Old Course at St Andrews

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Old Course
Brand-protection-Old-Course-course-logo.png
Swilken Bridge, Old Course geograph-6310525-by-Gordon-Hatton.jpg
The Old Course's Swilcan Bridge, 2019
Club information
Fife UK relief location map.jpg
Icona golf.svg
Location in Fife, Scotland
Scotland relief location map.jpg
Icona golf.svg
Location in Scotland
Coordinates 56°20′35″N2°48′11″W / 56.343°N 2.803°W / 56.343; -2.803
Location St Andrews, Scotland
Established1552 (472 years ago)
TypePublic
Owned by Fife Council [1]
Operated bySt Andrews Links Trust
Total holes18
Events hosted The Open Championship, Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, St Andrews Links Trophy
Website Old Course
Par 72
Length7,305 yards (6,680 m)
Course record61; Ross Fisher (2017)
61; Tyrrell Hatton (2024)

The Old Course at St Andrews, also known as the Old Lady or the Grand Old Lady, [2] [3] [4] is considered the oldest golf course [5] [6] in the world. It is a public course over common land in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland and is held in trust by the St Andrews Links Trust under an act of Parliament. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews clubhouse sits adjacent to the first tee, although it is but one of many clubs (St Andrews Golf Club, The New Golf Club, St Regulus Ladies Golf Club and The St Rule Club are the others with clubhouses) that have playing privileges on the course, along with some other non-clubhouse owning golf clubs and the general public. Originally known as the "golfing grounds" of St Andrews, it was not until the New Course was opened in 1895 that it became known as the Old Course. [7]

Contents

History

The Old Course at St Andrews is considered by many to be the "home of golf" because the sport was first played on the links at St Andrews in the early 15th century. [8] Golf was becoming increasingly popular in Scotland until James II of Scotland banned the game in 1457 because he felt that young men were playing too much golf instead of practising their archery. [9] The ban was upheld by James III, and remained in force until 1502, when James IV became a golfer himself and removed the ban. [10]

Governance

In 1552, Archbishop John Hamilton gave the townspeople of St Andrews the right to play on the links. In 1754, 22 noblemen, professors, and landowners founded the Society of St Andrews Golfers. This society would eventually become the precursor to The R&A which is the governing body for golf everywhere outside of the United States and Mexico. [11] St Andrews Links had a scare when they went bankrupt in 1797. [11] The Town Council of St Andrews decided to allow rabbit farming on the golf course to challenge golf for popularity. Twenty years of legal battling between the golfers and rabbit farmers ended in 1821 when a local landowner and golfer named James Cheape of Strathtyrum bought the land and is credited with saving the links for golf. [8]

The course evolved without the help of any one architect for many years, though notable contributions to its design were made by Daw Anderson in the 1850s and Old Tom Morris (1865–1908), who designed the 1st and 18th holes. Originally, it was played over the same set of fairways out and back to the same holes. As interest in the game increased, groups of golfers would often be playing the same hole, but going in different directions. [8]

Influence on modern golf

Plan of the Golfing course over the links of St Andrews surveyed by order of the Royal St Andrews Golfing Society TomMorrisesFeature-RHP414(Whole) (1).jpg
Plan of the Golfing course over the links of St Andrews surveyed by order of the Royal St Andrews Golfing Society

The Old Course was pivotal to the development of how the game is played today. For instance, in 1764, the course had 22 holes and the members would play the same hole going out and in with the exception of the 11th and 22nd holes. William St Clair of Roslin as the captain of The Captain and Gentlemen Golfers authorized changes to St Andrews on 4 October 1764. [12] He decided that the first four and last four holes on the course were too short and should be combined into four total holes (two in and two out). St Andrews then had 18 holes and that was how the standard of 18 holes was created. [13] Around 1863, Old Tom Morris had the 1st green separated from the 17th green, producing the current 18-hole layout with 7 double greens and 4 single greens. The Old Course is home of The Open Championship, the oldest of golf's major championships. The Old Course has hosted this major 30 times since 1873, most recently in 2022. The 30 Open Championships that the Old Course has hosted is more than any other course, and The Open is currently played there every five years.

