How tough is St Andrews Old Course?
Everything you need to know about the golfing challenge on the best courses in and around St Andrews
How does the old course compare with Carnoustie, Kingsbarns and other courses in the St Andrews area?
find out the Overall course difficulty rankings and PREDICTED SCORES for scratch & AVERAGE golfers
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Answering the questions I am asked most by my clients
How tough is St Andrews Old Course to play?
St Andrews Old Course has a Slope Rating of:
Men – 129
Ladies – 138
How difficult is St Andrews Old Course for a good (scratch) player?
St Andrews Old Course has a Course Rating of:
Men – 71.4
With a par of 72, scratch golfers (with a handicap index of 0) are likely to post a score of -1
Ladies – 75.5
With a par of 76, scratch lady golfers (with a handicap index of 0) are likely to post a score of between par and -1
How hard is St Andrews Old Course for an average (bogey) player?
The Old Course has a Bogey Rating of:
Men – 95.4
With a par of 72, average golfers (with a handicap index of around 20) are likely to post a score of +23
Ladies – 108.0
With a par of 76, average lady golfers (with a handicap index of around 24) are likely to post a score of +32
How does St Andrews Old Course compare with Carnoustie and Kingsbarns?
For men, Carnoustie Championship course and Kingsbarns are both more difficult overall than St Andrews Old Course.
Men – Carnoustie has a Slope Rating of 135, Kingsbarns 132 and the Old Course 129
For ladies, Carnoustie Championship course is more difficult than St Andrews Old Course. Kingsbarns is much easier than both.
Ladies – Carnoustie has a Slope Rating of 140, the Old Course 138 and Kingsbarns 126
Is the Old Course as challenging as Carnoustie and Kingsbarns for a good (scratch) player?
Carnoustie Championship course is much more challenging than the Old Course and Kingsbarns for a good player, regardless of gender.
Men – Carnoustie has a Course Rating of 73.6, St Andrews Old Course 71.4 and Kingsbarns 71.1
Scratch golfers are likely to post a score of +4 at Carnoustie (par 70) , whilst at St Andrews Old (par 72) and Kingsbarns (par 72) it’s likely to be -1
Ladies – Carnoustie has a Course Rating of 77.3, St Andrews Old Course 75.5 and Kingsbarns 70.7
Scratch golfers are likely to post a score of +3 at Carnoustie (par 74), whilst at St Andrews Old (par 76) and Kingsbarns (par 72) it’s likely to be -1
How demanding is the Old Course for an average player compared with Carnoustie and Kingsbarns?
Carnoustie Championship course is a much more difficult challenge than St Andrews Old Course and Kingsbarns for an average player, regardless of gender.
Men – Carnoustie has a Bogey Rating of 98.7, Kingsbarns 95.6 and St Andrews Old Course 95.4
Average male golfers (with a handicap index of 20) are likely to post a score of +29 at Carnoustie, whilst at Kingsbarns it’s +24 and St Andrews Old it’s likely to be +23
Ladies – Carnoustie has a Bogey Rating of 110.3, St Andrews Old Course 108.0 and Kingsbarns 100.4.
Average female golfers (with a handicap index of 24) are likely to post a score of +36 at Carnoustie, +32 at St Andrews Old whilst at Kingsbarns it’s likely to be +28
How tough is St Andrews Old Course with compared other courses in the area?
Compared with 30 of the best tracks in the area, St Andrews Old Course overall is of average difficulty for men, but one of the hardest for ladies.
For both good (scratch) male and female players, and average (bogey) men it’s of average difficulty compared with courses in the area, whilst for average (bogey) lady golfers it’s harder than the average.
But overall it’s Carnoustie Championship that’s the toughest of all the courses.
Regardless of golfer ability and gender, it consistently ranks first or thereabouts for difficulty compared with all the other courses in the area.
…where I compare 30 of the best courses in the St Andrews area, including St Andrews Old Course, Carnoustie & Kingsbarns. With tables and charts to show how tough they are to play and what a good (scratch) and average (bogey) golfer might expect to score on each course.
