ST ANDREWS : a destination to suit all handicaps & budgets
St Andrews, the ‘Home of Golf’ and where golf has been played since the 1400’s.
When you visit St Andrews you are surrounded by the finest collection of courses available for public play.
St Andrews Links Trust – an Overview
St Andrews Links Trust, manager and custodian of 8 courses and 135 holes of golf, can boast of overseeing the largest public golf complex in Europe with its jewel in the crown, the Old Course, being possibly the most famous public course in the world.
Over 230,000 rounds of golf are played annually on the 8 courses.
Golf for everyone
Despite its world class reputation St Andrews is ideal for golfing families, groups of mixed handicaps & abilities as well as absolute beginners.
With the exception of the Old Course, all of the St Andrews Links courses are at least half price for under 16s.
With the exception of the Old Course, none of the St Andrews Links courses require a minimum handicap.
As well as its seven 18 hole courses St Andrews also has a 9 hole course – The Balgove – aimed at juniors, high handicaps and beginners.
St Andrews has a Golf Academy delivering instruction for golfers of all ages and abilities.
St Andrews Links courses
While the Old Course is the best known, the Links Trust manage a further 7 courses in and around St Andrews:
All the links courses have their own distinct character and suit a wide range of abilities, handicaps and budgets. The Links Trust provide a detailed overview of each course as well as a ‘Handicap Calculator’:
If you would like more insight into how each compares to the Old Course as well as others in the area then take a read of ‘How tough is St Andrews Old Course?‘. Where I compare 30 of the best courses in the St Andrews area, including the 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.
If the Old Course is a ‘must play’ for your trip, then pre-planning and study is required. A guaranteed tee time, the Old Course Ballot or playing as a single golfer – I have you covered. Check out my extensive golfer resources, using unique research data and providing you with everything you need for a successful golf trip:
Planning a trip to St Andrews?
If you would like my help and advice then please get in touch:
New to playing Links Golf? Take a look at Insights into playing Scottish links golf – a different game.
What serious (or even not so serious) golfer doesn’t dream of playing on a Scottish links – true links – where golf has been played for centuries and where the vagaries of wind and rain can embellish the challenge of hitting a small hard ball along grass covered ancient dunes until it falls into a 4 ¼ inch hole?
St Andrews Links green fees (2026)
| Season | Old | Castle | New | Jubilee | Eden | Craigtoun | Strathtyrum | Balgove |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low 1 Nov to 31 Mar | £128 | £90 | £75 | £75 | £38 | £80 (£60) | £28 | £8 |
| Shoulder 1 to 20 April | £240 | £125 | £105 | £105 | £55 | £110 (£80) | £40 | £8 |
| High 21 April to 18 Oct | £355 | £190 | £155 | £155 | £80 | £155 (£115) | £60 | £15 |
| Shoulder 19 to 31 Oct | £250 | £135 | £110 | £110 | £55 | £110 (£80) | £40 | £8 |
Note:
– With the exception of the Old Course, all of the St Andrews Links courses are at least half price for under 16s.
– Craigtoun offers 9 holes in the high season, prices are noted in brackets.
– Exact season dates may differ between courses and fairway mats may be in use during the low season.
Details for each course can be checked here:
Offers and packages: making the most of your visit to St Andrews (2026)
St Andrews Links Trust champions both the golf courses and its home town. It encourages play on all the courses by offering a number of packages and offers as well as rewarding visiting golfers for staying locally with added bonuses such as food vouchers for their clubhouses.
Note:
– All offers are subject to availability.
– Unless otherwise stated, offers exclude the Old Course.
– Please check St Andrews Links ‘Offers & Packages’ for detailed, up to date information on any of these offers and packages.
– Before applying for these offers please be sure to check St Andrews Links ‘Busy Dates’ to ensure the courses you wish to play are open and available to play.
– Prices are per person (adult) and in pounds sterling (£). Check for Junior discounts.
LINKS 54 HOLE PACKAGE
The offer
Available:
– High Season (20th April to 18th October)
– Purchase at least seven days in advance
The courses:
– Castle, Jubilee & Eden
Cost:
– £395
The highlights:
– Available for two or more golfers.
