The Birthplace of Golf

A golf bucket list is not complete without the experience of St Andrews. After all, this is where golf began. There is a nostalgic sense of timelessness here, but the courses have evolved to present the same challenges to today’s players as they did to legendary greats Tom Morris, Bobby Jones, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. St Andrews is as much the “Mecca of Golf” to the great champions as it is to the mere devotee.

The great links courses are strung like a necklace of pearls around the throat of the Firth of Forth — from Dunbar, North Berwick, Muirfield and Gullane on the south side of the Firth, up to the great bridges and back along the north shore, past Burntisland, Leven, Lundin, Elie, Anstruther, Crail and Kingsbarns, through St Andrews to Scotscraig and Carnoustie. All are readily accessible from St Andrews, but in the town itself, the St Andrews Links Trust-managed courses offer the tough tests of the Old, New and Jubilee courses as well as the more benign Eden and Strathtyrum — all within walking distance.

Just minutes away and in contrast to the links is The Duke’s at St Andrews, one of the U.K.’s heathland marvels. The magnificent Kingsbarns and Castle courses have also added to the caché of St Andrews. However, there are more than 20 courses of great antiquity and beauty within a 20-minute drive of the town. All courses listed except The Duke's are independently owned and managed.