St Andrews Links: The Old Course Review, Tee Times and Key Info

St Andrews Old Course Key Information

St Andrews - The Old Course

When thinking of The Old Course, an all-time favourite in the Top 100 Golf Courses UK & Ireland, then without question, figuratively and perhaps even literally, St Andrews is the very home of golf. At its centre, The Old Course is its beating heart, the most revered course in the world, and there is only one word to describe it; unique. Rather than simply heading the list of the most famous golf courses in Scotland, it is simply the most famous course in the world.

Golf has been resident over this gently rolling land for hundreds of years. And while Old Tom Morris rightly gets credit for the evolution of the Old Course, it is so much a product of time and chance that it’s equally fair to credit Nature as architect.

I believe that playing here is an experience completely different from any other in golf. It is one where atmosphere and ambience is paramount as just about every legendary golfer has competed over this historic, iconic stretch of links. With its double greens and crossovers, challenging slopes and world-famous bunkers, there is nothing quite like it. You play out and back past some of the most famous landmarks in the game, with every hole bringing back memories of past champions and championships.

The prospect from first tee may seem over-generous, but simply standing there with club in hand can be a nerve-shredding experience. Former Open champion Ian Baker-Finch managed to hook his tee shot out of bounds in the 1995 Open, and even when you find the ample fairway, there is the burn!

Bunkers lurk in the most unexpected places, so a caddy here is more necessary than perhaps anywhere else. Each and every hole is an adventure, and if you are struggling early on, there is some hope for relief in the loop that begins and ends with the two short holes at 8 and 11. As you head for home back towards town, I feel the round builds to a real crescendo as the recognisable buildings of St Andrews draw ever-closer. The closing pair never disappoint. The Road Hole 17th with its famous greenside bunker is one of the world’s classic, iconic holes. It has been the scene of just so much drama and despair. A blind drive over the corner, the world’s scariest bunker, the road waiting behind; anything can happen. And then Home. Up over the Swilcan Bridge, over (hopefully!) the Valley of Sin to the sloping green. Strangers watching you putt. Perfect.

Different from anything else, I still believe that this is one of the very best links courses in the UK, indeed the world. And although getting a tee time is not always easy, it should be at the top of the bucket list for any golfer who has not yet had the fortune to play it.

What's new for 2025/26? What our panellists said...

Cathal Devlin

It’s bucket list stuff and it’s hard to see it ever getting boring. You get to play across the holiest of turf the sport has to offer. A must play for golfers worldwide. It has all the history but still has all the quality.

Peter Hurst

It ticks every box for value for money, experience, anticipation and welcome. It’s a life event, a million Twitter and Facebook posts!

St Andrews Location

St Andrews Old Course scorecard

Best Courses Close to St Andrews

KINGSBARNS

Kingsbarns opened for play in 2000, and rather than a standard out-and-back routing, there are three sections to the modern links. The main body is home to the majority of the holes, the clubhouse and extensive practice facilities, and two wings are home to holes two to five and twelve to fifteen.

DUMBARNIE LINKS

Like Kingsbarns and Castle Stuart, this fabulous new Clive Clark design is effectively a pay and play. It is a wonderful addition to Fife’s immense golfing artillery and is a brilliant blend of the old and the new. Risk and reward features strongly, as do the views both over the course and out over the Firth of Forth.

Best Places To Stay Close to St Andrews

The Old Course Hotel, St Andrews - Book now at Booking.com

Overlooking the famous Road Hole on the Old Course, this fine hotel features a luxury spa and award-winning restaurant. The refurbished bedrooms have sumptuous décor and modern bathrooms.

Fairmont St Andrews - Book now at Booking.com

This 5-star hotel has two very enjoyable courses of its own, the Torrance and the Kittocks, and there is a complimentary shuttle service to the town centre. The large rooms are equipped with air conditioning, satellite TV and modern bathrooms with heated floors.

St Andrews Old Course Gallery

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Historical Top 100 Rankings UK&I

• 2025/26 - 02
• 2023/24 - 02
• 2021/22 - 02
• 2019/20 - 02
• 2017/18 - 04
• 2015/16 - 03
• 2013/14 - 03
• 2011/12 - 04
• 2009/10 - 03

Frequently Asked Questions