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Analysis of the data
Overview
Explanation of terms used
Overall course difficulty
Regular Men’s Tees
Course | Slope Rating | |
---|---|---|
25 | St Andrews Links - Castle | 137 |
20 | Carnoustie - Championship | 135 |
19 | St Andrews - Duke's | 134 |
21 | Trump International | 133 |
3 | Kingsbarns | 132 |
7 | Ladybank | 131 |
22 | Gleneagles - PGA Centenary | 131 |
5 | Monifieth - Medal | 130 |
30 | Lundin | 130 |
11 | Crail - Craighead | 130 |
8 | Leven Links | 129 |
6 | Downfield | 129 |
37 | St Andrews Links - Old | 129 |
34 | Dumbarnie Links | 128 |
9 | Panmure | 128 |
2 | Fairmont St Andrews - Kittocks | 128 |
23 | Gleneagles - King's | 128 |
27 | St Andrews Links - Jubilee | 127 |
1 | Fairmont St Andrews - Torrance | 126 |
26 | St Andrews Links - New | 125 |
4 | Scotscraig | 123 |
35 | Carnoustie - Burnside | 122 |
31 | Elie - Golf House Club | 121 |
28 | St Andrews Links - Eden | 121 |
10 | Crail - Balcomie | 119 |
24 | Gleneagles - Queen's | 118 |
36 | Carnoustie - Buddon | 117 |
12 | Monifieth - Ashludie | 110 |
29 | St Andrews Links - Strathtyrum | 101 |
Regular Ladies’ Tees
Course | Slope Rating | |
---|---|---|
20 | Carnoustie - Championship | 140 |
30 | Lundin | 140 |
9 | Panmure | 138 |
37 | St Andrews Links - Old | 138 |
6 | Downfield | 135 |
5 | Monifieth - Medal | 134 |
8 | Leven Links | 134 |
7 | Ladybank | 134 |
24 | Gleneagles - Queen's | 132 |
25 | St Andrews Links - Castle | 131 |
21 | Trump International | 131 |
2 | Fairmont St Andrews - Kittocks | 130 |
31 | Elie - Golf House Club | 130 |
26 | St Andrews Links - New | 128 |
27 | St Andrews Links - Jubilee | 128 |
34 | Dumbarnie Links | 127 |
3 | Kingsbarns | 126 |
19 | St Andrews - Duke's | 125 |
10 | Crail - Balcomie | 125 |
1 | Fairmont St Andrews - Torrance | 124 |
35 | Carnoustie - Burnside | 124 |
22 | Gleneagles - PGA Centenary | 124 |
11 | Crail - Craighead | 124 |
4 | Scotscraig | 123 |
23 | Gleneagles - King's | 122 |
12 | Monifieth - Ashludie | 120 |
28 | St Andrews Links - Eden | 120 |
36 | Carnoustie - Buddon | 119 |
29 | St Andrews Links - Strathtyrum | 105 |
Overall course difficulty v length
Regular Men’s Tees

Regular Ladies’ Tees

My observations:
Difficulty for Scratch Golfers
Regular Men’s Tees
Regular Men's Tees | Par | Course Rating | Likely score to par | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20 | Carnoustie - Championship | 70 | 73.6 | +4 |
19 | St Andrews - Duke's | 71 | 72.7 | +2 |
8 | Leven Links | 70 | 71.4 | +1 |
7 | Ladybank | 71 | 72.2 | +1 |
9 | Panmure | 70 | 71.0 | +1 |
23 | Gleneagles - King's | 70 | 71.0 | +1 |