– Play 3 rounds of golf over any 3 days in 7
Also included:
– £25 F&B credit for each golfer
– 2 x 60 golf balls at Golf Academy
Sample savings
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Castle | £190 |
| Jubilee | £155 |
| Eden | £80 |
| Cost of golf: | £425 |
| + F&B | £25 |
| + Range Balls (x 2) | £16.50 |
| Cost: * Total Saving: | £466.50 £71.50 |
* Savings are per person based on comparison to purchasing tee times individually for each course
Why this is a good deal
This offer is perfect for those who like to get ahead and do as much planning as possible ahead of arrival.
It can be booked well in advance so if you are planning around balloting for the Old Course it provides you with great back ups on days you are unsuccessful. The Links Trust will try to be flexible to accommodate ballot success (within the 7 days of the offer)
Craigtoun Course Nine & Drive
The offer
Available:
– High Season (20th April to 18th October)
The course:
– Craigtoun
Cost:
– from £115
The highlights:
– 9 holes on the Craigtoun course after 4pm
– Complimentary buggy
Sample savings
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Craigtoun (9 holes) | £115 |
| Cost of golf: | £115 |
| + Buggy | £42.5 |
| Total Saving: | £42.50 |
Why this is a good deal
Perfect for those who want ‘more’ after a morning of play but not a full round or anyone who has just arrived in to town and can’t fit in 18 holes.
Group packages – for 8+ golfers
The Castle & Jubilee / Craigtoun Courses
The offer
Available:
– High Season (20th April to 31st September)
The courses:
– Castle OR Jubilee / Craigtoun
Cost:
– £170 (Castle)
– £145 (Jubilee / Craigtoun)
The highlights:
– Available for minimum of 8 golfers
Also included:
– £25 F&B credit for each golfer
(At the Rock & Spindle for Castle course OR Tom Morris Bar & Grill for Jubilee course OR The Craigtoun Restaurant for Craigtoun course)
Sample savings
| Item | Castle | Jubilee or Craigtoun |
|---|---|---|
| Golf | £190 | £155 |
| F&B | £25 | £25 |
| Cost: * Total Saving: | £215 £45 | £180 £35 |
* Savings are per person based on comparison to purchasing tee times individually for each course
Why this is a good deal
If you are travelling in groups of 8+ then pre-planning is a necessity.
If you are playing either of these top courses then taking up this offer is a given.
Other highlights
Golf for beginners and high handicaps
While the Old Course is the only one of the 8 courses to require a handicap *, if you are a high handicapper, a beginner or just want to play a relaxing round, there is almost certainly a course that is ideally suited to your needs.
* Note that the Old Course maximum handicap is now 36 for both Men and Ladies.
The Balgove Course, at nine holes, is perfect for the beginner and competitively prices at just £8 to £15 (£3 to £5 for the under 16s), depending on season.
Next door is the Strathtyrum course (a full 18 holes), while designed to be less challenging than the other courses you will still experience the magic of being on a St Andrews Links course. As you play it you’ll see the championship courses stretching just beyond you.
Scotland has its more than its fair share of some of the the best major championship courses around – the “Big Boys” – and for those with the right level of skill and handicap are a joy to play. However, several of these titans of Scottish golf, as well as St Andrews, also have delightful “Little Brothers” – shorter, less-demanding courses that treat you to a round of genuine Scottish links golf. Check out my ‘Golf for Beginners & High Handicaps’.
Golf Academy and practice centre
The Golf Academy offers the visiting golfer somewhere to practise their game in both indoor and outdoor bays as well as a short game area.
For those wishing to improve their game, take advantage of tuition from PGA professional. There is something to suit all golfing abilities – whether you want to improve your swing, learn how to adapt your game for play on the links courses or you are an absolute beginner.
The Clubhouses
St Andrews Links Trust has 3 clubhouses:
Primarily aimed at providing a full range of facilities for visiting golfers, the Clubhouses are also open to their friends and families.
The Himalayas
With The Himalayas, everyone gets a chance to ‘play 18 holes at St Andrews’.
The Himalayas putting green beside the Old Course is the oldest miniature golf course in the world.
Conceived by members of the Royal and Ancient back in 1867, it was originally built for the Ladies Putting Club (who still to this day have an active membership and use it for their competitions) as it was deemed: …unacceptable for women to publicly perform such violent movements that a golf swing requires.
Do not be fooled, it’s not just for experienced golfers, it is excellent for all standards and all generations. You get a putter and ball at the starter’s hut and kids can get a club with a cut-down shaft.
