LMTT - Old Course Diff - Ginger Beer Golf Travel

Everything you need to know about the golfing challenge on the best courses in and around St Andrews

How TOUGH is St Andrews Old Course?

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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My Detailed Analysis

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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 are likely to post a score of -1

Ladies – 75.5
With a par of 76, scratch lady golfers 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 of 20) are likely to post a score of +23

Ladies – 108.0
With a par of 76, average lady golfers (with a handicap of 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 golfers (with a handicap 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 golfers (with a handicap 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 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.

Note: All measurements are taken from the regular tees for men and ladies

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.
Chris Toll, ginger beer golf travel

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 of 0

Bogey Rating™
Playing difficulty for bogey golfers; likely strokes taken

Bogey Golfer
Bogey male golfer has a handicap of 20, female 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
22	Gleneagles - PGA Centenary	137
25	St Andrews Links - Castle	137
20	Carnoustie - Championship	135
11	Crail - Craighead	135
19	St Andrews - Duke's	134
21	Trump International	133
3	Kingsbarns	132
5	Monifieth - Medal	131
2	Fairmont St Andrews - Kittocks	130
30	Lundin	130
7	Ladybank	129
8	Leven Links	129
37	St Andrews Links - Old	129
23	Gleneagles - King's	128
9	Panmure	128
27	St Andrews Links - Jubilee	127
1	Fairmont St Andrews - Torrance	125
26	St Andrews Links - New	125
24	Gleneagles - Queen's	124
4	Scotscraig	123
35	Carnoustie - Burnside	122
28	St Andrews Links - Eden	121
10	Crail - Balcomie	118
36	Carnoustie - Buddon	117
31	Elie - Golf House Club	117
12	Monifieth - Ashludie	107
29	St Andrews Links - Strathtyrum	101
6	Downfield	n/a
34	Dumbarnie Links	n/a

Regular Ladies’ Tees

ref #	Course	Slope Rating
20	Carnoustie - Championship	140
9	Panmure	138
37	St Andrews Links - Old	138
1	Fairmont St Andrews - Torrance	134
8	Leven Links	134
7	Ladybank	133
24	Gleneagles - Queen's	131
25	St Andrews Links - Castle	131
21	Trump International	131
31	Elie - Golf House Club	129
23	Gleneagles - King's	129
22	Gleneagles - PGA Centenary	128
26	St Andrews Links - New	128
2	Fairmont St Andrews - Kittocks	126
3	Kingsbarns	126
30	Lundin	126
5	Monifieth - Medal	126
35	Carnoustie - Burnside	124
27	St Andrews Links - Jubilee	121
10	Crail - Balcomie	120
11	Crail - Craighead	120
28	St Andrews Links - Eden	120
36	Carnoustie - Buddon	119
4	Scotscraig	118
19	St Andrews - Duke's	118
12	Monifieth - Ashludie	113
29	St Andrews Links - Strathtyrum	105
6	Downfield	n/a
34	Dumbarnie Links	n/a

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 mens tee difficulty versus length - graph

Regular Ladies’ Tees

Regular ladies tee difficulty versus length - graph

My Observations:

For men, the premium courses at Gleneagles PGA and Carnoustie Championship stand out as being not only the longest in the area but two of the most difficult too.
Fantastic challenges, both of them!
Notice how length doesn’t automatically equate with difficulty.
St Andrews Castle is as difficult as Gleneagles PGA even though it measures 322 yards less off yellows; that’s a couple of clubs less each hole!
Crail Craighead is 404 yards less than Carnoustie Championship with the same difficulty.
If you are a mixed group, taking data for both men and ladies tees together, Carnoustie Championship offers the best challenge in terms of overall length and difficulty.
Although St Andrews Old is one of the longest 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, then St Andrews Links Castle, Crail Craighead, Duke’s, Monifieth Medal, Fairmont Kittocks, Lundin, Ladybank and Leven all offer you a course with at least the same level of difficulty, but at a lower green fee (some 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.

