Play the legends

There’s nowhere in golf quite like it. The Old Course has been shaping the game since the 15th century, with its iconic double greens, infamous Road Hole and the legendary Swilcan Bridge. Host of 30 Open Championships, it’s golf’s most storied setting — a place every player dreams of walking. 

Set high above St Andrews, The Craigtoun Course offers a beautiful inland contrast to the classic coastal links. Designed in 1995 by five-time Open Champion Peter Thomson and later refined by Tim Liddy, it blends rolling fairways, gorse and heather with sweeping views across town and sea. Strategic and scenic in equal measure, it’s an unforgettable test that rewards patience, precision and pure enjoyment of the game

Just seven miles from the Old Course Hotel, Kingsbarns Golf Links is a masterpiece of modern design set on ancient golfing ground. Crafted by Kyle Phillips, it flows naturally along the Fife coastline, offering panoramic sea views from nearly every hole. A co-host of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, it delivers drama, playability and coastal beauty in perfect harmony — a modern links with timeless soul.

One of Scotland’s newest and most exciting links, Dumbarnie opened in 2020 and instantly joined the country’s must-play list. Stretching along a mile and a half of sea frontage, it offers panoramic Firth of Forth views and an exhilarating mix of risk-and-reward holes. Designed by Clive Clark to inspire rather than intimidate, Dumbarnie invites creativity, challenge and pure enjoyment in equal measure - modern links golf at its finest.

Perched dramatically on the cliffs east of town, The Castle Course offers sweeping views over St Andrews Bay. Designed by David McLay Kidd and opened in 2008, it combines bold elevation changes, rolling greens and a thrilling mix of risk and reward. Challenging yet spectacular, every shot here feels cinematic. It is golf played on the edge - literally and figuratively.

Opened in 1895 and designed by Old Tom Morris himself, the “New” Course remains one of the purest links experiences in Scotland. With undulating fairways, firm greens and natural contours shaped by the sea breezes, it offers a traditional challenge just steps from the Old Course. Often quieter than its famous neighbour, it’s a must-play for golfers seeking authenticity and atmosphere in equal measure. 

Opened in 1914 and designed by Harry Colt, the Eden offers classic links golf with a gentler touch. Its strategic bunkering, natural contours and panoramic views of the Eden Estuary make it both beautiful and playable for all levels. Less demanding than its famous neighbours but every bit as charming, it delivers pure St Andrews character in a relaxed, scenic setting.

The Jubilee began in 1897 when it was opened by Old Tom Morris as a course for ladies and juniors. It has since evolved into one of St Andrews’ toughest and most atmospheric tests. Routed between the New Course and the sea, it combines firm turf, tight fairways and shifting coastal winds. Beautifully raw and wonderfully challenging (even for low handicappers), it’s a true links experience for those who love a test.

For a relaxed, scenic round, Strathtyrum is St Andrews’ most inviting 18-hole layout. Open since 1993, it’s beautifully maintained with wide fairways, gentle hills, light bunkering and gorgeous views towards town. Ideal for improving players or juniors, it offers a great way to play the Home of Golf without the pressure of the big links.

Designed for fun and learning, the Balgove is a family-friendly nine-hole loop right next to the Old Course in the heart of St Andrews. With gentle fairways, small greens and no scary bunkers, its relaxed pace makes it ideal for beginners or a quick warm-up. Welcoming, unpretentious and full of charm. It’s proof that golf here is for everyone.