Golf in St Andrews Scotland

At Monifieth Golf Links you will find two superb golf courses 30 minutes from St. Andrews, 20 minutes from Dundee Airport and 2 hours from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen airports.

Play golf on traditional links and discover two exceptional golf courses.
Enjoy two 18-hole courses all year round which rarely introduce winter greens.
Follow in the footsteps of Tom Watson who had his first experience on a golf course in Monifieth a week before winning his first Open Championship.

If you are playing Carnoustie or St Andrews, Monifieth is very close by and offers the perfect opportunity to extend your experience of Links type golf courses in Scotland.

Downfield Golf Club is ideally located between Carnoustie and St Andrews. Downfield has the reputation of being one of the finest "Inland" courses in the UK. It has hosted many events throughout its long history. Indeed, it hosted one of the final qualifications of the British Open when it took place in Carnoustie in 1999 and 2007. It is a very wooded golf course with a hundred different species of trees and sheltering a beautiful wildlife, more protected from the wind than its famous neighbors. There is a wide variety of challenges on the 18 hole Downfield with water in play on no less than 7 holes and 5 par fives.

Just a 15 minute drive from the town of St Andrews, Scotscraig Golf Club is an enjoyable and sometimes demanding golf course. A mix of moorland and links, its 18-hole course is the venue for qualifying for the Open Championship when it takes place in the St Andrews region. Very attractive, rich and diverse course, there are more trees than on a traditional links. Close to the sea, it guarantees an unforgettable golfing experience. Scotscraig is known for its perfectly maintained greens and its good general condition thanks to a pleasant local climate.

Elie Golf House Club is a classic links established in 1875, just 20 minutes from St Andrews and one of the oldest courses in the country. According to the archives, we were already playing golf at Elie in the 5697th century! Open all year round, it is not very long (XNUMXm) and offers undulating fairways, large, firm and fast greens, and beautiful sea views.

His starter has a submarine periscope, a gift from a member, allowing him to get a 360-degree view over the hill on the first hole.

James Braid, born in the neighboring village, took his first steps as a golfer here and won his first competition there at the age of 8. Many other successes were to follow, since he was 5 times winner of the British Open, once of the French Open and became the remarkable and prolific architect of golf, author, among other masterpieces, of Carnoustie, Troon, Prestwick and Ballybunion! He left his mark on more than 200 courses in the British Isles.

The golf courses in Scotland are among the best in the world and the Fairmont St Andrews, located in the "Home of Golf", is proud to be recognized as one of the finest golf resorts - elected "Hotel Team of the year "by the Scottish Hospitality Awards and" Best hotel (over 50 rooms) "by the Scottish Golf tourism awards in 2018.
Torrance Golf Course
This course was designed by former 2001 Ryder Cup European captain Sam Torrance and American golf legend Gene Sarazen. It is a superb course built on a cliff which offers breathtaking panoramas. With a magnificent view over the town of St-Andrews and the North Sea, this splendid golf course continues the tradition of Scottish "Links".
The Torrance is one of two courses at the 5-star Fairmont Oceanfront Resort, just outside St Andrews, along with the Kittocks.
Kittocks Golf Course
At the entrance to St Andrews, this course is the perfect complement to its neighbor the Torrance. Its architect is the Australian Bruce Devlin. It was renovated in 2008 to improve playing conditions throughout the year. It is very picturesque with a beautiful layout on top of a cliff and a superb panorama over the North Sea and the town of St Andrews. The high quality of the greens will seduce you.

Leven Links has a rich tradition that dates back over 150 years. It is one of the oldest golf courses in the world. Founded in 1846 with 9 holes, it was extended to 18 holes in 1868.

The 18-hole Leven Links Golf Course takes full advantage of the coast. Links type course, it does however benefit from a few holes inland. Although the coast is somewhat protected, the breezes of the Firth of Forth are still present. The best players can complain about the lack of length, but the vast majority of them will appreciate the beauty of this authentic links course.

