The Castle Course Golf Club

The brief was to create a seventh course for the St Andrews Links Trust, adding to the likes of the Old Course, New and Jubilee. The site was on top of the cliffs to the east of the Auld Grey Toun and the designer was David McLay Kidd. The result is the Castle Course, which opened three years ago and has been turning heads ever since. Given the land and the location, McLay Kidd quickly decided this was not to be another links. Instead, a piece of fairly featureless pasture – lead shaper Mick McShane decribed it as a “hillside of rotten rock” – was transformed into one of the most exciting and distinctive courses you are ever likely to see. Expect a series of challenging holes that demand you to engage with them. This is thoughtful golf, which will reward those who pick their lines and club selection carefully. One recurring theme is there is always more fairway available than you can see from the tee.  Another is that this by no means target golf – the idea is that the ball will release on landing and that you must play for the contours. Take on pins that are tucked away and if you do not pull off the shot perfectly, you will probably see your ball trickle off into a hollow or bunker. Play conservatively and you should be able to leave yourself a long putt – albeit one likely to involve considerable slope and borrow. First timers are advised to hire a caddie to help with lines off the tee and on approaches. The Castle was designed to be fun – and it is certainly that. So leave the pencil in your bag and enjoy the challenge, as well as the fine views of St Andrews, the sea and, on a clear day, Angus on the other side of the water.

Expect a series of challenging holes that demand you to engage with them. This is thoughtful golf, which will reward those who pick their lines and club selection carefully.

Top Holes by Dan Murphy, editor:

6th 421 yards, par 4 The tee shot is great fun – blast downhill to a generous fairway – then survey a green that seems to pour into the sea. There is a little leeway but watch out if the pin is at the back. 7th 456 yards, par 4 A long par 4 – but doesn’t always play like one. The safe line is out to the right, but this leaves a longer shot in and a less enticing angle. From the left side having taken on the fairway bunker, you can use the contours to your advantage with a running approach. 9th 381 yards, par 4 Driveable in the right conditions, this par 4 plays downhill to a green shared with the 18th. It is a right-to-left dogleg and the further left you go the more you bring the cliffs into play.

Staff writer Will Spence's Top Holes:

4th 540 yards, par 5 This is a genuine three-shotter as a burn cuts across the fairway 80 yards short of the green. But the reason this hole really stands out is the three-tier green that resembles a miniature mountain range. 6th 421 yards, par 4 A semi-blind tee shot must be sent down the left side of the fairway as everything kicks right. For your approach the green seems to disappear into the sea and you will be rewarded with some fantastic views of the town below. This is certainly one of the most picturesque holes on the course. 17th 184 yards, par 3 The undisputable signature hole of the Castle Course, this short hole is played over the cliffs and requires a carry of 165 yards for your ball to reach terra firma. There is a bail-out to the left, with anything that hits the left side of the green filtering down towards the pin.