Harper Lin
St Andrews in Scotland is known as the home of golf as the sport was first played there in the early 15th century. The Old Course at St Andrews, also known as the Grand Old Lady, is considered the oldest golf course in the world. It is a public course held in trust by the St Andrews Links Trust. Golf has been played on the Old Course for at least 500 years, with the course setting the standard of 18 holes. The course has hosted The Open Championship 30 times, most recently in 2022.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | St Andrews, Fife, Scotland |
| Course | The Old Course, The New Course, Jubilee Course, The Castle Course, Eden Course, Balgove Course, Strathtyrum Course |
| Accessibility | Public course |
| Management | St Andrews Links Trust |
| History | The oldest golf course in the world, the birthplace of golf |
| Course design | 18 holes, 7 double greens, 4 single greens |
| Notable contributors | Daw Anderson, Old Tom Morris |
| Major tournaments | The Open Championship |
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What You'll Learn
St Andrews is considered the 'home of golf'
St Andrews in Fife, Scotland, is considered the "home of golf" because it is the oldest golf course in the world, where the sport was first played in the early 15th century. The course has been played for at least 500 years, with the earliest reference dating to 1552 when Archbishop Hamilton confirmed the rights of the townspeople of St Andrews to play golf over the Old Course.
The Old Course at St Andrews is a public course over common land held in trust by the St Andrews Links Trust under an act of Parliament. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews clubhouse sits adjacent to the first tee, although it is just one of many clubs with playing privileges on the course. The course has been pivotal to the development of how the game is played today, with the standard model of 18 holes being created at St Andrews in 1764.
Golf was becoming increasingly popular in Scotland until James II of Scotland banned the game in 1457 because he felt that young men were playing too much golf instead of practising their archery. The ban was upheld by James III and remained in force until 1502 when James IV became a golfer himself and removed the ban.
St Andrews Links went bankrupt in 1797, and the Town Council decided to allow rabbit farming on the golf course. Twenty years of legal battling between the golfers and rabbit farmers ended in 1821 when a local landowner and golfer, James Cheape of Strathtyrum, bought the land and is credited with saving the links for golf.
The Old Course has hosted The Open Championship, the oldest of golf's major championships, 30 times since 1873. Bobby Jones, who founded Augusta National, first played St Andrews in the 1921 Open Championship. He returned in 1930 for the British Amateur, winning and becoming the only man in history to win the Grand Slam. Jones fell in love with the course and returned many times, even receiving the key to the city in 1958.
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The Old Course at St Andrews is the oldest golf course in the world
The Old Course at St Andrews is considered the oldest golf course in the world. It is a public course over common land in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland. The course is held in trust by the St Andrews Links Trust under an act of Parliament. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews clubhouse sits adjacent to the first tee. However, it is just one of many clubs with playing privileges on the course. St Andrews Golf Club, the New Golf Club, St Regulus Ladies Golf Club, and the St Rule Club are a few of the other clubs with clubhouses.
Originally known as the "golfing grounds" of St Andrews, it was not until the New Course was opened in 1895 that it became known as the Old Course. The Old Course at St Andrews is considered the "'home of golf'" because the sport was first played on the links at St Andrews in the early 15th century. Golf was becoming increasingly popular in Scotland until James II of Scotland banned the game in 1457. He believed that young men were playing too much golf instead of practising their archery. The ban was upheld by James III and remained in force until 1502 when James IV became a golfer himself and removed the ban.
The Old Course was pivotal to the development of how the game is played today. In 1764, the course had 22 holes, and members would play the same hole going out and in, except for the 11th and 22nd holes. William St Clair of Roslin, as the captain of The Captain and Gentlemen Golfers, authorised changes to St Andrews on 4 October 1764. He decided that the first four and last four holes on the course were too short and should be combined into a total of four holes (two in and two out). St Andrews then had 18 holes, and that was how the standard of 18 holes was created.
Around 1863, Old Tom Morris had the 1st green separated from the 17th green, producing the current 18-hole layout with 7 double greens and 4 single greens. The Old Course is home to The Open Championship, the oldest of golf's major championships. The Old Course has hosted this major 30 times since 1873, most recently in 2022.
