Any golfer, regardless of ability or experience, can sample the unique atmosphere of playing golf in St Andrews. And a new one-stop booking service has been launched which makes booking a golfing holiday in St Andrews, venue for this year's Open Championship, even easier. Launched as part of a unique partnership between the town's golf course operators, a hotline - 01334-474799 - will allow golfers to book golf tee times on St Andrews golf courses without the need to contact each operator individually. While direct contact with each course is still welcomed, the new centralised service offers added convenience for those who want to play a range of golf on the town's 10 courses during their visit. The new booking service can also help in arranging accommodation at one of St Andrews many prestigious hotels and guest houses, which include two five-star golf resorts and spas - The Old Course Hotel and St Andrews Bay. With a total of 10 golf courses in the immediate vicinity - seven of which are championship class - St Andrews is a town steeped in six centuries of history. St Andrews is spoken about in reverential tones by all who have played on them and there is simply no better place in the world to spend a weekend or a week playing golf. But anyone who has been to St Andrews will also tell you that it is a town which has been blessed with a natural beauty and vibrant culture which makes it one of Scotland's top tourist destinations for visitors from around the world. As a charming, picturesque royal burgh which still has the medieval layout of its town centre intact and boasts miles of unspoilt sandy beaches, St Andrews is the perfect base from which to explore the wider Kingdom of Fife and the rest of Scotland. The town is surrounded by some of Scotland's most stunning countryside, which is easily accessible through a vast network of cycle routes and a stunning coastal path. St Andrews is not only home to one of the country's oldest and most prestigious universities, but it also provides an unparalleled range of golf stores, charming gift shops, restaurants and bars. Popular visitor attractions include the British Golf Museum, historic monuments - the Cathedral and Castle have their own visitor centres - the St Andrews Preservation Trust Museum and Kinburn Museum. The town also has its own award-winning theatre, arts centre and aquarium. In addition to the Old Course, which hosted this year's Open, St Andrews is home to famous championship class courses such as the New Course, Kingsbarns, Jubilee and Eden. The newer championship courses also proving popular include the Duke's, Devlin and Torrance. In addition, the town offers an intermediate course in the Strathtyrum and a beginners course in the Balgove. The Old Course, Par 72, 6,609 yards Looking down the 18th fairway from the famous Swilcan Bridge remains golf's most memorable and unique images and one guaranteed to set the pulse of any golfer racing. Standing there, you are part of the history of the oldest golf course in the world, where the game was played as long ago as 1400. Host to 27 Opens, this original links course continues to evolve and remains a real test of golf for today's champions as well as the many amateurs who play the course each year. Despite its reputation and status, it is a public course and welcomes any golfer with a handicap of 24 or under (36 for ladies). Limited tee times are bookable in advance, but most golf visitors play the course through the daily ballot (lottery) for tee times. The New Course, Par 71, 6,604 yards Almost 500 years passed before St Andrews built a second course. Situated next to the Old Course, the obvious name for it was the "New." Opened in April 1895, the New is a real star in the golf firmament, offering a classic links challenge that uses the natural features of the land to create a significant golfing experience. Ranked 98th in the Golf Digest list of all courses in the world outside the USA, the New Course is often referred to as St Andrews best kept secret. The layout was developed by Old Tom Morris, winner of four Open Championships and David Honeyman. Based on the traditional out and back routing, among its most famous features are its shared fairways and a double green at the third and 15th holes. The Jubilee, Par 72, 6,742 yards Based on a narrow strip of land between the New Course and the sea, the Jubilee Course was opened in 1897 to celebrate the Diamond jubilee of Queen Victoria's accession to the throne. The course has developed into one of the toughest golfing tests, at St Andrews. Extended from 12 to 18 holes in 1905 by David Honeyman, it was updated again by 1946 and then re-designed to championship standard by Donald Steel in 1989. The traditional out and back layout starts and finishes at the Links Clubhouse. A main feature is the raised tees, which provide exceptional views of the links and expose golfers to the major test provided by the winds which sweep in from the bay. The Eden, Par 70, 6,195 yards Opened in 1914 and named after the estuary which it borders, The Eden was the fourth course to be built in St