The Panmure golf course combines the best aspects of “Links” and “Inand” golf courses. With its narrow fairways and compact, undulating greens, it is admired by domestic and foreign golfers. Scottish pine forests and nature-forged sand dunes give the land a lasting quality in keeping with its long history. Panmure Golf Club is a great course to experience, offering a quality challenge. You will receive a warm welcome from staff and members.

Duke's Golf Course is located at the top of a hill, 3 miles from St Andrews. This beautifully wooded course offers magnificent views of the Old Town, St Andrews Bay and the mountains beyond. It is the only "heathland" golf course, moorland, also known as "parkland", parkland, in St Andrews, all others being links.

In the land to the south of town, designed by five-time British Open champion Peter Thomson, it's a great test of golf. For this reason, it is recommended to play advanced starts. With five tee positions at each hole, The Duke's caters to golfers of all skill levels. White balls, its length is 6171 meters.

The course is owned by the luxury 5 star hotel in St Andrews, the Old Course Hotel. In 2014 it hosted the European International Amateur Championship, one of the 4 majors in the world of amateur golf.

Ladybank Golf Club is an 18 hole inland course in Scotland. More than a century old, it was designed in 1879 by the mythical and prolific Old Tom Morris. Although not a links it hosts the qualifiers for the British Open when it is held in St Andrews. It is a little gem surrounded by pines, heather and gorse located just 25 minutes from St Andrews. Warm and friendly welcome guaranteed!

Opened in 2000, Kingsbarns Golf Course is one of Scotland's newest golf courses, but it quickly attracted many golfers. Even though it competes with some of the best links in the country, the course has managed to distinguish itself as one of Scotland's must-see golf courses.

The 7-yard / 227-meter course is longer than other traditional links, but it features a design that is both stimulating and seductive that lacks the harshness of Carnoustie.

The course blends harmoniously into the landscape. It's hard to believe that thousands of tons were moved to create the perfectly manicured bunkers, dunes and fairways. The large greens at Kingsbarns have some relief, but overall the course waves are smoother than they appear.

Only 15 minutes from St Andrews, this world class golf course is a must to add to your golfing vacation.

Dumbarnie Links is Scotland's newest golf course. Indeed, this new Links type course opened in 2020 in the St Andrews region. Its ambition is simple: "To enter the Top 100 of the best courses in the world".
It is characterized by many elevated tee tees where many holes by the sea offer breathtaking panoramic views. Thus, 14 holes have a view on the bay of the Firth of Forth (The Firth of Forth, in Scottish Gaelic Linne Foirthe, literally “black river”, is the estuary, or firth, of the Scottish river Forth).

The Balcomie Links, in the old market town of Crail near St Andrews, is one of Scottish golf's finest treasures. You will find a golf course steeped in history and tradition. The Crail Golfing Society was founded in 1786, at a time when there were only six other golf clubs in the world. Located in an exposed corner in the far east of the Kingdom of Fife, on a promontory known as Fife Ness, the current course remains roughly the same as after the famous Tom Morris of St Andrews made the nine first holes in 1895, then added a second nine four years later.

Crail Golfing Society now has two 36-hole golf courses:

Balcomie Links Golf Course
Craighead Links Golf Course

Balcomie has many admirers around the world and when the Open Championship takes place in St Andrews it is not uncommon to see the famous faces of the game's greatest players face off against each other on this magnificent golf course.

Lundin Golf Club, established in 1868, is a course by famous architect Tom Morris. It was extensively overhauled in 1909 by five-time British Open champion James Braid. It is a course of rare quality.
Its superb fairways and excellent greens explain its regular selections as the final qualifying course for the British Open.

Narrow fairways, bunkers, rivers, and ever-changing winds guarantee a rewarding golf experience.
Very close to the sea, with magnificent views, this course offers very good value for money. Its neighbor Leven is also very interesting. Comfortable, recently refurbished clubhouse.

