Few places in the world inspire golfers quite like the Old Course at St Andrews, arguably the most famous golf course in the world. The feeling when you are lucky enough to stand on the 1st tee or play up the famous 18th is one of the best in golf as the goosebumps and nerves set in! Set against the coastline of Fife beside the West Sands beach. This legendary stretch of linksland is why St Andrews is known as the Home of Golf.
Every bunker, fairway, and blade of grass tells a story that stretches back more than six centuries. For many, the experience has many highlights, walking across the Swilcan Bridge, playing the Famous Road Hole, avoiding the Road Hole Bunker or Hell Bunker on the 14th, before the Valley of Sin tries to catch you on the 18th, it really is one truly special golfing experience.
Golf has been played on the Links of St Andrews since the early 1400s, making it one of the oldest golfing grounds on earth. By 1552, Archbishop John Hamilton had granted the townspeople the right to play golf here, formalising a pastime that had already captured local hearts.
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, founded in 1754, would go on to set many of the rules that govern the sport today.
St Andrews Links Trust, manage the seven public courses in the town, preserves that heritage while allowing visitors from around the world to experience it first-hand.
What makes the Old Course truly remarkable is its unique layout. The infamous Hell Bunker on the 14th to the walk up the 18th, named after the famous Tom Morris. The green complexes set it apart. There are seven enormous double greens, where two holes share a single putting surface. In total, 14 holes use shared greens, while the 1st, 9th, 17th, and 18th holes have their own single greens. This quirky design dates back to the course’s earliest days and remains one of its defining features.
The outward nine holes head away from town, while the inward nine return toward the town, towards the red sandstone of Hamilton Grand or the R&A Clubhouse.
Few holes in world golf are as feared or revered as the 17th Road Hole. With its blind tee shot over the Old Course Hotel and a perilous approach guarded by the Road Bunker, it has tested even the greatest champions.
The par-four 18th hole, known as “Tom Morris,” offers one of the most photographed views in sport as you have your moment on the Swilcan Bridge before trying to avoid the valley of sin before closing out your round.
The Old Course has hosted The Open Championship more than any other Open venue, 30 times in total, with the last in 2022 and the next in 2027, producing moments that define golf history.
From Jack Nicklaus’s emotional farewell in 2005 to Tiger Woods’s dominant victory in 2000. Or when Tom Watson crossed the Swilcan Bridge in the Open for the last time in 2015. Each Open Championship adds another chapter to the story of the Old Course.
One of the most remarkable things about the Old Course is that it remains a public course, open to everyone. Securing a tee time can be difficult, but it is possible. A daily ballot system, advanced reservations, or through Tour Operators are your best ways to experience the famous links. A local caddie adds to the experience with their wit and local knowledge.
On Sundays, the course closes to play, where anyone can stroll across the fairways, get a picture on the Swilcan Bridge, or stand where champions have stood. It’s a rare and beautiful tradition that reflects the course’s deep connection with the town.
For those unable to play, the Old Pavilion beside the 1st tee offers an excellent viewing spot and a nice bacon roll! Sitting behind the 18th green can be very therapeutic as you witness golfers fulfil a lifetime dream of playing the Old Course. The nearby R&A World Golf Museum. Located just behind the R&A Clubhouse, provides further history of the town and the roots of the game we have all grown to love.
St Andrews itself is a destination worth exploring in its own right. For those not able to get on the Old Course, the Himalayas Putting Green beside the 2nd tee on the Old Course gives them a chance to golf in St Andrews.
The town is home to St Andrews University, Scotland's oldest university that was founded in 1413. The ruins of St Andrews Cathedral, once Scotland’s largest church, and St Andrews Castle, perched dramatically above the North Sea. The West Sands Beach is a two-mile stretch of sand made famous by Chariots of Fire.
Golfers and non-golfers alike gather at the Dunvegan Hotel, a short wedge from the 18th green, to share stories of rounds past. Or sit by the 17th fairway in the Jigger Inn, one of the most scenic pubs in the world.
To play or even visit the Old Course is to connect with the soul of the game. Every swing carries echoes of those who came before, and every step across the links reminds visitors why Scotland is the Home of Golf. Whether you’re watching the sunset from the Swilcan Bridge or holing out on the 18th green, the experience is unforgettable.
All double green hole numbers total 18! The 2nd and 16th, 3rd and 15th, 4th and 14th, 5th and 13th, 6th and 12th, 7th and 11th, 8th and 10th.
Can anyone play the Old Course?
Yes. It’s a public course managed by St Andrews Links Trust. Open to all golfers who meet the handicap requirement (36 for men and 36 for women).
How many Open Championships have been played on the Old Course?
A total of 30 Open Championships have been held on the Old Course.
When was the last Open on the Old Course?
In 2022 Australian Cameron Smith claimed the title.
How many Double Greens are on the Old Course?
The Old Course has seven double greens, meaning that 14 holes play to double greens.
What holes on the Old Course are not Double greens?
The 1st, 9th, 17th and 18th are not double greens.
When is the best time of year to visit?
May to September offers the best conditions and longer daylight hours.
Does the Course Close Every Sunday?
Yes, this tradition remains, and the course closes every Sunday. Except on tournament days, such as when the Open Championship or Dunhill Links are on.
