About St Andrews Jubilee Course

The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St-Andrews is the oldest and most prestigious golf club in the world. It is based in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, and is regarded as the worldwide "Home of Golf". Formerly, it was also one of the governing authorities of the game, but in 2004 this role was handed over to a newly formed group of companies, collectively known as The R&A.

The Jubilee course flies under the radar for many golfers visiting St Andrews, and for others, including locals, it has a fearsome reputation as the hardest track in town. The course is a favorite of the University of St Andrews Golf Club, which plays many of its team and club matches on the Jubilee. The course is a stern test of golf, and any golfer who can play to his handicap during a windy day on the Jubilee could hold their own anywhere.

The Jubilee was first laid out as a 12-hole course for “beginners and lady golfers” in 1897, commemorating the Diamon Jubilee of Queen Victoria. The course was extended to 18 holes around 1900, and legendary local Willie Auchterlonie made a few changes nearly 50 years later. Donald Steel, who also worked extensively on the Eden Course, then made a complete overhaul to the course in 1988, which extended the course greatly in length and made it the difficult links known today.

The Jub, as is it referred to locally, suffers similarly to the New Course, with both courses living under the shadow of the Old Course. If you make it to St Andrews and need to have your ego checked, play a windy round on the Jubilee. This is especially true when the greenskeeping staff grows out the rough and narrows the fairways each summer in anticipation of golfers visiting from all over the world.

Course Tips, hole by hole

(Source: standrews.com)

Hole 1 - Par 4 - S.I. 6/11 – 367y
The opening hole presents a subtle challenge for golfers. A slope to the right of the green kicks everything to the left, and the rock hard links green doesn’t hold aerial approach shots. A bunker short of the green and a hidden bunker behind the green make front right the safest area of the green. Aim between the two fairway bunkers. An approach from the right side of the fairway allows a running shot into the putting surface. Be careful of the hidden bunker behind the green.

Hole 2 - Par 4 - S.I. 13 - 360y
The 2nd hole is similar to the first in that the real challenge lies in approach shots. A large dune to the left, and a low lying collection area to the right, put a premium on accuracy, particularly when the pin is in the narrower rear section of the green. The line from the tee is towards the two distant bunkers on the left. An approach from that side can make use of the entire length of the 46 yard long green. A steep slope falls from the right side of the green.

Hole 3 - Par 5 - S.I. 3/1
Three bunkers lie in wait at about 300 yards off the medal tee. If attempting to reach the target in two it is better to come in from the left side of the fairway, avoiding the mounding and the two bunkers that guard the green. There is little danger in being long.

Hole 4 - Par 4 - S.I. 12/5 - 371y
The size of the 4th green allows for a huge variety of pin positions, each requiring a different strategy off the tee. Bunkers right and left create challenges for aerial approaches, but in classic links golf style, the center of the green is perfect for running shots. Accuracy off the tee is required at this hole, with thick rough lining both sides of the fairway. The line is centre of the fairway between the two bunkers. The green is over 50 yards long and if the pin is at the back, an extra club will be needed.

Hole 5 - Par 3 - S.I. 18/17 - 162y
The 5th has another large green, and the difficulty of the hole depends primarily on the pin position. The flatter right side of the green is much less penal than the left. A pin on raised plateau on the left side of the green is extremely difficult, and any shot missed left of the green is either in gorse or knee high grass. The green has two distinct halves. When the flag is on the lower part there are two alternative lines: either between the two bunkers or, if that seems too risky, try to run the ball down off the steep slope. A pin position on the upper tier is more difficult to reach and there is substantial trouble off the green left and back. The safe play is to the lower half.

Hole 6 - Par 5 - S.I. 1/3 - 498y
A classic links par five with two doglegs and a long stretch of crumbled fairway to negotiate. The landing area is right of the two fairway bunkers. From there, a lay up to the right of the fairway gives the best line through the five bunkers that guard the green. This was once a par three green and it is substantially shallower than those preceding it. Accuracy is key off the tee.

Hole 7 - Par 4 - S.I. 10/7
The fairway narrows the further you strike the ball so a long iron or fairway wood might prove more effective than a driver. Aim right half of the fairway. This leaves the best angle to approach the green which slopes markedly from left to right.

Hole 8 - Par 4 - S.I. 8/9 - 369y
The dogleg left 8th hole runs parallel to the Eden Estuary, and both the fairway and green run in between two sets of dunes. The 8th green is deceptively long, and distance control is crucial on this bowl shaped putting surface.Aim right of centre. Often playing downwind, this hole invites a big drive from the tee. The green is surrounded on three sides by banking which can be used to help an approach shot, particularly if the pin is towards the back.