Old Course and Bobby Jones

Bobby Jones (who later founded Augusta National) first played St Andrews in the 1921 Open Championship. During the third round, he infamously hit his ball into a bunker on the 11th hole. After he took four swings at the ball and still could not get out, he lost his temper and continued the round, but did not turn in his score card, disqualifying himself. However, he did continue to play in the fourth round. Six years later, when the Open Championship returned to St Andrews, Jones also returned. Not only did he win, he also became the first amateur to win back-to-back Open Championships. He won wire-to-wire, shooting a 285 (7-under-par), which was the lowest score at either a U.S. Open or Open Championship at the time. He ended up winning the tournament by a decisive six strokes.

In 1930, Jones returned to St Andrews for the British Amateur. [14] He won, beating Roger Wethered by a score of 7 and 6 in the final match. He subsequently won the other three majors, making him the only man in the history of the sport to win the Grand Slam. Jones went on to fall in love with the Old Course for the rest of his life. Years later, he said "If I had to select one course upon which to play the match of my life, I should have selected the Old Course." In 1958 the town of St Andrews gave Jones the key to the city; he was only the second American to receive the honour (after Benjamin Franklin in 1759). After he received the key, he said "I could take out of my life everything but my experiences here in St Andrews and I would still have had a rich and full life." [15]

Features and hazards

ESPN has said of the course, "No other golf course has as many famous landmarks as St. Andrews, its 112 bunkers and endless hills and hollows have been cursed for centuries, and many have their own names and legends." [16] In 1949, the last bunker to be filled in on the course was Hull bunker on the 15th fairway. [17]

Hole(s)Name of hazard or featureType of hazard or featureNotesImage
(Click to expand)
All holes on the courseDirection of playUntil the 19th century, the Old Course was played in a clockwise direction. Old Tom Morris separated the 1st and 17th greens around 1870. From then, the course was played in an anti-clockwise direction on alternate weeks in order to let the grass recover better. [18] The general method of play now is anti-clockwise, although clockwise play has been permitted on one day each year in recent years. The course is closed on Sundays to let the course rest. [19] [20] On some Sundays, the course turns into a park for all the townspeople who come out to stroll, picnic and otherwise enjoy the grounds.
FlagsThe first (front) nine holes of the course have white flags, while the back nine holes (except the 18th hole) have red flags.
The 18th green has a white flag so that it can be seen in front of the red Hamilton Grand building. [21]
The Old Course 7th (white) & 17th (red) flags.png
7th hole (white flag)
17th hole (red flag)
1 and 18The Swilcan Burn Water hazard (Watercourse)This waterway flows from St Andrews into St Andrews Bay across the Old Course Swilken Burn (St Andrews)-geograph-5530286-by-Tim-Glover.jpg
The Swilcan Burn
Swilcan Bridge Footbridge This is a small stone bridge spanning the Swilcan Burn.
The bridge is about 30 feet (9.1 m) long, 8 feet (2.4 m) wide and 6 feet (1.8 m) tall.
Originally built at least 700 years ago to help shepherds get livestock across the Swilcan Burn.
Swilken Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 999441.jpg
The Swilcan Bridge
Grannie Clark's Wynd Footpath A one lane paved public road. [22]
It was once used to haul boats from the town centre down to the West Sands Beach. [22]
Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th hole on the Old Course @ St Andrews-geograph-5515245-by-Scott-Cormie.jpg
Grannie Clark's Wynd
BunkersThe 1st and 18th holes do not have any bunkers. [23] [17] However, until about 1840 a large bunker called Halket's bunker was in the middle of the fairway, which was then filled in. [17] Old Course St Andrews The 18th Fairway - geograph.org.uk - 361966.jpg
The 1st and 18th holes
1, 9, 17
and 18
GreensThe 1st, 9th, 17th and 18th holes have their own greens. All other holes have shared greens. [24]
2 and 17Cheape's bunker Bunker This bunker is named after Sir James Cheape who bought the golf course from rabbit farmers in 1821. [25]