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Golf was banned in Scotland from 1457 to 1502
St Andrews in Fife, Scotland, is known as the "home of golf" because the sport was first played on its links in the early 15th century. The Old Course at St Andrews is considered the oldest golf course globally and is a public course open to all.
Interestingly, golf was banned in Scotland from 1457 to 1502. The ban was instituted by King James II, who believed that young men were playing too much golf instead of practising their archery skills. This sentiment is reflected in an Act of the Scots Parliament from March 6, 1457, which states:
> "Item, it is ordained and the decreed that the lords and barons both spiritual and temporal should organise archery displays four times in the year. And touchand ye futebaw and ye golf We ordane it to be punyst be ye baronys unlaw. And if he tak it not to be tain be ye kings officars."
The ban was upheld by James III in 1471 and again in 1491 by James IV. However, in 1502, with the signing of the Treaty of Perpetual Peace between Scotland and England, King James IV, now a golfer himself, lifted the ban. This pivotal moment in Scottish golf history allowed the sport to flourish once more and solidified its place in the country's cultural fabric.
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The standard 18-hole golf course was created at St Andrews
The Old Course at St Andrews, located in Fife, Scotland, is considered the oldest golf course in the world. It is held in trust by the St Andrews Links Trust under an act of Parliament. The course is considered the "home of golf" because the sport was first played on the links at St Andrews in the early 15th century.
The evolution of the course was influenced by various contributors over time, including Daw Anderson in the 1850s and Old Tom Morris (1865-1908), who designed the 1st and 18th holes. In the late 1800s, Old Tom Morris made further adjustments, separating the 1st green from the 17th green, finalizing the 18-hole layout with 7 double greens and 4 single greens.
The Old Course has played a pivotal role in the development of golf and set a standard for golf courses worldwide. It has hosted The Open Championship, one of golf's major championships, over 30 times since 1873. St Andrews Links Trust manages the Old Course, along with six other courses in St Andrews, ensuring its accessibility to golfers and enthusiasts worldwide.
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St Andrews Links Trust runs seven courses in St Andrews
The seven courses run by the Trust include the Balgove, Eden, Jubilee, Strathtyrum, New, and the Old Course, all on the links. The seventh course, The Castle Course, is located a mile to the east of the town.
The Old Course, also known as the "Grand Old Lady", is considered the oldest golf course in the world, with a history dating back over 600 years. It is a public course and is considered the home of golf because the sport was first played at St Andrews in the early 15th century. The course has been pivotal in the development of how the game is played today. It was originally played over the same set of fairways, but as interest in the game increased, the course evolved to accommodate groups of golfers playing in different directions.
The New Course, located adjacent to the Old Course, was designed by Old Tom Morris and opened in 1895, setting the standard of 18 holes. The Eden Course, designed by Harry Colt, opened in 1914, and the Strathtyrum Course, the first new 18-hole layout in nearly 80 years, opened in 1993. The Balgove Course is a nine-hole course that was remodelled in 1993, and The Castle Course became the seventh public course in 2008, offering panoramic views of the town.
St Andrews Links Trust, a charitable organisation, ensures that the courses are accessible to all, with only the Old Course requiring a handicap. The Trust's work has made St Andrews a popular hub for golf tourism, attracting golfers from around the world to experience the historic and challenging courses.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, St Andrews is located in Fife, Scotland. It is considered the oldest golf course in the world and is also known as the 'Home of Golf'.
You can take a train from Edinburgh Waverley to Leuchars train station, which takes about an hour. Then, take a bus from Leuchars to St Andrews bus station, which is about a six-minute walk from the Old Course.
There are ten golf courses in the town of St Andrews, including the famous Old Course, the New Course, the Jubilee Course, the Castle Course, and the Eden Course.
Golf was first played in St Andrews in the early 15th century. It was banned in 1457 by James II of Scotland, who felt that young men were playing too much golf instead of practising archery. The ban was lifted in 1502 when James IV became a golfer himself.