25 | St Andrews Links - Castle | 71 | 71.7 | +1 |
6 | Downfield | 70 | 70.6 | +1 |
26 | St Andrews Links - New | 71 | 71.6 | +1 |
10 | Crail - Balcomie | 67 | 67.5 | +1 |
5 | Monifieth - Medal | 71 | 71.4 | 0 |
31 | Elie - Golf House Club | 69 | 69.3 | 0 |
35 | Carnoustie - Burnside | 68 | 68.3 | 0 |
21 | Trump International | 72 | 72.3 | 0 |
22 | Gleneagles - PGA Centenary | 72 | 72.2 | 0 |
2 | Fairmont St Andrews - Kittocks | 71 | 71.1 | 0 |
24 | Gleneagles - Queen's | 68 | 68.0 | 0 |
4 | Scotscraig | 71 | 70.8 | 0 |
36 | Carnoustie - Buddon | 68 | 67.7 | 0 |
37 | St Andrews Links - Old | 72 | 71.4 | -1 |
27 | St Andrews Links - Jubilee | 72 | 71.2 | -1 |
30 | Lundin | 71 | 70.2 | -1 |
3 | Kingsbarns | 72 | 71.1 | -1 |
34 | Dumbarnie Links | 72 | 71.0 | -1 |
28 | St Andrews Links - Eden | 70 | 68.9 | -1 |
11 | Crail - Craighead | 72 | 70.8 | -1 |
1 | Fairmont St Andrews - Torrance | 72 | 69.6 | -2 |
12 | Monifieth - Ashludie | 68 | 65.2 | -3 |
29 | St Andrews Links - Strathtyrum | 69 | 63.4 | -6 |
Regular Ladies’ Tees
Regular Ladies' Tees | Par | Course Rating | Likely score to par | |
---|---|---|---|---|
7 | Ladybank | 71 | 76.0 | +5 |
20 | Carnoustie - Championship | 74 | 77.3 | +3 |
25 | St Andrews Links - Castle | 71 | 73.0 | +2 |
36 | Carnoustie - Buddon | 68 | 69.8 | +2 |
4 | Scotscraig | 72 | 73.6 | +2 |
5 | Monifieth - Medal | 73 | 74.5 | +2 |
6 | Downfield | 74 | 75.3 | +1 |
31 | Elie - Golf House Club | 73 | 73.9 | +1 |
8 | Leven Links | 73 | 73.8 | +1 |
35 | Carnoustie - Burnside | 71 | 71.8 | +1 |
30 | Lundin | 73 | 73.7 | +1 |
27 | St Andrews Links - Jubilee | 74 | 74.6 | +1 |
21 | Trump International | 72 | 72.6 | +1 |
9 | Panmure | 74 | 74.5 | +1 |
26 | St Andrews Links - New | 75 | 75.4 | 0 |
19 | St Andrews - Duke's | 71 | 71.2 | 0 |
1 | Fairmont St Andrews - Torrance | 72 | 71.9 | 0 |
22 | Gleneagles - PGA Centenary | 72 | 71.7 | 0 |
23 | Gleneagles - King's | 71 | 70.6 | 0 |
37 | St Andrews Links - Old | 76 | 75.5 | -1 |
2 | Fairmont St Andrews - Kittocks | 74 | 73.4 | -1 |
12 | Monifieth - Ashludie | 69 | 68.3 | -1 |
3 | Kingsbarns | 72 | 70.7 | -1 |
34 | Dumbarnie Links | 72 | 70.6 | -1 |
28 | St Andrews Links - Eden | 73 | 71.6 | -1 |
29 | St Andrews Links - Strathtyrum | 68 | 66.6 | -1 |
24 | Gleneagles - Queen's | 74 | 72.1 | -2 |
10 | Crail - Balcomie | 72 | 69.9 | -2 |
11 | Crail - Craighead | 74 | 71.8 | -2 |
My observations:
Difficulty for Bogey Golfers
Regular Men’s Tees
Regular Men's Tees | Par | Bogey Rating | Likely score to par | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20 | Carnoustie - Championship | 70 | 98.7 | +29 |
19 | St Andrews - Duke's | 71 | 97.6 | +27 |