A later generation of the family sold the golf course onto The Royal and Ancient in 1892, who a year later sold it onto the town of St Andrews. [25]

3Cartgate bunkerBunkerA large bunker protecting the third green. [26] St.Andrews Old Course, 3rd Hole, Cartgate out (geograph 5515114).jpg
4Students' bunkerBunkerThree small bunkers about 50 yards short of the green allegedly once popular with students wanting to seduce ladies. [27] St.Andrews Old Course, 4th Hole, Ginger Beer (geograph 5515121).jpg
5The Spectacles bunkersBunkersTwo bunkers positioned either side of the approach to the 5th green. [28] St.Andrews Old Course, 5th Hole, Hole O'Cross out (geograph 5515132).jpg
Seven SistersBunkersThe Seven Sisters bunkers were excavated after the 1905 Open by removing the whins. [17]
5 and 14The Elysian Fields Fairway The fairway between the Beardies bunkers and out of bounds. [26]
6Nick's bunkerBunker [29]
Bunkers, 6th hole, St Andrews Old Course - geograph.org.uk - 2405160.jpg
The 6th bunker
7 and 11Cockleshell bunkerBunkerA large bunker between the 7th and 11th holes. [30] [31]
7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12The LoopA group of 6 holesSix crisscrossing holes at the far end of the course. [16]
8Short Hole bunkerBunker [32] St.Andrews Old Course, 8th Hole, Short (geograph 5515152).jpg
9Boase's bunkerBunkersDeep pot bunkers [33] St.Andrews Old Course, 9th Hole, End (geograph 5515157).jpg
End hole bunkerBunkersDeep pot bunkers [33]
10Kruger bunkersBunkersBuilt during the Second Boer War when the British were fighting in the Transvaal Republic, whose president was Paul Kruger.
The bunkers are called Mrs Kruger and Kruger's mistress. [34]
St.Andrews Old Course, 10th Hole, Bobby Jones (geograph 5515162).jpg
11Hill bunkerBunker [35] [20] [31] St.Andrews Old Course, 11th Hole, High in (geograph 5515168).jpg
Strath bunkerBunkerStrath bunker is located in the front of the green. [36] [31]
Eden bunkerBunker [31]
Shelly bunkerBunker [31]
12Stroke bunkerBunkerIt is said that once a ball goes in it, the golfer loses at least one stroke. [37] St.Andrews Old Course, 12th Hole, Heathery in (geograph 5515174).jpg
Admiral's bunkerBunkerLegend has it that an Admiral who fell into it after taking too long a look at a young American woman in a red mini-skirt and white shoes. [38]
13Walkinshaw bunkerBunkerLegend has it that it was named after a local golfer who kept going into it. [39] St.Andrews Old Course, 13th Hole, Hole O'Cross in (geograph 5515181).jpg
Lions Mouth bunkerBunker [26]
Coffin bunkersBunkerA group of three bunkers located in the centre of the 13th fairway. The shape gives the bunkers their name. [40]
