St Andrews Links is one of the most iconic venues in sport. Here we provide all the important information about the ‘Home of Golf’.
Golf was first played at St Andrews in the 15th century and it remains one of the go-to clubs in the world, hundreds of years later.
The Old Course at St Andrews has been the Open Championship host a record 30 times and it is also home to the annual Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
The Golfing Gazette tells you everything else you need to know about St Andrews below.
St Andrews location
Where is St Andrews?
St Andrews Links is in the seaside town of St Andrews on the east coast of Scotland. The town is around 50 miles northeast of Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh.
Old Course Hotel, St Andrews
There are many places to stay in St Andrews but the Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa is arguably the top choice.
The hotel runs alongside the 17th hole on the Old Course so its popularity comes as no surprise – nor does the expensive price to stay there.
Nearest airport to St Andrews
Edinburgh Airport (EDI) is little over an hour’s drive away from St Andrews. It is also possible to get from the aiport to St Andrews by train via Haymarket Station in the centre of Edinburgh.
Meanwhile, Glasgow Airport (GLA) is around a 100-minute drive to St Andrews. Public transport routes from one to the other are complicated.
How to play St Andrews
Courses at St Andrews
There are seven courses at St Andrews Links. The Old Course – where The Open has been held 30 times – is by far the most famous.
| Name | Par | Length |
| Old Course | 72 | 6,724 yards |
| The Castle Course | 71 | 6,759 yards |
| New Course | 71 | 6,625 yards |
| Jubilee Course | 72 | 6,724 yards |
| Eden Course | 70 | 6,250 yards |
| Strathtyrum Course | 69 | 5,620 yards |
| Balgove Course (nine holes) | 30 | 1,520 yards |
Can anyone play St Andrews?
The courses at St Andrews all all open to the public. They are owned by local authorities and run by the charity St Andrews Links Trust.
Playing on the Old Course is not as simple as booking a tee time but there are multiple ways to secure a round. The main one is through entering the ballot – which is drawn 48 hours in advance of play.
A visit to the nine-hole Balgove Course does not need to be planned in advance, while the remaining five courses can easily be booked online.
St Andrews green fees
The prices vary between the seven courses and are dependent on the time of year. Here is how much it costs for an adult to play each of them in high season (15 April – 13 October).
- Old Course – £320
- The Castle Course – £170
- New Course – £140
- Jubilee Course – £70
- Eden Course – £140
- Strathtyrum Course – £50
- Balgove Course – £15
Tournaments at St Andrews
The Open Championship
The Open Championship is the oldest golf tournament in the world and the Old Course at St Andrews became the second host of the event in 1873.
The major has since been held at St Andrews another 29 times – most recently in 2022 – and the great Tiger Woods has won two of them (2000 and 2005).
It has not been confirmed when St Andrews will next host The Open but 2027 or 2028 seems likely.
Alfred Dunhill Links Championship
The Alfred Dunhill Links Championship is an annual pro-am tournament that takes place over three courses in the east of Scotland, including the Old Course.
The 2024 edition sees the likes of Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka take part, as well as celebritites Michael Douglas, Bill Murray, Piers Morgan and more.
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