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

Last Updated: June 29, 2023

Reading Time: 9 minutes

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.

Now look at my detailed analysis of the data

…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

Below are charts ranking each course in the St Andrews area by overall playing difficulty along with analysis for scratch golfers and bogey golfers
Data is provided for 2 tee positions – regular men’s tees and regular ladies’ tees
For simplicity, it assumes men play off yellow tees and ladies off reds. Where a course has no yellow/red tees, the equivalent visitor regular tee is used

Explanation of terms used

Course Rating™
Playing difficulty for scratch golfers; likely strokes taken
Scratch Golfer
Scratch golfer has a handicap index of 0
Bogey Rating™
Playing difficulty for bogey golfers; likely strokes taken
Bogey Golfer
Male bogey golfer has a handicap index of around 20; female around 24
Slope Rating®
Relative playing difficulty for bogey v scratch golfers
Minimum slope = 55, maximum = 155, average = 113
The higher the slope the more difficult the course for bogey golfers
Terms trademarked by USGA (www.usga.org)
Full explanation of terms here

Overall course difficulty

Overall course difficulty is measured by Slope Rating which, simply put, shows how much harder the course plays for bogey (regular) golfers rather than scratch golfers.
Courses are ranked by Slope Rating.

Regular Men’s Tees

ref#	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

ref #	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

This graph shows how courses compare based on their difficulty and their length.
Difficulty is measured by Slope Rating.

Regular Men’s Tees

Regular Ladies’ Tees

My observations:

For men, Carnoustie Championship, Trump International, Kingsbarns, St Andrews Castle and Gleneagles PGA stand out as being the most difficult of the premium courses. Fantastic challenges, all of them!
Notice how length doesn’t automatically equate with difficulty. St Andrews Castle is more difficult than Carnoustie Championship even though it measures 213 yards less off yellows; that’s around one club less each hole!
For a St Andrews alternative with the same difficulty and length as Carnoustie, try Duke’s Course.
If you are a mixed group, taking data for both men and ladies tees together, Carnoustie Championship offers the strongest challenge in terms of overall difficulty. Then Lundin, St Andrews Castle, St Andrews Old, Panmure and Ladybank.
Although St Andrews Old is one of the longer courses in the area, for men it is by no means the most difficult.
If you are unable to get a time on the Old Course and seek a great value alternative, then St Andrews Castle, Duke’s, Ladybank, Monifieth Medal, Lundin, Crail Craighead, Leven Links and Downfield are courses with at least the same level of difficulty, but at a lower green fee (often less than half the cost of the Old).
The newer premium courses like Dumbarnie, Trump International and Kingsbarns all offer multiple tee boxes so you can decide the most appropriate tee for your handicap to derive maximum pleasure from your round. Similarly with Crail, which has gone to ability based rather than gender defined tees.

For courses with above average length for men but below average difficulty look no further than Dumbarnie Links, St Andrews New and Jubilee, along with Scotscraig.
Or, for courses that are shorter and therefore an easier walk, but by no means a walk-over, then Lundin, Panmure, Fairmont Torrance, Gleneagles King’s and Queen’s, St Andrews Eden and Carnoustie Burnside should all be considered.
Special mention also to the 2 Crail courses here; especially Balcomie which is around 1000 yards shorter than Old Course but still rates at a respectable 119 for slope.
For ladies, Carnoustie Championship and St Andrews Old Course stand out as being not only the longest in the area but the most difficult too. If you can’t play the Old Course, Carnoustie will be as much of a treat.
For courses with above average length for ladies but below average difficulty look at St Andrews New and Jubilee, along with Monifieth Medal, Scotscraig, Fairmont Kittocks, Ladybank, Elie and St Andrews Eden.
For ladies, shorter courses that still have teeth are Lundin and Panmure in particular, also all Gleneagles courses, St Andrews Castle, Trump International, Dumbarnie Links, Kingsbarns, Duke’s and Crail Balcomie.
For the high handicap player, St Andrews Strathtyrum is ideal for both men and ladies. Monifieth Ashludie also, for men.

Difficulty for Scratch Golfers

Course difficulty for scratch golfers is measured by Course Rating.
Courses are ranked by the likely score to par for a scratch golfer, measured by Course Rating minus par for the course.

Regular Men’s Tees

ref #	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

ref #	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:

For expert golfers off yellows and reds as a whole, Carnoustie Championship and Ladybank offer the biggest challenge overall to shoot par or below. Followed by St Andrews Castle.
With their relatively modest green fees and high difficulty for expert golfers, Leven, Downfield, Panmure, Monifieth Medal and Duke’s are recommended courses for scratch golfers seeking a great value golfing challenge.
St Andrews Old offers a good opportunity to score under par for both expert men and ladies alike. Likewise for two other premium courses – Kingsbarns and Dumbarnie Links.
For men in particular, after Carnoustie, Duke’s is especially challenging for expert golfers.
In addition to Carnoustie, Ladybank and St Andrews Castle, expert ladies should find Scotscraig and Monifieth Medal particularly challenging.

Difficulty for Bogey Golfers

Course difficulty for bogey golfers is measured by Bogey Rating.
Courses are ranked by likely score to par for a bogey golfer, measured by Bogey Rating minus par for the course.

Regular Men’s Tees

ref #	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

ref #	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

My observations:

For bogey (or regular) golfers off both yellows and reds, Carnoustie Championship again offers the biggest challenge overall to shoot par or below. Followed again by Ladybank and St Andrews Castle.
Just as for expert golfers, Panmure, Leven Links and Monifieth Medal are some of the most challenging courses overall for average golfers over both tee boxes. They are traditional links and reasonably priced too. Downfield, though not a links course gets a mention here as well.
Again, taking both sets of tees together, of the premium courses, Trump International and St Andrews Old are a relatively high difficulty for the regular golfer.
Off yellows only, Duke’s offers a particularly high degree of difficulty for the bogey golfer combined with great value. Whilst off reds only, Ladybank once again provides a strong challenge.

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