14The Beardies bunkers4 bunkersFour small bunkers that are said to be difficult to mow, hence the name. [41]
Kitchen bunkerBunkerA small pot bunker originally shaped like a coffin. [42]
Benty bunkerBunker [42]
Hell bunkerBunker Golf Monthly said that it is "one of the world's most notorious golfing hazards". It covers an area of 300 square yards (250 m2) and between 7 feet (2.1 m) and 10 feet (3.0 m) deep. [43] [41] Hell Bunker, 14th hole, Old Course, St.Andrews-geograph-5178864-by-Scott-Cormie.jpg
Hell bunker
Grave bunkerBunker [42]
Pulpit bunkerBunkerA pot bunker just above Hell bunker. Golf Monthly said it is so named because "you can look down into Hell (bunker)". [43]
15Miss Grainger's Bosoms2 Mounds Two prominent mounds on the 15th hole, named for prominent local 19th-century golfer Agnes Grainger. [16] She used to be a member of the St Andrews Ladies’ Putting Club. [44] St.Andrews Old Course, 15th Hole, Cartgate in (geograph 5515199).jpg
Cottage bunkerBunkerRefers to Pilmour Cottage, which is now Pilmour House and the Eden Clubhouse. [35]
Rob's bunkersBunkers [26]
Sutherland bunkerBunkerIn 1869 a tiny bunker about 260 yards behind the much bigger Cottage bunker was filled in only to reappear three days later. The golfer thought to be responsible for restoring it was one AG Sutherland. While it was ultimately determined that Sutherland wasn't the culprit, he had the bunker named after him anyway.
16Principal's Nose bunkers4 bunkersLegend has it that the bunkers are either named for Mr Haldane, a 19th-century head of St Mary's College who reportedly had a prominent nose, or are a reference to the front porch of Sir Hugh Playfair's South Street House, which was nicknamed thus. [45] St.Andrews Old Course, 16th Hole, Corner of the Dyke-geograph-5515205-by-Scott-Cormie.jpg
Principal's Nose bunkers
Deacon Sime bunkerBunkerAbout 30 yards beyond the Principal's Nose cluster. [32]
Grant's bunkerBunker [32]
Wig bunkerBunker [32]
17
(The Road Hole)
The old railway sheds (part of the Old Course Hotel)Previously railway sheds. [46] [21] 17th Hole, Old Course. The Old Course Hotel, St Andtrews2406188 9637bbe7 (cropped).jpg
Old railway sheds
The Road (Hole) Bunker
(a.k.a. the Sands of Nakajima) [47] [48]
Bunker The Herald has called the bunker "The most notorious golf hazard in the world." [48] [21] Road hole bunker.jpg
Road Hole bunker
Scholar's bunkerBunker [35]
The Old Station Road
and stone wall
(out of bounds)
Single-track road [49] [21] The Road - geograph.org.uk - 1441857.jpg
Old Station Road & wall
18Valley of Sin Depression This is an 8 feet (2.4 m) deep depression along the front before the 18th putting green. [50] The 18th (Tom Morris) Hole on the Old Course (St Andrews).jpg

