THE OLD COURSE:
   • Castle, New, Jubilee, Eden, and Strathtyrum Courses:
         • Booking A Day Ahead of Play: Phone Tel +44 (0)1334 466 666.
         • Advance Reservations: E-mail at: reservations@standrews.org.uk or Tel +44 (0)1334 466 718.
         • Singles: No advance bookings taken for The Castle Course.
   • Balgove Course: no reservations taken (show up and play).

 Handicap Limits (presentation of valid certificate or handicap card required): None.

Dress Code: Smart casual. (No blue denims, no shorts unless tailored.) Soft spikes required. Socks required.

Payment of Fees:
        Once paid, green fees are non-refundable. Ballot times should be paid for at the Starter's Box on the day. The course accepts cash (£ sterling), checks (with guarantee card) and major credit cards (except Diners Club). Tax is payable on all golf bookings made by commercial concerns such as tour operators and hotels. Bookings made with the Trust by individual golfers remain VAT exempt.

LOCATION: St. Andrews Old Course is located just west of St. Andrews, Scotland, at the entrance to town on the A91.

Nearest Home At First Lodgings are Kingdom of Fife Cottages, about 5 miles west of St. Andrews. Other nearby Home At First lodgings are in Central Scotland approximately 90-120 minutes west of St. Andrews.
More information on travel with Home At First to: CENTRAL SCOTLAND

DIRECTIONS: from Home At First’s Kingdom of Fife cottages near St. Andrews, take the A91 5 miles east to St Andrews.

OTHER REGIONAL COURSES OF NOTE:
    • Fairmont St. Andrews Resort & Spa: new resort just south of St. Andrews with two
       championship courses. (Formerly called St. Andrews Bay.)
    • Kingsbarns Golf Links: recently built world-class championship course just south of
       St. Andrews.
    • Elie: Traditional links along Fife Coast 22 miles south of St. Andrews.
    • Crail Balcomie: Traditional links along Fife Coast 11 miles SE of St. Andrews.
    • Lundin Links: Traditional links along Fife Coast 19 miles south of St. Andrews.
    • Leven Links: Traditional links along Fife Coast 22 miles SW of St. Andrews.
    • Carnoustie: Monstrous links (British Open venue) on Angus coast 25 miles north of
      St. Andrews.
    • Gleneagles: Scotland's best known inland courses (3), including a new Jack
      Nicklaus course and two great James Braid courses, 45 miles west of St. Andrews.

THE REGION: When you’re not playing golf — or you’re waiting for the lottery results to be posted — visit the British Golf Museum just off the 18th green of the Old Course (open daily at least 10AM-4PM; admission: £6/adult, £5/senior). Or stroll through St. Andrews town (pop. 15,000, of which almost half are students) and up to the top of the hill to see the dramatic ruins of the 11th century cathedral and the 13th century castle. St. Andrews University, third oldest in the United Kingdom (1411), ranks with the best in Britain. In recent years it became something of a tourist attraction owing to the attendance of Prince William, second in line for the British throne, and one of the world’s most eligible bachelors.
        This corner of Scotland — east central, just north of Edinburgh and south of Dundee — is (the Kingdom of) Fife, but could just as easily be called golf heaven. The Fife coast is home to dozens of golf courses, including new ones

St. Andrews Cathedral ruins
trace their foundation roots
to the 11th century.
Photo © Home At First.

(Fairmont St. Andrews Resort & Spa: 2 resort courses) and some

wonderful traditional links courses that may be played for very reasonable greens fees (Elie, Crail Balcomie, Leven Links, Lundin Links). Not too far (approximately 45 minutes) inland is Scotland’s best known public parkland golf complex, Gleneagles, with its 3 courses including two by James Braid and a recent one of Jack Nicklaus design.
        Home At First offers several very comfortable cottages strategically placed for access to St. Andrews and other golf courses in Fife and throughout Central Scotland. Just 10 minutes drive from the Old Course, our Kingdom of Fife Cottages offer great convenience, charm, and — like all Home At First lodgings—all the comforts of home.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE OLD COURSE AT ST ANDREWS

TRAVELING TO SCOTLAND TO PLAY GOLF?
Let HOME AT FIRST make your advance tee-times at the courses of St. Andrews and many other Scottish golf courses as part of your pre-reserved Scottish trip itinerary. There’s no extra charge for this service.

MORE RESOURCES:
     • Golf in Scotland
     • Home At First's SCOTLAND travel program
 

— HOME AT FIRST —

Want to learn about other courses throughout the British Isles
including some of the greatest tests of golf in the world? See our
SCOTLAND, IRELAND, ENGLAND, and WALES
Course Guides for more information.