Golf in the town of St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, is regarded as the “Home of Golf“.
It has one of the oldest courses in the world, where the game
has been played since the 15th century. Today there are seven public courses;
the Balgove, Eden, Jubilee, Strathtyrum, New,
the Old Course (which is widely considered one of
the finest, and certainly the most famous and traditional course in the world),
and The Castle Course, sited on the cliffs a mile to
the east of St Andrews and designed by the architect
David McLay Kidd, which opened in June 2008.
The courses of St Andrews Links are owned by the
local authorities and operated by St Andrews Links
Trust, a charitable organization. St Andrews is also home to
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, one of
the most prestigious golf clubs and until 2004 one of the two
rulemaking authorities of golf (in that year, the Royal and
Ancient Club passed on its rulemaking authority to
an offshoot organisation, The R&A).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; the Dukes 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, Downfield, Carnoustie and Panmure.
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.
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.