The Open Championship

The Open has been staged at the Old Course at St Andrews 30 times. The following is a list of the champions:

YearWinnerScoreNotes
R1R2R3R4Total
1873 Flag of Scotland.svg Tom Kidd 9188179This was the first time the Open Championship was played on an 18-hole course. Instead of three rounds of 12 holes, there were two rounds of 18. Kidd won £11.
1876 Flag of Scotland.svg Bob Martin 1st8690176Due to a controversial ruling, Bob Martin finished in a tie for first. In protest, his opponent Davie Strath refused to participate so Martin walked the course and became the Open Champion. He won £10.
1879 Flag of Scotland.svg Jamie Anderson 3rd8485169With this win, Jamie Anderson became the first person to break 170 in the Open Championship. He won £10.
1882 Flag of Scotland.svg Bob Ferguson 3rd8388171This was the third straight Open Championship for Ferguson. He won £12.
1885 Flag of Scotland.svg Bob Martin 2nd8487171The second of Martin's Open Championship wins, he won £10.
1888 Flag of Scotland.svg Jack Burns 8685171Burns won after his score was re-added, giving him a one-stroke victory. The winner's share was £8.
1891 Flag of Scotland.svg Hugh Kirkaldy 8383166Kirkaldy set the tournament record with his 166. This was also the last Open Championship that was 36 holes. The winner's share was £10.
1895 Flag of England.svg J.H. Taylor 2nd86788078322This was the first Open to be played over two days (36 holes a day) and a total of 72 holes at St Andrews. He shot the first sub-80 rounds at St Andrews. The winner's share was £30.
1900 Flag of England.svg J.H. Taylor 3rd79777875309This open marked the first time the "Great Triumvirate" finished 1-2-3. That was the name given to the three golfers who dominated the game in the late 19th century to the early 20th century. From 1894 to 1914, J.H. Taylor, Harry Vardon, and James Braid combined to win 16 Open Championships. This was Taylor's third of five Open Championships. The winner's share was £50.
1905 Flag of Scotland.svg James Braid 2nd81787881318This was the first Open to be played over three days, with 36 holes on the last day. This was Braid's second of five Open Championships. The winner's share was £50.
1910 Flag of Scotland.svg James Braid 5th76737476299This Open was the last of Braid's five Open Championships. With this win he became the first person to break 300 in a four-round Open at St Andrews, and was the first to win five Open Championships. The winner's share was £50.
1921 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Jock Hutchison
Flag of Scotland.svg
72757970296POBorn in Scotland, Hutchison was the first American citizen to win the Open Championship with this win. This was also the first time Bobby Jones played St Andrews. He ended up walking off the course after he took four shots to get out of a bunker on the 11th hole. The winner's share was £75.
1927 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bobby Jones (a) 2nd68727372285 (−7)This win marked Bobby Jones's first Open championship win at St Andrews, his second straight Open Championship, fourth professional major, and his 7th career major (he was a three-time winner of the U.S. Amateur). As an amateur, Jones received no prize money. Aubrey Boomer and Fred Robson finished in a tie for second, and the winner's and second place share of £75 for first place and £50 for second place were combined and divided into two, so each player earned 62 pounds and 10 shillings.
1933 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Denny Shute 73737373292 (0) POShute won the Open title by five strokes in a playoff against Craig Wood. Leo Diegel could have joined them but he whiffed a putt on the 72nd hole, finishing one shot off the lead. The winner's share was £100.
1939 Flag of England.svg Dick Burton 70727771290 (−2)The 1939 Open was the last Open until 1946 because of World War II. The Royal Air Force used the fairways of the Old Course as runways. Burton held the Claret Jug the longest (7 years), until the tournament resumed in 1946, also at St Andrews. The winner's share was £100.
1946 Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Sam Snead 71707475290 (−2)Even though Sam Snead won the first Open Championship to be played since 1939, he still lost money because of the high travel expenses; his winner's share was £150. When taking the train into St Andrews, Sam Snead is quoted for looking out of the window and saying "Say, that looks like an old abandoned golf course" about the Old Course.
1955 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Peter Thomson 2nd71687072281 (−7)This was the second of Thomson's three straight Open titles, and five overall. His winner's share was £1,000.