Hole 9 - Par 3 - S.I. 15 - 192 yards
The 9th was redesigned a number of years ago. The green was moved from the upper plateau on the left to a lower area where the green is currently seen on the right. This change protects the safety of those on the 10th tee. An unseen slope on the left edge of this green kicks balls onto the putting surface. Bunkers left and right guard the approach into this par three. The slope to the left of the green will help the ball onto the putting surface so aiming for the left half of the green is the safer option.

Hole 10 - Par 4 - S.I. 5/6
Out of bounds left is the most obvious danger on this hole but a drive that runs off the slope on that side will be in the perfect position to attack the green. Land the ball short and let it run down the green. A drive onto the eleventh fairway leaves a blind shot in.

Hole 11 - Par 5 - S.I. 11/10 - 497y
This dogleg left par 5 hole is reachable for longer hitters who aim down the left half of the fairway. During the summer months, the rough is grown out to devilish heights down the left side of the hole. Aim to drive left of the gorse on the right side of the fairway. The ball should run in towards the centre of the fairway, setting up the possibility of going for the green in two. A lay up should leave an approach of about 100 yards to the front this two-tiered green. There are dangerous bunkers set into the left of the putting surface.

Hole 12 - Par 5 - S.I. 4/2 - 538y
The long par 5 is another dogleg left, and the fairway becomes frighteningly narrow in the summer. The deep green puts a premium on distance control. Aim to drive left of the gorse on the right side of the fairway. The ball should run in towards the centre of the fairway, setting up the possibility of going for the green in two. A lay up should leave an approach of about 100 yards to the front this two-tiered green. There are dangerous bunkers set into the left of the putting surface.

Hole 13 - Par 3 - S.I. 17/18 - 188y
An elevated tee on the 13th hole provides an impressive view of the green and surrounding holes. Length and accuracy are required to hit this green in regulation. This is a challenging hole which requires an accurate iron shot between the bunkers. Anything sliding out right may find a third trap which it is easy to overlook. From the raised tee, the distance is not quite as far as it looks on the card.

Hole 14 - Par 4/5 - S.I. 9/14
Drive to the left of the fairway to open up the green. A long iron may be required to get there in two. Bunkers are a danger on the right side of the approach but the putting surface is flat once you get there. A well camouflaged ridge in front of the green on the left is a subtle obstacle.

Hole 15 - Par 4 - S.I. 2/4 - 356y
This curious hole sticks in the memories of many visiting golfers. The fairway runs into gorse around 255 yards. Once golfers reach the 100 yards marker, the hidden green becomes visible around the back of a dune. The green itself is set into a dune and features a massive false front. The Jubilee greens are typically very fast, and any ball above the hole on the 15th risks being putted back off the front. The ideal line on this hole is straight down the middle of the fairway which will open up the green for the approach shot. Any drive venturing too far right or left risks the possibility of being snagged up in dunes or mounding, making reaching the green a near impossible task.

Hole 16 - Par 4/5 - S.I. 14/8 - 428y
The dogleg left 16th has a blind tee shot. Anyone who hasn’t played the hole would think they could cut the corner. You cannot cut much off of this corner. The smartest tee shots are draws starting down the center of the fairway. The approach shot is fairway straightforward, although it is important to leave balls below the hole on this sloping green. Right half of the fairway is best but be careful not to run into the long grass that separates the Jubilee from the New. The fairway has a number of small mounds but is generally flat. The green slopes from the left so be careful not to run off into the greenside bunker on the right.

Hole 17 - Par 3 - S.I. 7/16 - 211y
All four par 3s on the Jub are very difficult and none are short. The 17th is no exception with bunkers on the left and right guarding the green on this long par 3. Aim to carry the ridge that runs across the hole. The green is flat and it is possible to two putt from just short of it. This is a wide green with two bunkers either side lying in wait for any wild tee shots.

Hole 18 - Par 4 - S.I. 16/12 - 437y
The 18th hole rounds out a string of 5 incredibly tough finishing holes. If you have managed to stay anywhere close to par coming into the 15th tee, hold on for dear life and grind out the final five. The 18th is a long and straight par 4. A heavily bunkered green causes many final hole bogies on the course. Aim left of centre, between the fairway bunkers. The approach has to negotiate five greenside bunkers but the route between them leads to a flat surface. A miss long right is better than going left.