St Andrews (New)

It's called the New Course. It isn't exactly new though, is it? In fact, it is the oldest 'New' course in the world, as it dates back to 1895.

Everyone knows about its older brother, the glorious Old Course at St Andrews, which has hosted the Open Championship on no fewer than 30 occasions. However, the New Course is arguably the best lay-out in the St Andrews portfolio, one that includes seven courses.

Old Tom Morris, the four-time Open Champion, was the man who designed the New Course, and it has become a stunning course in its own right, one of several to make the NCG Top 100s: Scotland list in their own right.


Visit the New Course's page on the St Andrews website here.
Go back to the NCG Top 100s Homepage.
 

1895 saw the design and construction of the New Course. The idea came to the fore as the Old Course was becoming overcrowded, with the demand for golf getting too much for the town.

Four-time Open Champion Old Tom Morris, who called St Andrews home, was the designer of the New Course, which was opened in 1895, making it the oldest 'New' course in golf. It was built on land to the southeast of the Old Course, but stayed true to the links philosophy of fast and undulating fairways, rolling dunes and pot bunkers.

The New Course has undergone renovations over the years to keep it in line with modern standards and technologies. Like all of the courses at St Andrews, the New is open to the public.

Morris' design has played host to Final Qualifying for the Open Championship on several occasions, as well as hosting a number of amateur tournaments in its 125-year history.
 

The New Course is by no means the longest course in the world, measuring at just 6,500 yards. However, it still is a tough test, and when the wind gets up, it becomes a true links challenge. Like most links courses, it is an out-and-back style course, with the course winding in between the Old Course and the Jubilee Course.

The New opens up with a gentle par 4, one that could be driveable for the longest of hitters at just 315 yards. For many, playing short of the large mound in the centre of the fairway is the play before having just a low iron or wedge to the opening green. The 2nd is another short-ish par 4 and one that is pretty straight and without much trouble. That comes before the opening par 5 on the course, the 3rd. At just 508 yards, it is a definite opportunity, and it features a double green with the 15th hole.

 

The 4th is another medium length par 4, one that moves slightly round to the left, before you come to the opening short hole on the New. The 5th has a severely undulating green, and finding the right portion is key to making par or better. 6 is the hardest hole on the New, a 441-yard par 4, mainly due to the fact that the fairway seems to become non-existent halfway down with how narrow it becomes. 

 

7 and 8 offering up scoring opportunities as you get towards the turn. The 7th is only 350 yards and has a generous fairway, while the latter is a par 5 that measures just 480 yards from the tips. The closing hole on the front nine of the New Course is at the most northern point, with the estuary to the left of the 223-yard par 3 9th hole. There might be no bunkers, but the distance causes enough issues here.

The back nine begins with a 456 yard par 4 to really test your driving abilities, but there are scoring opportunities to come. 11 has four greenside bunkers, but it is only 360 yards long, while the 12th is the opening par 5 on the closing nine, but it measures in at less than 520 yards. There is a break in the fairway around the 250-yard mark from the tips, with the front of the green then being about the same distance away. Driver, driver to make it in two

 

13 is a short par 3 where club selection is crucial, with 14 and 15 both being par 4s at less than 400. The 14th moves ever so slightly to the right, and had a fairway that is tighter thanks to the solitary bunker that pinches in the short grass. The drive down 15 needs to be on the left side of the fairway to give yourself the best view of the double green shared with the 3rd.

The closing stretch on the New Course begins with the 16th hole, a lengthy par 4, one of 425 yards. All of the bunkers are on the right side, both fairway and greenside traps, but there is also a road down the left. 17 is a 220-yard par 3 with a big bunker to the front right portion of the green. The closing hole is a tricky par 4, but with a good drive, there is a chance of birdieing the last!
 

Where is St Andrews Links located?
St Andrews Golf Links is situated in the town of St Andrews, which sits on the eastern coastline of Fife in Scotland. Leuchars is around five miles to the north, with Cupar ten miles to the west. The New Course is 50 miles northeast of the Scottish capital city, Edinburgh.

Leuchars Station is the closest rail stop to the town, and there are then local bus services from Leuchars to St Andrews and vice versa. The station sits on the London-Aberdeen line with LNER, and there are also Cross Country trains all the way down to Penzance in Cornwall. For those travelling from further afield, Edinburgh Airport - Scotland's biggest and busiest airport - is less than an hour from St Andrews. Glasgow Airport is slightly further away, but also offers international travellers with a landing spot on their way to the 'Home of Golf'.

 

Are there any NCG Top 100s: Scotland venues nearby?  
The New Course is one of five layouts at St Andrews that sits proudly on the NCG Top 100s: Scotland list. The Old Course, Castle Course, Jubilee Course and Eden Course are also on the list. The Torrance Course at Fairmont St Andrews is also within a short drive from the New Course.

What golf facilities does St Andrews offer?  
The 'Home of Golf' has plenty of facilities to offer golfers, including a total of seven courses as part of its portfolio.

And from a full-length driving range, complete with TopTracer technology, to the Himalayas Putting Course, there’s no end of things to do before and after your round. Clubs, trolleys and caddies can all be sourced from close to the 18th green as well.
 

What are the green fees at St Andrews Links?
The price of a green fee at St Andrews Links changes throughout the year, depending on the season. It is also different depending on whether it is a weekday or weekend. 

 

For more information on current green fees at St Andrews Links, visit their website here. 

Visit the New Course's page on the St Andrews website here.
Go back to the NCG Top 100s Homepage.