About St Andrews New 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 oldest ‘new’ course in the world, the second course at the Home of Golf was built by the Keeper of the Green, Tom Morris in 1895 and it was imaginatively named to differentiate from its famous neighbour. Boasting undulating fairways and challenging greens, the New Course is a classic test of links golf.

Course Tips - hole by hole

(Source: standrews.com)

Hole 1 - Par 4 - S.I. 9/17
Aim to play short of the mound guarding the green. There is a clear view down the green from the left side of the fairway. From the right, the greenside bunkers front and back will come into play. You are never out of bounds if your ball lands on the Old Course.

Hole 2 - Par 4 - S.I. 13/7
Aim straight between the fairway bunkers. An approach to the left half of the green is safest, avoiding the greenside bunker and the thick gorse to the right. There is little danger in being long with your second.

Hole 3 - Par 5 - S.I. 3
Aim for the right half of the fairway. A large depression front left of the green deflects running shots while the narrowness of the green makes it hard to hold with a pitch.

Hole 4 - Par 4 - S.I. 7/5
Play this hole as a right to left dogleg. Three deep bunkers guard the left half of the green. Shots that leak right may be entangled in the heather on that side. There is gorse behind the green which expands over its whole width.

Hole 5 - Par 3 - S.I. 17/13
Go straight between the two large greenside bunkers. Missing on the right gives an easier shot back. The green slopes from front to back. A significant hollow eats into the back centre of the green.

Hole 6 - Par 4/5 - S.I. 1/9
Aim for the left side of the fairway to avoid the broken ground on the right. There are no bunkers on this hole. An approach to the right side of the green will stand more chance of running on. The green slopes down from the back.

Hole 7 - Par 4 - S.I. 11/15
Drive short of the cross bunkers for a full shot in. An approach from the right side gives a better line to the green, which is flatter at the back than at the front. Don't be too long as there is a bank and then a road behind the green which makes playing back difficult.

Hole 8 - Par 5 - S.I. 5/1
Right half of the fairway is safest and opens up the possibility of reaching the green in two. The approach is straight between the two large bunkers that guard the entrance to the green.

Hole 9 - Par 3 - S.I. 15/11
Aim towards the back edge of the tenth tee. A ridge deflects all but the best struck shots before the green. There are no bunkers on this hole and the green is set in a hollow.

Hole 10 - Par 4/5 - S.I. 6/14
Aim over the marker post from the back tee, left of it from further forward. The approach requires a long, accurate strike to a small green which slopes down from left to right.

Hole 11 - Par 4 - S.I. 14/2
A straight drive will open up the green. Four greenside bunkers present a danger to pitches. The green slopes from the back and is receptive to a well struck approach shot.

Hole 12 - Par 5 - S.I. 4/10
Aim right of centre to a wide fairway shared with the eighth. Going for the green in two is an option, while a lay up leaves a full shot in to a wide and relatively flat green. There is less danger on the left side of the green.

Hole 13 - Par 3 - S.I. 18
Aim between the two large greenside bunkers to this elevated green and try to leave the ball below the hole. The green slopes down severely from the back.

Hole 14 - Par 4 - S.I. 8/4
Aim left for a better view of the green. The broken ground to the right can give an awkward stance and lie. The approach has to get over a pronounced ridge about 60 yards short of the putting surface, which makes the green look a little closer than it actually is.

Hole 15 - Par 4 - S.I. 12/6
Left half gives a view of this offset double green shared with the third. From the right, gorse blocks off the right side of the green. Play long to avoid the bunkers and broken ground short left.

Hole 16 - Par 4/5 - S.I. 2/12
Aim for the left side of the fairway to avoid playing an approach over the greenside bunkers. Some fairway bunkers on the right are shared with the third and are not visable from the tee. The green is flat and will hold both running shots and pitches.

Hole 17 - Par 3 - S.I. 16/8
Beyond the central fairway bunker, the approach to the green is flat and will allow the ball to run on to the putting surface. The tee shot should be slightly left of this hazard and try to avoid the bunker to the right of the green which is steep faced.

Hole 18 - Par 4/5 - S.I. 10/16
Aim to the right of the first fairway bunker. Check the pin position before playing the approach as the green has ridges which make playing from the wrong half difficult. There is out of bounds beyond the bank at the back of the green.