St Andrews Golf & Town
St Andrews (Duke’s)
The Duke’s is not part of the St Andrews Links, nor is it a links,
but neither fact should detract from the quality and intrigue of
a course opened in 1995, and designed by five time Open winner,
Peter Thomson. The Duke’s lies inland and is best described
as a heathland course, routed through gentle hills above the
town. The views are impressive but your focus needs to be on
the course. Recently revitalised, the goal was to take it back to
a bygone era and the 118 jagged bunkers certainly help in that
regard. They come in all shapes and sizes and are never far away
as you move over the rumpled, gorse-drenched landscape. Their
white sand is startling. Trees also frame the course giving it a very
different appearance, feel and challenge to the other courses
here. Five tees, so choose with care.
St Andrews (Jubilee)
What started out as a 12-hole course in 1897 is, today, a links
of considerable reputation, pressed up against St Andrews Bay.
Donald Steel arrived in 1988 and revitalised a course that boasts
the most shapely dunes of the St Andrews courses. It is these
shapes that have helped the Jubilee become a strong risk-vs-
reward course, where tight fairways demand accuracy and the
deep rough punishes the wayward. From the raised tee boxes it
is all on display, as are the views. The front nine are considerably
shorter… but don’t think that makes the short holes any easier,
especially with some of the run-offs around the smallish greens
– your ball may be lured into bunkers or tricky swales – and that
tough rough. Many consider this the toughest of St Andrews
seven courses.
St Andrews (Eden)
One of the great statements a course can make is through its
history. Here, on the Eden, Harry Colt made that statement
through his design finesse in a way that many courses later
copied – the greens particularly. Eden’s front nine is all Colt, with
plenty of pot bunkers and greens which are more undulating
than elsewhere at St Andrews… you only need to play the 1st to
appreciate what’s in store. The Eden is more forgiving than its
mighty siblings, and shorter. It also boasts some old features such
as the partially buried field boundary walls, which all promises
an extra thrill to playing here. And then there’s the lengthy water
hazard between two holes… the only such hazard on the St
Andrews courses.
St Andrews (New)
Another of the misnomers, the ‘New’ course was designed
by Old Tom Morris in 1895. The courses at St Andrews do not
present many elevation changes and that is true here, but do
not think that doesn’t present challenges because gorse can
still create blind shots… which means navigating your way
around these tight fairways calls for precision, especially from
the tee. The New sits alongside the Old, and while the out and
back layout demonstrates similarities the two offer unique
experiences. The Old feels more open and forgiving but here
accuracy is key, and many locals prefer to play it for that reason
and its prettier characteristics: the gorse adds colour and
the dunes out at the turn are home to the shapeliest holes…
including a 225 yard par three with the Eden Estuary alongside.
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