Spoilt for Choice
- Alice Watson
- May 21
- 5 min read
Imagine living in a town with 7 golf courses located within a mile of your front door.
That’s the reality for residents of St Andrews in Fife on the east coast of Scotland - a county and country better known as the Kingdom of Golf.
And these aren’t private courses, hidden behind gilded gates and out of reach for mere golfing mortals.
They’re public courses open to all.
In the top spot is the historic Old Course, which tees off in front of the grand R&A clubhouse and enables players to walk in the footsteps of their golfing idols.
Sitting adjacent to it is the New Course, which was designed by Old Tom Morris and neighbours the acclaimed Jubilee Course.
This triad is complemented by the Eden, which boasts a tremendous front nine, the Strathtyrum which is the perfect transition course for those learning the game, and the Balgove which is the only 9-hole circuit and is equally enjoyable to play.
The newest kid on the block is the Castle course, which opened for business in 2008 and sits on rugged coastal clifftops within a mile of the town. With panoramic views of the sea from almost every hole, it is no surprise that it’s described as a “scenic showstopper” [1].
Those lucky enough to call St Andrews home have access to all 7 courses at an astonishingly modest price thanks to the equivalent of Willy Wonka’s Golden Ticket - a Links Ticket which grants golfers the right to play on any of the courses year round for a small fee.
In 2025/26, the annual cost for a 7-day full Links Ticket is £386.
You read that correctly.
That’s cheaper than the green fee to play once on the esteemed fairways of Pebble Beach in California, another “cathedral of golf” in Rory McIlroy's words [2]. $675 or approximately £500 for those wondering… [3].
It’s also just a touch over the £340 green fee to play the Old Course as a visitor.
Crucially, the Links Ticket upholds a centuries-old right for town dwellers to access the publicly-owned courses which lie on common ground.
The courses and ticket system are managed by the St Andrews Links Trust, a charitable organisation established in 1974 to maintain the sacred turf and attendant facilities on behalf of the people of St Andrews and visitors from around the world.
All profits are therefore reinvested to help protect and preserve the Home of Golf.
Although currently responsible for 7 golf courses, their portfolio could be about to expand with reports of advanced talks to acquire the Duke’s - an 18-hole heathland course on the edge of the town which is currently under the management of the Old Course Hotel Golf Resort & Spa, owned by the American Kohler Company.
Neil Coulson, Chief Executive of the Links Trust, commented [4]:
“This would be an exciting opportunity to expand the range of exceptional golfing experiences we offer. The addition of The Duke’s Course to our portfolio would increase tee time availability for our ticket holders and visitors while continuing to uphold the traditions and excellence synonymous with St Andrews. We have a strong and long-standing relationship with the Old Course Hotel Golf Resort & Spa as our close neighbours in St Andrews and as positive talks continue, we hope to be able to announce more details soon”.
The Duke’s would add to and complement the Trust’s existing offering. Lush fairways, mature trees, dense heather, and thick gorse provide an alternative style and test of golf to the sandy, wind-blown links and it boasts panoramic views of the Auld Grey Toon, surrounding countryside, and sea beyond.
Watch this space.
If you’re enrolled at the world-class University of St Andrews, you similarly gain access to a Links Ticket. The full monty is currently available for £371, but it was only £180 when I was an undergraduate.
For any student who wishes to swap their textbooks for their clubs, this has to be one of the best academic prospects in the world.
A chance to study in the spiritual cradle of golf.
And if that wasn’t enough, the Links Ticket also grants major discounts at the neighbouring Kingsbarns Course, a firm fixture in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. Situated only 7 miles outside of St Andrews, Kingsbarns is one of the UK’s top golf courses and provides sweeping sea views from its pristine, undulating fairways.
A usual green fee of £448 in the summer months drops to £120 for ticket holders [5], which again reinforces the value and benefits of what can firmly be described as the Golden Ticket in Golf.
But visitors, too, are welcomed in St Andrews.
You can roll up and pay and play on the majority of the courses, except the Old which requires a more complex ballot system, for between £15 (on the Balgove) and £180 (on the Castle) in high season.
There are also special offers, such as the 54-hole package which offers two or more golfers a round on the Castle, Jubilee, and Eden courses, plus free range balls and a £25 food and drink voucher, all for £380 for adults and £210 for juniors [6]. Ideal if you're thinking of a holiday in Scotland.
Additionally, you might have heard about the Links Trust's newly launched initiative called 'The Drive'. The scheme is offering discounted green frees to multiple groups, including Scottish golf club members, women, and disabled players, on specific dates between May and October. All you have to do is submit a ballot entry for the days applicable to you. It's positioned as a key part of the Trust's widening access strategy and it certainly seems a positive step towards growing and diversifying participation in the sport [7].
Being open to the public ultimately gives everyone the chance to emulate their heroes and feel a sense of history as they tee off on the ancient links.
It’s the equivalent of playing cricket at Lord’s or football at Wembley - hallowed grounds which are off limits unless you’re a top professional.
St Andrews is different - a reality reinforced when the Old Course closes to golfers on Sundays and transforms into a public park for relaxed picnics and dog walks.
This is a town where it’s not unusual to see passersby walking the pavements whilst carrying their golf clubs. You can bump into people buying their groceries in Tesco with a half set slung over their shoulder, about to head out for a quick nine before the sun sets.
Golf is part of the fabric of St Andrews. It’s written into street names and passageways, and is writ large in the high number of golf shops in such a small vicinity.
It’s a special place and a magical experience not to be missed.
