St Andrews and Fife

The Old Course at St Andrews is probably the most famous golf course in the world. This is where golf, as we know it today, began. This is a course packed with history and strategy.

The outward holes move towards the Eden Estuary before reaching the loops at the turn and then heading back towards the town, finishing with the unforgettable closing holes, culminating in the 18th green in the shadow of the Royal and Ancient Clubhouse.

There are so many iconic moments here – being watched by the crowds as you get off on the first, taking on the tee shot on the Road Hole and then crossing over the Swilcan Bridge as you walk up the last.  The Old Course is authentic, atmospheric and unmatched, offering a true pilgrimage for lovers of links golf.

Kingsbarns is one of the world’s most impressive modern links, set along a sweeping stretch of coastline just south of St Andrews. The course feels open, spacious and beautifully connected to the sea, with views of the water on almost every hole. Fairways are generous but full of interest and the greens are shaped to encourage creative approaches and a variety of short game shots.

The signature holes sit right beside the water, take your pick from the epic par 5 twelfth and the celebrated par 3 fifteenth that plays across a rocky cove. Kingsbarns combines first class presentation with an engaging and enjoyable design. It is a must play on any golf trip to the St Andrews area.

Carnoustie Golf Links is one of the true classics of world golf. From the moment you tee off you will feel the history oozing through the fairways. Hogan’s Alley is an early highlight – dare you take Ben Hogan’s line between the out of bounds and the fairway bunker on the famous 6th hole.

The highlights keep coming but the best is really saved for the end. The closing holes around the Barry Burn are legendary, turning the final stretch into one of golf’s most testing finales.

Play here and you experience something special: tradition steeped in history, a design that tolerates little but rewards very much, and a course that challenges you mentally as much as physically. A round at Carnoustie Golf Links isn’t just a game of golf – it’s a test of skill, nerve and character.

Dumbarnie Links is one of the newest additions to Scotland’s east coast and has quickly earned a strong reputation. Set across a broad ribbon of shoreline south of St Andrews, it offers wide horizons, striking visuals and a layout that feels open and inviting from the start. Designed by Clive Clark, the course uses its natural terraces to create a series of elevated tees and sweeping views that give the round real impact.

Several holes play close to the water, while others use the inland ridges to shape thoughtful driving lines and distinctive approach shots. The short par fours are a particular highlight, offering tempting chances without feeling forced. Presentation is first class and the overall experience is polished without losing its sense of fun. Dumbarnie Links is a modern course that fits beautifully into a classic golfing region.

The New Course at St Andrews may be the oldest ‘new’ course in the world. This Old Tom Morris course opened in 1895 and offers a classic test with firm fairways, well positioned bunkers and beautifully shaped greens. The course sits beside the Old Course and shares very similarly contoured land, although in some ways it feels more defined, rewarding accuracy and thoughtful play.

It is a superb addition to any St Andrews golf trip, delivering heritage, strategy and a thoroughly enjoyable round.

The Golf House Club, Elie sits on the south coast of Fife and is one of the region’s most enjoyable traditional courses. Golf has been played here for centuries and Old Tom Morris laid out the eighteen hole design in 1895, with James Braid making later refinements to his home course. The result is a layout that has changed little in a hundred years and still feels true to its origins.

The famous periscope at the first adds a bit of theatre before you play the opening blind shot, and the routing quickly reveals a really thoughtful, and fun, course. Anyone will be able to get round Elie without looking for too many balls, but it is a strategic course too. You will need to use the clever contours to get the ball close to the hole in a course that was designed for the ground game.

This is a course that is easy to like and hard to forget. It offers quality, character and a wonderful sense of place, and it is one of the standout rounds to add to any St Andrews or Fife golf trip.

The Castle Course at St Andrews delivers a dramatic and highly scenic modern links experience set on cliffs overlooking the North Sea. Designed by David McLay Kidd, it makes full use of its elevated site with sweeping views, bold shaping and greens that present a wide range of approach options.

Fairways flow across a landscape of ridges and dips, creating holes that ask for clear decision making and confident execution.

The Castle Course offers a striking contrast to the town’s traditional layouts, providing an eye catching and engaging round that feels both ambitious and enjoyable.

The Eden Course at St Andrews is a charming, accessible and strategically engaging links that appeals to golfers of many abilities. Designed in 1914 by Harry Colt, it makes excellent use of natural contours, gentle dunes and well placed bunkers to create plenty of interest and challenge.

Greens have subtle movement, approaches reward thoughtful shot selection and the setting beside the Eden Estuary is beautiful. The course delivers classic St Andrews character but maybe in a little more relaxed and forgiving style than some of the other courses, making it an excellent choice for golfers seeking variety and a lighter but thoroughly rewarding links experience.

The Jubilee Course at St Andrews offers a distinctive and engaging links experience. First opened in 1897 and refined over time, many consider the Jubilee the greatest challenge of all the St Andrews courses.

The opening stretch sets a confident tone before the course moves closer to the water, where the views open up and the shaping becomes more varied. Approaches ask for good judgement, and the green complexes offer subtle challenges without feeling overdone.

The Jubilee is a thoughtful and enjoyable addition to any St Andrews trip, offering quality links golf with its own distinct personality.

Crail Balcomie is one of Scotland’s oldest and most charming seaside courses, set on a beautiful stretch of coastline south of St Andrews. Designed by Old Tom Morris in the 1890s, it has a wonderfully natural feel, with holes that follow the contours of the shore and others that climb gently into higher ground before returning to the water. The views across the Firth of Forth are constant and often spectacular.

The layout is not long, but it is full of interest. Tight green surrounds, clever angles and the ever shifting character of the terrain reward steady, thoughtful play. Several short par fours tempt you into taking on more than you should, while the coastal holes deliver classic links drama. Balcomie is friendly, scenic and full of personality, a course that brings together history and enjoyment in equal measure.