1957 Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Bobby Locke 4th69726870279 (−9)Between 1949 and 1957, Locke won the Open title four times. He survived a possible disqualification when he marked his ball on the 72nd green, and played his ball without replacing his ball mark. The R&A decided that because he had a three shot lead, and he didn't gain an advantage, that in the spirit of the game, he should not be disqualified. The winner's share was £1,000.
1960 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Kel Nagle 69677171278 (−10)This was the 100th anniversary of the Open Championship, although due to wars it wasn't the 100th Open Championship to be played. Arnold Palmer finished second and is credited with returning the Open to the eyes of Americans. The winner's share was £1,250.
1964 Flag of the United States.svg Tony Lema 73686870279 (−9)From 1962 to 1966, Lema won 12 times on tour, but this was his only major. He beat Jack Nicklaus by five strokes, and his winner's share was £1,500.
1970 Flag of the United States.svg Jack Nicklaus 2nd68697373283 (−5)PODoug Sanders missed a tough two and a half-foot (0.75 m) putt on the 72nd hole, bogeyed, and ended up tied with Nicklaus. The playoff the next day came down to 18th hole and Nicklaus birdied to win; it was his second Open title and eighth overall major; the winner's share was £5,250.
1978 Flag of the United States.svg Jack Nicklaus 3rd71726969281 (−7)Nicklaus completed the career Grand Slam (winning all four majors in your career at least once) for the third time making it his third Open Championship. The winner's share was £12,500
1984 Flag of Spain.svg Seve Ballesteros 2nd69687069276 (−12)Ballesteros birdied the 72nd hole to win by two. His winner's share was £50,000.
1990 Flag of England.svg Nick Faldo 2nd67656771270 (−18)Faldo set the Open championship scoring record shooting 18 under par, winning his second major of the year, his second Open Championship and his fourth overall major. The winner's share was £85,000.
1995 Flag of the United States.svg John Daly 67717371282 (−6)PODaly defeated Costantino Rocca in a four-hole playoff to win the Open title and £125,000. It was the final Open Championship appearance of Arnold Palmer, and the first for Tiger Woods.
2000 Flag of the United States.svg Tiger Woods 1st67666769269 (−19)Winning the 2000 Open was Tiger Woods's second consecutive major championship, making him the fifth golfer and the youngest to complete the career Grand Slam. Having won the 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, he went on to complete the "Tiger Slam" by winning the 2000 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club and the 2001 Masters at Augusta National. Woods did not hit a single bunker the entire tournament, won by eight strokes, and set the new Open Championship scoring record with 19 under par. The winner's share was £500,000.
2005 Flag of the United States.svg Tiger Woods 2nd66677170274 (−14)Woods' won his 10th major championship; it was the fourth he had won by five or more strokes. It was Jack Nicklaus's last Open Championship. The winner's share was £720,000.
2010 Flag of South Africa.svg Louis Oosthuizen 65676971272 (−16)On the 150th anniversary of the first Open Championship, Oosthuizen played consistently well, winning the Open title by shooting a 16 under par 272 and winning by seven strokes. Rory McIlroy shot a 63 in the opening round and the winner's share was £850,000.
2015 Flag of the United States.svg Zach Johnson 66717066273 (−15)POIn the 144th playing of the Open Championship, Zach Johnson emerged from a three-man playoff to win the tournament. Tom Watson was given a special exemption by the R & A in order that he could finish his Open career at the Old Course. The tournament finished on Monday due to the extremely high winds that arose during Saturday's round. Johnson defeated Louis Oosthuizen and Marc Leishman in a four-hole playoff. The winner's share was £1,150,000.
2022 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Cameron Smith 67647364268 (−20)In the 150th playing of the Open Championship, with a final round 64, Smith came from four strokes behind third-round leaders Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland to win by one from Cameron Young. Smith's winning score of 268 (20 under par) set a new record for the lowest aggregate over the Old Course in the Open, and tied the championship to-par record, set by Henrik Stenson at Troon in 2016. The winner's share was £2,100,000. [51]

