St Andrews Links

St Andrews Links in the town of St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, is regarded as the "Home of Golf.” It has one of the oldest courses in the world, where the game has been played since the 15th century. Today there are seven public golf courses: the Balgove, Eden, Jubilee, Strathtyrum, New, and the Old Course all on the links, and The Castle Course, a mile to the east of the town. The Old Course is widely considered one of the finest, and certainly the most famous and traditional course in the world. The courses of St Andrews Links are owned by the local authorities and operated by St Andrews Links Trust, a charitable organization.

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
Club information
Coordinates56°21′06″N 2°49′05″W
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)

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, Downfield, Carnoustie and Panmure.

St Andrews is also home to The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, one of the most prestigious golf clubs and, until 2004, one of the two rule-making authorities of golf.

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.[2] 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.[3] The right to play golf on the links were subsequently confirmed in local and royal charters.[3]

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.[4][5][6] 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.[7]

Public courses

Balgove Course

The Balgove Course, named after the farm on which it was built,[8] is a 1,520 yard, par 30, nine-hole course. It was originally opened in 1972 and remodeled in 1993.[9]

The Balgove Course[10]
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 44333433330 4433343333060
White M: 57.0 / 79
W: 57.6 / 80		 2202191041941612981031161051520 22021910419416129810311610515203040

The Castle Course

The Castle Course opened in June 2008, becoming the seventh public course at St Andrews. It is 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.[11] The course is a par 71 and measures 6,759 yards from the back tees.[12]

The Castle Course[13]
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 44355443436 3443454353571
Black M: 73.6 / 139 346404202540536421456141381342716740245417940058540618455533326759
Blue M: 71.7 / 137 3373941795185043994291293513240 15438541515437655539017453331366376
Green M: 67.3 / 126
W: 73.0 / 131		 3003441454764463553411223142843 13028934011931250934614243026175460

Eden Course

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.[14] 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.[8]

The Eden Course[15]
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 44/54/543443535/37 3444/54354435/3670/73
Black M: 70.6 / 125
W: 76.0 / 129		 326449417273144407346178505304519637534142235017056843235132056250
Blue M: 68.9 / 121
W: 73.9 / 125		 3014384022511253763071554842839 18736432640433415152340733430305869
Green M: 67.9 / 119
W: 72.1 / 122		 2704384022401193712911394662736 14832728340431610843337831727145450

Jubilee Course

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.[16]

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.[17]

Initially a 12-hole course,[18] 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.[19]

The Jubilee Course[20]
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 44543544336 45534/544/53436/3872/74
Black M: 72.6 / 131 367360546371162498373369192323841149753818843835642821143735046742
Blue M: 71.2 / 127 3373525243491414803413441823050 40348851617642334641819940533746424
Green M: 69.2 / 123
W: 74.6 / 128		 3182715063321324223293261392775 38747047914741534140918037232005975

Strathtyrum Course

The Strathtyrum Course, opened in July 1993, became the first new 18 hole layout at St Andrews in nearly 80 years.[21] 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.[4][22]

The Strathtyrum Course[23]
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 44345/4343434/33 4543443443569/68
Black M: 66.2 / 107
W: 71.7 / 116		 332350154298497125331183366263633851238916835030013737641429845620
Blue M: 63.4 / 101
W: 68.2 / 108		 3273191492564511202901603402412 29244231214331226512032138525925004
Green M: 62.0 / 99
W: 66.8 / 105		 3153121402483841102841543342281 28840130813326425711431434524244705

Old Course
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.[24]

Old Course[25]
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 44/544/55443436/38 4344/55444/5436/3872/76
SI Men/Women 10/126/1416/88/6212/10414/1818/16 15/137/1731119/513/95/717/15
Black M: 73.1 / 132 376411370419514374359166347333634017431641853041438145535733856721
Blue M: 71.4 / 129 3553953374115143603491542893164 31116430438852339134543636132236387
Green M: 69.9 / 125
W: 75.5 / 138		 3393753214014543253351452612956 29615030437748736932542634230766032

New Course

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.[26]

The New 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 445434/545336/37 4/5453444/534/535/3871/75
Black M: 72.8 / 127 336367511369180445356481225327046436851815738639443122940833556625
Blue M: 71.6 / 125 2993675113511674333364722253161 45733149314737037941621139732016362
Green M: 69.9 / 121
W: 75.4 / 128		 2823565003511584013204642043036 42730844713336331238819238629565992

See also

References
  1. Herrington, Ryan. "Ross Fisher breaks the Old Course scoring record ... in disappointing fashion - Golf Digest". Golf Digest. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  2. "Royal and Ancient Golf Club House, The Scores, Golf Place". Historic Environment Scotland. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  3. "1574 St Andrews - The Student Golfer". Golfiana Caledonia. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  4. 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.
  5. Malcolm, David (2011). Tom Morris of St Andrews the Colossus of Golf 1821-1908. Edinburgh: Birlinn. ISBN 9780857901071. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  6. Slovick, Lyle (September 2012). "The St Andrews 'Rabbit Wars' of 1801–1821" (PDF). Through the Green. British Golf Collectors Society. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  7. 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.
  8. "St Andrews Links Trust - Golf". Archived from the original on 8 September 2009. Retrieved 6 October 2008.
  9. "The Balgove Course". St Andrews Links. Archived from the original on 6 June 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2008.
  10. "The Balgove Course Scorecard" (PDF).
  11. "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.
  12. Ian Wood (1 June 2008). "Castle course Poses Sternest of Tests". The Scotsman. Retrieved 9 June 2008.
  13. "The Castle Course scorecard". Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  14. "The Eden Course". St Andrews Links. Archived from the original on 10 May 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2008.
  15. "The Eden Course scorecard". Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  16. "Jubilee Course at St Andrews" (web). 2007. Retrieved 9 July 2008.
  17. "Jubilee Course at St Andrews" (web). 2007. Retrieved 16 February 2008.
  18. Charles Hillinger (6 December 1987). "Where the Games Began". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 9 June 2008.
  19. Ellen Hale (17 July 2001). "Erosion Threatens Legendary British Golf Courses". USA Today. Retrieved 9 June 2008.
  20. "The Jubilee Course scorecard". Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  21. "The Strathtyrum Course". St Andrews Links. Retrieved 9 June 2008.
  22. Glen, Duncan (1998). Illustrious Fife: Literary, Historical & Architectural Pathways & Walks. Kirkcaldy, Scotland: Akros. p. 14. ISBN 9780861420872. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  23. "The Strathtyrum Course scorecard". Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  24. "The Old Course". St Andrews Links. Archived from the original on 21 September 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2008.
  25. "The Old Course scorecard". Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  26. "The Old Course". St Andrews Links. Retrieved 9 June 2008.
  27. "The New Course scorecard". Retrieved 2 October 2021.
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