The Home of Golf
St Andrews has been the spiritual centre of the game since at least the 15th century, and the Old Course is the most famous links on earth. It is owned by the town and run by the St Andrews Links Trust, which means it is genuinely public — locals tee off where champions have lifted the Claret Jug. The shared fairways, double greens, the Swilcan Bridge and the Road Hole are part of golf folklore, and the Royal & Ancient clubhouse looming behind the first tee gives every round a sense of occasion. There are seven public courses in total here, so the town is a pilgrimage as much as a golf trip.
When to go
The links season runs roughly April through October, with the long Scottish summer days letting you squeeze in late rounds well past 8pm in June and July. May, June and September tend to offer the best balance of daylight, firm turf and slightly calmer weather, while July and August are busiest and priciest. Winter golf is possible but the Old Course typically closes on Sundays year-round, and reduced daylight plus wind and rain make it a hardier proposition. Whatever the month, pack waterproofs and expect the wind to be the defining hazard.
Cost and who it is for
St Andrews suits the bucket-list golfer who wants to walk the most storied turf in the game and does not mind some planning. Old Course tee times are allocated by an advance ballot or single-day lottery, and many visitors secure access through a tour operator package or by playing the other links first. Old Course green fees run to several hundred pounds in peak season, while the New, Jubilee and Castle courses are far gentler on the wallet and superb in their own right. Budget for caddies, the town hotels, and a round or two beyond the Old Course to make the trip worthwhile.
What to pair it with
St Andrews anchors an outstanding east-coast Scotland itinerary. Kingsbarns sits a short drive south and is one of the finest modern links anywhere, while Carnoustie and the Angus courses are an easy hop north across the Tay. Many travellers combine St Andrews with a few days on the Ayrshire coast at Turnberry, or extend across the Irish Sea to the links of Northern Ireland. A week built around the Home of Golf can comfortably take in four or five world-class courses.