For courses with above average length for men but below average difficulty look no further than the St Andrews Links New and Jubilee, along with Scotscraig and Elie.
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 Links Eden and Carnoustie Burnside should all be considered.
Special mention also to the 2 Crail courses too here; especially Balcomie which is around 1000 yards shorter than Old Course but still rates at a respectable 118 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 Links New and Jubilee, along with Monifieth Medal, Scotscraig, Fairmont Kittocks, Ladybank, Elie and Lundin.
For ladies, shorter courses that still have some teeth are Fairmont Torrance, Gleneagles King’s and Queen’s, St Andrews Links Castle, Trump International and Kingsbarns.
Special mention here to Panmure which ranks as high as Old Course for difficulty.

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 #	Course	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
22	Gleneagles - PGA Centenary	72	73.0	+1
6	Downfield	70	71.0	+1
23	Gleneagles - King's	70	71.0	+1
9	Panmure	70	71.0	+1
25	St Andrews Links - Castle	71	71.7	+1
26	St Andrews Links - New	71	71.6	+1
10	Crail - Balcomie	67	67.6	+1
11	Crail - Craighead	72	72.3	0
21	Trump International	72	72.3	0
5	Monifieth - Medal	71	71.3	0
35	Carnoustie - Burnside	68	68.3	0
2	Fairmont St Andrews - Kittocks	71	71.0	0
24	Gleneagles - Queen's	68	68.0	0
4	Scotscraig	71	70.9	0
36	Carnoustie - Buddon	68	67.7	0
37	St Andrews Links - Old	72	71.4	-1
7	Ladybank	71	70.4	-1
27	St Andrews Links - Jubilee	72	71.2	-1
30	Lundin	71	70.2	-1
3	Kingsbarns	72	71.1	-1
31	Elie - Golf House Club	70	69.0	-1
28	St Andrews Links - Eden	70	68.9	-1
1	Fairmont St Andrews - Torrance	72	69.2	-3
12	Monifieth - Ashludie	68	65.2	-3
29	St Andrews Links - Strathtyrum	69	63.4	-6
34	Dumbarnie Links	72	n/a	n/a

Regular Ladies’ Tees

ref #	Course	Par	Course Rating	Likely score to par
7	Ladybank	71	75.0	+4
20	Carnoustie - Championship	74	77.3	+3
25	St Andrews Links - Castle	71	73.0	+2
22	Gleneagles - PGA Centenary	72	74.0	+2
36	Carnoustie - Buddon	68	69.8	+2
31	Elie - Golf House Club	73	74.0	+1
6	Downfield	74	75.0	+1
2	Fairmont St Andrews - Kittocks	74	75.0	+1
12	Monifieth - Ashludie	69	69.9	+1
35	Carnoustie - Burnside	71	71.8	+1
8	Leven Links	73	73.8	+1
21	Trump International	72	72.6	+1
27	St Andrews Links - Jubilee	74	74.6	+1
9	Panmure	74	74.5	+1
26	St Andrews Links - New	75	75.4	0
23	Gleneagles - King's	71	71.0	0
1	Fairmont St Andrews - Torrance	74	73.8	0
19	St Andrews - Duke's	71	70.6	0
37	St Andrews Links - Old	76	75.5	-1
3	Kingsbarns	72	70.7	-1
29	St Andrews Links - Strathtyrum	68	66.6	-1
28	St Andrews Links - Eden	73	71.6	-1
10	Crail - Balcomie	72	70.4	-2
24	Gleneagles - Queen's	74	72.0	-2
11	Crail - Craighead	74	71.5	-3
4	Scotscraig	72	68.4	-4
5	Monifieth - Medal	73	69.4	-4
30	Lundin	73	67.7	-5
34	Dumbarnie Links	72	n/a	n/a

My Observations:

For expert golfers off yellows and reds, Carnoustie Championship offers the biggest challenge overall to shoot par or below. Followed by Gleneagles PGA.
Despite it being shorter than either Carnoustie Championship or Gleneagles PGA, scratch golfers are also unlikely to go under par at St Andrews Links Castle.
With their relatively modest green fees and high difficulty for expert golfers, Leven, Downfield, Panmure and Duke’s are recommended courses for scratch golfers seeking a great value golfing challenge.
St Andrews Old course offers a good opportunity to score under par for both expert men and ladies alike.
Off reds only, Ladybank offers a high degree of difficulty combined with great value.