25 | St Andrews Links - Castle | 71 | 97.2 | +26 |
7 | Ladybank | 71 | 96.5 | +26 |
8 | Leven Links | 70 | 95.4 | +25 |
21 | Trump International | 72 | 97.0 | +25 |
9 | Panmure | 70 | 94.8 | +25 |
23 | Gleneagles - King's | 70 | 94.8 | +25 |
6 | Downfield | 70 | 94.6 | +25 |
5 | Monifieth - Medal | 71 | 95.6 | +25 |
22 | Gleneagles - PGA Centenary | 72 | 96.5 | +25 |
2 | Fairmont St Andrews - Kittocks | 71 | 94.9 | +24 |
26 | St Andrews Links - New | 71 | 94.8 | +24 |
3 | Kingsbarns | 72 | 95.6 | +24 |
37 | St Andrews Links - Old | 72 | 95.4 | +23 |
30 | Lundin | 71 | 94.4 | +23 |
11 | Crail - Craighead | 72 | 95.0 | +23 |
35 | Carnoustie - Burnside | 68 | 91.0 | +23 |
27 | St Andrews Links - Jubilee | 72 | 94.8 | +23 |
34 | Dumbarnie Links | 72 | 94.8 | +23 |
31 | Elie - Golf House Club | 69 | 91.8 | +23 |
4 | Scotscraig | 71 | 93.7 | +23 |
10 | Crail - Balcomie | 67 | 89.6 | +23 |
24 | Gleneagles - Queen's | 68 | 89.9 | +22 |
36 | Carnoustie - Buddon | 68 | 89.4 | +21 |
28 | St Andrews Links - Eden | 70 | 91.4 | +21 |
1 | Fairmont St Andrews - Torrance | 72 | 93.0 | +21 |
12 | Monifieth - Ashludie | 68 | 85.6 | +18 |
29 | St Andrews Links - Strathtyrum | 69 | 82.2 | +13 |
Regular Ladies’ Tees
Regular Ladies' Tees | Par | Bogey rating | Likely score to par | |
---|---|---|---|---|
7 | Ladybank | 71 | 107.6 | +37 |
20 | Carnoustie - Championship | 74 | 110.3 | +36 |
30 | Lundin | 73 | 106.7 | +34 |
6 | Downfield | 74 | 107.1 | +33 |
5 | Monifieth - Medal | 73 | 106.1 | +33 |
9 | Panmure | 74 | 107.0 | +33 |
25 | St Andrews Links - Castle | 71 | 103.9 | +33 |
8 | Leven Links | 73 | 105.4 | +32 |
37 | St Andrews Links - Old | 76 | 108.0 | +32 |
31 | Elie - Golf House Club | 73 | 104.6 | +32 |
21 | Trump International | 72 | 103.5 | +31 |
27 | St Andrews Links - Jubilee | 74 | 104.8 | +31 |
4 | Scotscraig | 72 | 102.6 | +31 |
26 | St Andrews Links - New | 75 | 105.6 | +31 |
2 | Fairmont St Andrews - Kittocks | 74 | 104.1 | +30 |
35 | Carnoustie - Burnside | 71 | 101.0 | +30 |
36 | Carnoustie - Buddon | 68 | 97.9 | +30 |
19 | St Andrews - Duke's | 71 | 100.7 | +30 |
24 | Gleneagles - Queen's | 74 | 103.2 | +29 |
1 | Fairmont St Andrews - Torrance | 72 | 101.1 | +29 |
22 | Gleneagles - PGA Centenary | 72 | 100.9 | +29 |
34 | Dumbarnie Links | 72 | 100.6 | +29 |
3 | Kingsbarns | 72 | 100.4 | +28 |
23 | Gleneagles - King's | 71 | 99.4 | +28 |
12 | Monifieth - Ashludie | 69 | 96.6 | +28 |
10 | Crail - Balcomie | 72 | 99.4 | +27 |
11 | Crail - Craighead | 74 | 101.0 | +27 |
28 | St Andrews Links - Eden | 73 | 99.9 | +27 |
29 | St Andrews Links - Strathtyrum | 68 | 91.4 | +23 |