St Andrews Links is a historic golf links complex in the town of St Andrews in Scotland, where golf has been played since the 15th century, earning it the nickname "home of golf". There are seven public golf courses owned by Fife Council and operated by the St Andrews Links Trust charity. An area north of the town holds six adjacent courses: the Old, New, Jubilee, Balgove, Eden, and Strathtyrum. The seventh, the Castle Course, lies one mile to the south-east. The Balgove Course has nine holes, the rest 18.
The Old Course is widely considered one of the world's best and regularly hosts the Open Championship. The St Andrews Links Trust organises several amateur tournaments at the links, of which the most prestigious are the St Andrews Links Trophy for men (comprising one round on the New or Jubilee Course followed by three rounds on the Old Course)[1] and the St Rule Trophy for women (two rounds on the New followed by one on the Old).[2]
Several golf clubs are based at the links.[3] The oldest and most famous of these clubs is The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (founded 1754), which co-administered the rules of golf until the R&A was spun out of it in 2004; its clubhouse is by the first hole of the Old Course. Others, with clubhouses on the block just south of the links, include the St Andrews Thistle Golf Club (founded 1817 and 1865),[4]St Andrews Golf Club (founded 1843), The St Rule Club (golf section founded 1898), The New Golf Club (founded 1902), and St Regulus Ladies Golf Club (founded 1914).[5] While members of these clubs have favourable access to the Links courses, non-members may also play for a fee; most courses require advance booking, and many slots on the Old Course are subject to ballot (lottery).
The St Andrews Links Trust built the St Andrews Links Clubhouse in 1995 by the first holes of the New and Jubilee courses.[6] Pilmour Cottage, a 19th-century villa, was redeveloped from 1998 into the Trust's headquarters and the Eden Clubhouse which serves the Balgove, Eden, and Strathtyrum courses.[7] The two "Clubhouses" have no eponymous clubs and are open to all. The Old Course Hotel is a landmark building abutting the 17th hole of the Old Course (the "Road Hole").
In general, St Andrews is a popular hub for golf tourism, as there is a high density of links and heathland courses in the area. In addition to the public courses there are two courses at the privately owned Fairmont Hotel (Torrance and Kittocks) to the south of the town; and the Duke's and Drumoig, both inland parkland courses to the west. A few miles further South are the modern links of Kingsbarns and the traditional Balcomie links at Crail. Also nearby are the courses at Elie, Lundin, Leven, Scotscraig and Anstruther. Within 45 minutes' drive are Monifieth, Carnoustie and Panmure.
The history of St Andrews Links goes back to 1552 when John Hamilton was granted a charter to establish a rabbit warren to the north of the links.[8] The St Andrews Links Charter refers to the public ownership of the links and the right of the people of St Andrews to play golf and other games.[9] The right to play golf on the links were subsequently confirmed in local and royal charters.[9]
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The land was acquired by James Cheape, owner of the adjacent Strathtyrum estate, in 1821 and sold by his brother's grandson, also named James Cheape, to the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews in 1893.[10][11][12] Control of St Andrews Links was regulated by the St. Andrews Links Act 1894 and St. Andrews Links Order Confirmation Act 1974 which resulted in the creation of the St Andrews Links Trust.[13]
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The Old Course, believed to be the oldest golf course in the world, dates back more than 600 years.[15]
The New Course, located adjacent to the Old Course, was paid for and commissioned by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club who asked Old Tom Morris to be designer. The New Course opened for play in 1895.[17]
The Jubilee Course is the third championship golf course at the Home of Golf. It was named after Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee celebration in 1897.[19]
Originally intended for Victorian dressed ladies, and other golf beginners, it has evolved into one of the hardest courses at St Andrews Links. The course is commonly used to test junior and amateur golfers for the British Mid-Amateur Golf Championship, as well as the St Andrews Links Trophy.[20]
Initially a 12-hole course,[21] it was expanded to 18 holes in 1905. The course has seen considerable developments under the management of Willie Auchterlonie, Donald Steel, David Wilson and Graeme Taylor. It now plays at around 6,745 yards, and is host to the St Andrews Links Trophy. The Jubilee is one of several courses in Scotland that are under threat from erosion.[22]
The Eden Course opened in 1914 after demand on the existing courses grew. It was designed by Harry Colt, and alterations in 1989 by Donald Steel maintain Colt's standards.[24] It was named after the Eden estuary by which it resides, as the profits from mussels collected there once made up an important part of the St Andrews economy.[25]
The Balgove Course, named after the farm on which it was built,[25] is a 1,520 yard, par 30, nine-hole course. It was originally opened in 1972 and remodeled in 1993.[27]
The Strathtyrum Course, opened in July 1993, became the first new 18 hole layout at St Andrews in nearly 80 years.[29] It was built on land that was previously part of the Strathtyrum estate and sold to the St Andrews Links Trust by Mrs Gladys Cheape in 1986.[10][30] The west end of the course is in Guardbridge and District community council area.[14]
The Castle Course opened in June 2008, becoming the seventh public course at St Andrews. It is in Boarhills and Dunino community council area,[14][32] set on a rugged-cliff top a mile to the east of St Andrews with extensive views over the town, and was designed by the architect David McLay Kidd.[33] The course is a par 71 and measures 6,759 yards from the back tees.[34]
