Best Golf Courses in & around St Andrews

When it comes to the best golf courses in the world, it is hard to look past St Andrews and the amazing courses that are located within easy reach of the Home of Golf.

Whether it is playing The Old Course at St Andrews, complete with it's incredible history. Or playing a modern links design like Kingsbarns which has already placed itself within the Top 100 Golf Courses in the World, spending some time playing golf in St Andrews is something every golfer should do at some point in their life.

Those looking for traditional links golf can enjoy The New Course or Jubilee Course at St Andrews which are a regular stop for elite amateur competitions or head just outside of St Andrews to play the impressive Duke's Course which is a great heathland course, measuring over 7,400 yards from the championship tees.

Read on to discover the courses our experts have played and consider the best around St Andrews or check out some of the best golf holiday deals in St Andrews >>

It would be impossible to compile a list of the best golf courses, in Scotland and the world, and not include the Old Course at St Andrews. By far and away the most iconic course on the planet, you can feel how special the place is the moment you set foot in town.

The Home of Golf needs little introduction and should be played by every golfer at least once, follow in the footsteps of golf legends and see where golf was born.

More info on St Andrews Old Course >>

"The 1st tee is undeniably the happiest place on earth for golfers, it is impossible not to smile standing there awaiting the centuries old challenge."
Gareth (UK & Ireland Team: Handicap 12)

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One of the youngest true links courses in Scotland, Kingsbarns has been heralded as a masterpiece of golf architecture since its inception in 2000. Renowned for looking fantastically natural in its links setting, the course was actually just farmers field before work began.

Kingsbarns curves perfectly along the Fife coast, the varying elevations provide spectacular views of the North Sea from every hole. Only 6 miles from St Andrews, Kingsbarns is a fitting addition to the Home of Golf.

More info on Kingsbarns Golf Links >>

"Stand out holes are the par-5 12th and par-3 15th but I still love the questions asked off the tee on the 5th and the 6th as well as the "simple" par-3 13th."
Oliver (Marketing: Handicap 1)

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Designed in 1895 the layout is one of the oldest "New" courses in the world. Located adjacent to it's world famous sibling, the New Course is often considered the favourite of the two by local golfers.

There are similarities shared by both courses like shared fairways, double greens, as well as its traditional out and back layout. In many ways it could play and feel more ‘normal’ than the Old – it’s certainly less quirky and beautiful in its own right with swathes of dense gorse providing brilliance of seasonal colour.

More info on St Andrews New Course >>

"The fairways on the New Course are undulating but they don't quite have the same servere slopes as the Old so you get fewer odd bounces and hanging lies. You need to plot your routes and take care with the angle in which you approach the pins here."
Gareth (UK & Ireland Team: Handicap 12)

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Situated up on the cliffs with spectacular views overlooking the town, this David Maclay Kidd design offers an amazing modern links experience.

The course often splits opinions but is always in excellent condition and the multiple tee options make it an enjoyable challenge for all.

More info on St Andrews Castle Course >>

"The Castle course has some stunning holes, unique greens and unmatched views. It can also be a monster of a course in the wind, long holes become enormous and you can easily be left with puts of over 40ft."
Rob (UK & Ireland Team: Handicap 16)

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Lundin requires the golfer to navigate strategically placed burns cavernous pot bunkers and have first-class course management. The course may be short compared to modern monsters but the key to scoring well is a measured head and plenty of patience.

Excellent greens and fine links fairways ensure the quality of the experience here is always high which is why Lundin is always a regular for Final Qualifying for when The Open is staged in Sclotland.

More info on Lundin Golf Club >>

"Lundin starts off with 4 holes along the shore, often against the wind, so make sure you have warmed up properly before you reach the first tee. The quality of the greens here is exceptional."
Gareth (UK & Ireland Team: Handicap 12)

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The Duke's Course is situated inland, away from the famous coastline but is attached to the Old Course Hotel which lies adjacent to the famous course of the same name.

Peter Thompson, who designed the layout, has described the course as ‘wild’, his reasoning is that any heathland course needs to have something raw and natural about it.

More info on the Dukes Course >>

"The Duke’s Course is the only heathland course in St Andrews and is considered by many to be one of the finest of its kind in the UK. The bunkers have an untouched look about them which gives the Duke's course a great sense of character."
Rob (UK & Ireland Team: Handicap 16)

Call 0800 043 6644 to speak to Rob about playing this course.

Leven Links is the 11th oldest golf club in the World, a six time Open Championship final qualifying venue, the course has stood the test of time and continues to host amateur & international matches.

A true links course that is very entertaining with some really fun holes combined with a decent test of golfing ability. Beware of Scoonie Burn, which guards the 18th green, this historic golf course is well worth visiting on the pilgrimage to St Andrews.

More info on Leven Links >>

"Leven Links is an archetypal links course with fairways that run along the valleys between the dunes, humps, bumps, hollows and wispy rough it is the very definition of a true links."
Gareth (UK & Ireland Team: Handicap 12)

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The Torrance Course is a dramatic cliff top layout, which overlooks the Old Grey Toon of St Andrews. It is protected not only by length, but also by strategically placed bunkers which will snare any misplaced approaches.

Former Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance has put his hand to redesigning the layout which now stretches to over 7,200 yards from the tips and is now regarded as one of Scotland’s most dramatic and challenging courses.

More info on Fairmont St Andrews Torrance Course >>

"The 17th is a stunning golf hole on the Torrance Course, with a testing tee shot. Down the entire right hand side of the hole, the out of bounds runs parallel with the coastal trail, before sharply cutting across the front of the green. The green itself is guarded by bunkers and with the prevailing wind; the approach is fraught with anticipation of the final score."
Oliver (Marketing: Handicap 1)

Call 0800 043 6644 to speak to Oliver about playing this course.

Scotscraig is home to the 13th oldest golf club in the world having been originally founded in 1817. The course is a mixture of links and heathland, but its proximity to the sea ensures it is buffeted by the coastal winds.

When you play Scotscraig you will be following in the footsteps of some of the legends of the game, Braid, Locke, Nicklaus, Norman as well as Sam Torrance, former Ryder Cup Captain.

More info on Scotscraig Golf Club >>

"The course doesn't sit exactly along the coastline but the sea breeze does come into consideration when playing this links, heathland mixture."
Gareth (UK & Ireland Team: Handicap 12)

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The raised tees of the Jubilee Course at St Andrews serve up unparalleled views across St Andrews Bay to the east and the majestic fairways of the other St Andrews golf courses to the west.

The layout is situated on a narrow strip of links land between St Andrews Bay and the St Andrews New Course. There are no double greens here but the course does play out and back with holes that thread their way through low sand dunes.

More info on St Andrews Jubilee Course >>

"The beauty of The Jubilee Course is that its character is so different to its neighbours. The narrow fairways run closest to the shoreline, and when the wind blows, are part of a stern test."
Rob (UK & Ireland Team: Handicap 16)

Call 0800 043 6644 to speak to Rob about playing this course.

Handicap: 4
Favourite Course: Old Head
My 'Expert' areas: St Andrews or Dublin
Best trip I've done: St Andrews Old Course, Kingsbarns & Dumbarnie Links
Where my next trip is to: Augusta to watch The Masters with my Dad

Give Sam a call on 0800 043 6644 to arrange your next golf break.