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 #	Course	Par	Bogey Rating	Likely score to par
20	Carnoustie - Championship	70	98.7	+29
19	St Andrews - Duke's	71	97.6	+27
22	Gleneagles - PGA Centenary	72	98.5	+26
25	St Andrews Links - Castle	71	97.2	+26
11	Crail - Craighead	72	97.4	+25
8	Leven Links	70	95.4	+25
21	Trump International	72	97.0	+25
23	Gleneagles - King's	70	94.8	+25
9	Panmure	70	94.8	+25
5	Monifieth - Medal	71	95.6	+25
2	Fairmont St Andrews - Kittocks	71	95.2	+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
7	Ladybank	71	94.4	+23
30	Lundin	71	94.4	+23
24	Gleneagles - Queen's	68	91.0	+23
35	Carnoustie - Burnside	68	91.0	+23
27	St Andrews Links - Jubilee	72	94.8	+23
4	Scotscraig	71	93.8	+23
10	Crail - Balcomie	67	89.5	+23
36	Carnoustie - Buddon	68	89.4	+21
28	St Andrews Links - Eden	70	91.4	+21
31	Elie - Golf House Club	70	90.7	+21
1	Fairmont St Andrews - Torrance	72	92.4	+20
12	Monifieth - Ashludie	68	85.1	+17
29	St Andrews Links - Strathtyrum	69	82.2	+13
6	Downfield	70	n/a	n/a
34	Dumbarnie Links	72	n/a	n/a

Regular Ladies’ Tees

ref #	Course	Par	Bogey rating	Likely score to par
20	Carnoustie - Championship	74	110.3	+36
7	Ladybank	71	106.1	+35
9	Panmure	74	107.0	+33
25	St Andrews Links - Castle	71	103.9	+33
8	Leven Links	73	105.4	+32
22	Gleneagles - PGA Centenary	72	104.2	+32
37	St Andrews Links - Old	76	108.0	+32
21	Trump International	72	103.5	+31
31	Elie - Golf House Club	73	104.4	+31
1	Fairmont St Andrews - Torrance	74	105.4	+31
2	Fairmont St Andrews - Kittocks	74	104.7	+31
26	St Andrews Links - New	75	105.6	+31
23	Gleneagles - King's	71	101.4	+30
35	Carnoustie - Burnside	71	101.0	+30
36	Carnoustie - Buddon	68	97.9	+30
27	St Andrews Links - Jubilee	74	103.1	+29
24	Gleneagles - Queen's	74	102.9	+29
3	Kingsbarns	72	100.4	+28
12	Monifieth - Ashludie	69	96.6	+28
19	St Andrews - Duke's	71	98.4	+27
28	St Andrews Links - Eden	73	99.9	+27
10	Crail - Balcomie	72	98.7	+27
5	Monifieth - Medal	73	99.1	+26
11	Crail - Craighead	74	99.8	+26
30	Lundin	73	97.4	+24
4	Scotscraig	72	96.2	+24
29	St Andrews Links - Strathtyrum	68	91.4	+23
6	Downfield	74	n/a	n/a
34	Dumbarnie Links	72	n/a	n/a

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 Gleneagles PGA.
Despite St Andrews Links Castle being much shorter than Gleneagles PGA, bogey men and ladies are likely to go the same over par at Castle as PGA.
Just as for expert golfers, Panmure and Leven Links are two of the most challenging courses overall for average golfers. They are traditional links and averagely priced too.
Trump International, Gleneagles King’s and St Andrews Old are also high difficulty for the regular golfer, off both sets of tees.
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.

claire On April 1, 2020 / Golf Resources