Andrews and can be more forgiving than the three links courses lying on the seaward side. Since 1919, it has played host to the Eden Tournament, one of Britain's oldest amateur golfing events. Every year, in the second week of August, over 250 golfers play for the Eden Trophy. Designed by internationally renowned course designer Harry S Colt, the course uses existing features and a partially buried field boundary wall to give a natural feel. Alterations were completed in 1989 under the direction of course architect Donald Steel and in 2000 a new clubhouse was built. The Torrance (St Andrews Bay), Par 72, 7,037 yards The Torrance has been designed using the principles of links golf with an infusion of new styles. The natural contours of the land and the dramatic coastal setting are combined with a unique blend of dwarf rye grass and the expertise of winning Ryder Cup captain Sam Torrance. The course begins by immediately testing the golfer with challenging bunkers, undulating fairways and greens, and the occasional meandering stream making precision and club selection paramount. As the course advances, it works its way around the imposing structure of the hotel before bursting open to reveal a cross section of the remaining 12 holes down towards the cliff edge and, all the while, framed by the powerful canvas of the St Andrews skyline. Kingsbarns, Par 72, 7,126 yards While its golf origins date back to 1793 the the multi award-winning Kingsbarns Golf Links only opened in the summer of 2000. It immediately established itself as one of the world's must-play links courses - debuting at 46th on Golf Magazine's Top 100 worldwide list. Since 2001, Kingsbarns has co-hosted the annual European Tour's elite Dunhill Links Championship along with the old Course and Carnoustie. Kingsbarns has become a favourite destination for first-time and returning international and UK golf visitors to St Andrews. If there is one course you must play in St Andrews, take my advice, it's this one. It is a magical, magnificent and worth playing for the signature 12th hole alone. This reputation is based on a combination of playability, dramatic seaside location, classic links turf and staff dedicated to personal service. Designed by Kyle Phillips and Mark Parsinen, every hole on this championship standard course offers inspiring views of the North Sea. The Duke's Course, Par 71, 7,100 yards The Duke's course is owned by the Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa. Opened by Prince Andrew in 1995 and awarded championship status in its first year, the Duke's Course was the first inland course to be constructed at St Andrews and complements the local links courses. Designed by five-times Open Champion Peter Thomson, this heathland course is characterised by rolling fairways, beautifully sculpted holes and design styles which exploit the natural features of its stunning setting. While the course, mature beyond its years, provides a versatile and stern challenge, its forward tees mean it can be enjoyed by golfers of all abilities. Both the course and its luxurious clubhouse offer majestic, panoramic views over St Andrews and the coastline to Carnoustie. The Devlin (St Andrews Bay), Par 72, 7,400 yards Devlin's experience and expertise have provided a course with innovative and exciting character. This gem begins by innocently easing the golfer into a false sense of security, offering wide, well-manicured fairways that wind around water features and risky bunkers, teasing the golfer with a mix of par fours and fives. Then it's onto a roller-coaster-style ride, up, over and around the rugged wilderness of Kittock's Den. These ridge holes open up to the panorama of the white water crashing onto the rocky shoreline below and over the body of the North Sea to the Grampian mountains which dominate the horizon. The Strathtyrum, Par 69, 5,620 yards Opened in July 1993, the Strathtyrum Course was designed by Donald Steel to provide an enjoyable experience that would complement the tougher championship layouts. With two loops of nine, starting and finishing at the Eden Clubhouse, there is a links-like feel to the layout without some of the tougher consequences. Although relatively bunker-free by St Andrews standards, the 15 that do feature are cunningly placed. Combined with the moundings around the sloping, small greens, they place an emphasis on iron play accuracy. Prevailing westerly winds add to the challenge and make the course play much longer than its published yardage. The Balgove, Par 30, 1,520 yards The Balgove is a nine hole course primarily for children and beginners. Originally opened in February 1972, it was remodelled in June 1993. Bunkers and a double green are just some of the features that offer a great golfing experience that has proved popular with both children and adults. There are three-day tickets available on some of St Andrews Links courses and green fees differ widely and you are advised to check what the availability and price on the website of by ringing the one-stop booking service on the number listed below. | 
Golfing Destinations
