St Andrews' magnificent seven golf courses. But does it need a controversial eighth?
02/17/2025 10:00 AM
News has been unveiled of a new golf resort to be built outside the Home of Golf, St Andrews.
Fife councillors have okayed a plan by the American firm Alvarez & Marsal to create a multi-million dollar facility on a site in Feddinch Mains.
It will include an 18-hole course, a short course, practice facilities and a clubhouse. Approval has also been given to a hotel, restaurant and half a dozen cottages.
Local residents were far from impressed when the plans were first announced late last year, angry not at a golfing proposal but that, "once again, we're selling off chunks of St Andrews so that overseas businessmen can profit with no benefit to the locals."
The town famously has seven courses within its boundaries that are all available to the public. What are they and what makes them special? Let's find out.
The Old Course
Not quite in the centre of the auld grey toun, but the centre of life in it because this is the plot of land that makes St Andrews the Home of Golf. The regular host of the Open, including the 150th championship in 2022, it is probably the most famous golf course in the world.
At first glance many, however, are often underwhelmed. But it's a course to fall in love with. It's subtleties bewitch the golfer and is there a more storied conclusion to any round? It starts with the 17th hole, better known as The Road Hole, and features the Old Course Hotel as a threat as well as the road (and the Road Hole Bunker).
Then the 18th is a short par-4 that ends right in town and feels just like it. The houses and hotels line the fairway, the clubhouse sits behind the green, and we all think of Seve's ecstatic fist pumps when we reach the putting surface.
The Castle Course
Higher than the other courses, on the craggy cliffs south of the town, the Castle is also newer (opened in 2008) and was controversial when revealed for its wildly undulating greens. It's biggest selling point is the views of the town from its fairways, greens and tee boxes.
The New Course
New by name, not so new by nature. Why? Well, it was built by Old Tom Morris and he did it in 1895. It's "new" because it's not the Old. It's a wonderful course and loved by those who play it regularly.
The Jubilee Course
Built not long after the New in 1897 there are many who consider it to be the town's toughest test. It was upgraded in 1988 to championship standard and sits on a superb spot of land between the New and the beach/sea.
The Eden Course
The Old and the New were created by Old Tom Morris, but the Eden is the result of a master craftsman too – Harry Colt, who honed it in 1914 with notably difficult bunkering.
The Balgove Course
Essentially a family course with just nine holes and a leaning towards junior golfers. It also has a double green to introduce youngsters not only to the game but one of the Old Course's most famous features.
The Strathtyrum Course
Short (par 69 at 5,628 yards) it was opened in 1993 and the key test is around the greens because they are large so require excellent approaches or wonderful lag putting to save par.
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