Scorecard

HoleNameYardsParHoleNameYardsPar
1Burn376410Bobby Jones3864
2Dyke453411High (In)1743
3Cartgate (Out)397412Heathery (In)3484
4Ginger Beer480413Hole O'Cross (In)4654
5Hole O'Cross (Out)568514Long6185
6Heathery (Out)412415Cartgate (In)4554
7High (Out)371416Corner of the Dyke4234
8Short175317Road4954
9End352418Tom Morris3574
Out3,58436In3,72136
Source: [6] Total7,30572
Old Course [52]
Tee Rating/Slope 123456789Out101112131415161718InTotal
ParMen/Women44/544/55443436/384344/55444/5436/3872/76
SI Men/Women10/126/1416/88/6212/10414/1818/1615/137/1731119/513/95/717/15
BlackM: 73.1 / 132376411370419514374359166347333634017431641853041438145535733856721
BlueM: 71.4 / 129355395337411514360349154289316431116430438852339134543636132236387
GreenM: 69.9 / 125
W: 75.5 / 138
339375321401454325335145261295629615030437748736932542634230766032

Women's British Open

Winners of the Women's British Open at the Old Course at St Andrews:

YearWinnerScore
2007 Flag of Mexico.svg Lorena Ochoa 287 (−5)
2013 Flag of the United States.svg Stacy Lewis 280 (−8)
2024 Flag of New Zealand.svg Lydia Ko 281 (−7)

Senior Open Championship

Winners of the Senior Open Championship at the Old Course at St Andrews:

YearWinnerScore
2018 Flag of Spain.svg Miguel Ángel Jiménez 276 (−12)

Structures overlooking the Old Course

The following notable structures overlooking the Old Course in a clockwork direction from the north:

See also

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Musselburgh Links, The Old Golf Course in Musselburgh, East Lothian, Scotland, is generally accepted as being one of the oldest golf courses in the world. The course is not to be confused with The Royal Musselburgh Golf Club or the Levenhall Links.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bellerive Country Club</span> Luxury country club

Bellerive Country Club is a golf country club in the central United States, located in Town and Country, Missouri, a suburb west of St. Louis. With the Old Warson, Westwood, and St. Louis country clubs, it is considered one of the "big four" old-line elite St. Louis clubs. The course has hosted three major championships: the U.S. Open in 1965, and the PGA Championship in 1992 and 2018.

National Golf Links of America is a prestigious links-style golf course in Southampton, New York, located on Long Island between Shinnecock Hills Golf Club and Peconic Bay. Though the course is noted for hosting the initial Walker Cup in 1922, which the United States won 8 and 4, it has never hosted a major men's championship. The Walker Cup was again held at the National in 2013. The private club has been called "America's snootiest golf course" due to its exclusive nature.

The 1933 Open Championship was the 68th Open Championship, held 5–8 July at the Old Course in St Andrews, Scotland. Denny Shute defeated fellow American Craig Wood by five strokes in a 36-hole Saturday playoff to win his only Open title, the first of his three major championships. The Ryder Cup was held in late June at Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club in North West England, and the members of the American team played in the championship, similar to four years later in 1937.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingsbarns Golf Links</span>

Kingsbarns Golf Links is a seaside Scottish links golf course along 1.8 miles of shoreline near St Andrews, Scotland. It opened in 2000 and has been rated as one of the best courses in Scotland. It has also been ranked as one of the top 100 courses in the world, and received numerous media and industry awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Andrews Golf Club</span> Private golf club in Scotland

St Andrews Golf Club, originally known as St Andrews Mechanics Golf Club, is a private members' golf club located in St Andrews, Scotland. The club is one of the oldest golf clubs in the world, having been established in 1843.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The New Golf Club</span>

The New Golf Club is an exclusive golf club in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland. It is one of the three senior men's clubs in St Andrews, along with The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and the St Andrews Golf Club. The club was founded in 1902. The club does not own a golf course of its own, and consequently members play on the seven public links courses at the St Andrews Links including the Old Course.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Andrews Ladies' Putting Club</span>

St Andrews Ladies’ Putting Club, originally known as the St Andrews Ladies Golf Club when it was first established in 1867 for female golf players to use, now the club is also known as the Ladies’ Putting Club of St Andrews, or simply the Putting Club. The club is still a ladies only golf club based in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland. It is generally known to visitors as The Himalayas putting course, which is where the club's members and visitors play, and is thought to be the first minigolf course ever made. The Himalayas name comes about from the peaks and troughs on the course. It has both 9 and 18-hole courses, and is open to men, women and children visitors alike for a nominal fee. The club is the world’s oldest ladies’ golf club.

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