Golf's Most Sacred Ground

There are famous golf courses, and then there is St Andrews Old Course. Nestled along the coastline of Fife, Scotland, this stretch of ground has hosted golf since the early 1400s, making it the oldest golf course in the world. Walking its fairways is more than a round of golf — it's a pilgrimage that connects you to the very origins of the game.

If you're planning to play St Andrews, preparation is everything. The experience demands respect, and a little inside knowledge goes a long way.

How to Get a Tee Time

Securing a round on the Old Course is notoriously challenging. There are several legitimate routes:

  • The Ballot: Single golfers and small groups can enter a daily ballot conducted the evening before play. Submit your name via the St Andrews Links website. Results are random, so there's no guarantee — but ballots are free to enter.
  • Advanced Booking: Tee times can be booked up to two years in advance through the official St Andrews Links booking system. This is the surest route for visitors travelling specifically to play the course.
  • Golf Packages: Many local hotels, particularly those affiliated with St Andrews Links Trust, have access to guaranteed tee times as part of accommodation packages. This is worth investigating if you're flexible on dates.
  • Golf Tour Operators: Reputable golf travel companies allocate tee times for their packages. Expect a premium price, but also a fully arranged experience.

Course Overview

The Old Course is a par 72 stretching to approximately 6,700 yards from the regular men's tees (the course can play significantly longer from championship tees). It is a traditional links layout with:

  • Wide, shared fairways (several holes share landing zones)
  • More than 100 bunkers, many of them deep, steep-faced pot bunkers
  • Large, undulating double greens shared between two holes
  • Fast-running turf that rewards bump-and-run approaches
  • Wind as a constant and unpredictable factor

Iconic Holes to Know

Hole 1 – Burn (Par 4, ~370 yards)

Possibly the most nerve-wracking opening tee shot in golf. The Swilcan Burn runs across the front of the green, punishing short approaches. The fairway is wide — use the entire width and don't be fooled into playing too conservatively.

Hole 17 – Road Hole (Par 4, ~495 yards)

Arguably the most famous par 4 in the world. The tee shot must carry the corner of what was historically a railway shed (now replicated as part of the Old Course Hotel). The green is narrow with the Road Hole Bunker — a near-vertical pot bunker — guarding the front left. Take your bogey and be grateful.

Hole 18 – Tom Morris (Par 4, ~356 yards)

The home hole, with the famous Swilcan Bridge that every golfer wants to walk across. The Valley of Sin depression guards the front of the green — it looks harmless and isn't. Many great rounds have been undone by a casual approach on 18.

Practical Tips for Playing the Old Course

  • Hire a caddie: Caddies at St Andrews are exceptional and the local knowledge they carry is invaluable. Budget for one — it will transform your round.
  • Bring extra balls: The pot bunkers and gorse are unforgiving. Having reserves prevents a distressing loss of stroke-and-distance.
  • Embrace the bump-and-run: The firm, fast turf rewards low shots. Trying to fly the ball to the pin with high-spinning irons will cost you strokes.
  • Dress appropriately: The St Andrews Links has a dress code. Smart casual golf attire is required; denim and non-golf footwear are not permitted.
  • Arrive early: Give yourself time to take in the atmosphere, visit the starter's hut, and loosen up on the practice area.

Beyond the Old Course

St Andrews Links is actually a complex of seven courses. The New Course, Jubilee, Eden, Strathtyrum, Balgove, and Castle Course all offer outstanding golf at various difficulty levels and price points — making St Andrews a true multi-day golf destination. Consider building your schedule around the Old Course as the centrepiece but including a round on the New Course, which is widely considered one of Scotland's best kept secrets.

Final Thoughts

Playing the Old Course at St Andrews is a bucket-list experience that every golfer should aim for at least once. Go in with the right expectations — this is links golf in its purest and most humbling form — and you'll leave with memories that last a lifetime.