Carnoustie Golf Links is an iconic and world-renowned golf destination in Scotland, which constitutes the "Golf's Greatest Test". Golf has been played there since the XNUMXth century ...

Carnoustie Golf Links will warmly welcome you to play on its fantastic courses, the Carnoustie Championship Course, the Carnoustie Burnside Course and the Carnoustie Buddon Course. The Championship Course hosted the 147th Open last year, with Francesco Molinari becoming the 2018 Golf Champion of the Year.
The Carnoustie Championship Course
Having the reputation of being the most difficult of the British Open courses, "Carnage" as its willing "victims" call it, the Carnoustie Championship Course is not an accessible course for beginners.
Designed by Old Tom Morris, later enlarged by James Braid, this legendary course is a fantastic test of golf for good players, with fast greens that are excellent all year round.

The Scots like to remember a French anecdote dating from July 1999 when Jean Van de Velde lost the Open, with 3 strokes in advance at the last hole deemed the most difficult in Scotland! Definitely worth playing, just 30 minutes north of St Andrews.
The Carnoustie Burnside Course
This is Carnoustie's second course, shorter than its prestigious neighbor but which presents enough difficulties to hold one's head high. Bunkers are its main defense, along with a number of trees. It offers a good training before playing the famous championship course.

It was on this course that in 1953, the great Ben Hogan played to qualify for the Open Championship which he subsequently won.
The Buddon Links Course
The Buddon Links Course was originally designed by Peter Alliss and the late Dave Thomas on land that was once part of the Ladies' Course and Department of Defense Course, hence the reason the holes are named with reference to famous battles. The course was opened to the public in 1981.

Recognized the world over as the birthplace of golf, St Andrews Links is a historic witness to over 600 years of golf. Around a simple path created in the heart of heather bushes, Saint Andrews golf course now has a vast complex of 7 public golf courses. Seven must-see golf courses for all golf lovers. Come and discover them on the North Sea coast between Edinburgh and Dundee in Scotland.
Old Course - St Andrews
The Old Course is the oldest and most iconic golf course on the planet. The Swilcan Bridge and the Hell Bunker are famous all over the world. Legendary golf course the Old Course at St Andrews has the distinction of remaining a public golf course, open to all, regardless of its immense prestige.
Castle Course - St Andrews
The latest addition to St Andrews Links, the Castle Course opened in 2008, becoming the seventh Home of Golf course and part of Europe's largest public golf resort. Situated atop a rugged cliff with spectacular views of St Andrews, the Castle Course offers a memorable golf experience.
New Course - St Andrews
The oldest "new" course in the world, Home of Golf's second course, was built by the famous, Tom Morris, in 1895. With its undulating fairways and demanding greens, the New Course is a great Links loaded with history and tradition. .
Jubilee Course - St Andrews
Home of Golf's third championship course, the Jubilee Course is considered by many to be the most difficult course on the famous St Andrews Links. Built in 1897, it was originally intended for ladies and beginners. However, after seeing its prime location between the New Course and the sea, the Jubilee was transformed into a championship course in 1988.
Eden Course - St Andrews
Slightly more forgiving than its seaside contemporaries, the Eden Course was built in 1914 by the legendary Harry S. Colt. Deep and imposing bunkers and a few trying out-of-bounds give it a strong character. A real golfing challenge!
Strathtyrum Course - St Andrews
Designed to complement the more difficult championship courses of Home of Golf, the Strathtyrum Course opened in 1993. Although few in number (15), the bunkers are thoughtfully placed and the emphasis is on the precision of the iron game. . The greens are wide and feature slopes and curves that can challenge even the most experienced players.
Balgove Course-St Andrews
The Balgove Course is Home of Golf's only nine-hole course and is primarily aimed at families, children and beginners. With bunkers and double greens, the Balgove is a perfect training ground. It thus solidifies the reputation of St Andrews Links as a destination that caters to the needs of all ages and abilities.