The Duke's Course
Peter Thomson designed the Duke's Course in 1995, a heathland layout set on high ground above the town of St Andrews. A par 72 of about 7,512 yards, it became the eighth course of the St Andrews Links Trust in 2026, rebranded the Craigtoun, with the summer green fee cut to about 155 pounds.
Photo: The Craigtoun Course via Google.
The verdict
Five time Open champion Peter Thomson laid out the Duke's Course in 1995 on rising, wooded ground a couple of miles inland from St Andrews. It is a deliberate counterpoint to the famous links below, a parkland and heathland design with generous fairways, big greens and long views over the town and St Andrews Bay to the sea beyond.
In January 2026 the St Andrews Links Trust acquired the course from the Old Course Hotel and rebranded it the Craigtoun, its eighth course, cutting the headline summer green fee from about 220 pounds to roughly 155 pounds to bring it in line with the New and Jubilee courses. The result is a genuinely good inland test, far easier to book than the links in town, and an ideal warm up or wet weather alternative on a St Andrews trip. It plays a stout par 72 of about 7,512 yards from the back tees.
The Duke's Course, St Andrews at a glance
- Opened
- 1995
- Designer
- Peter Thomson
- Type
- Heathland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 7,512 yds
- Green fee
- From about 155 pounds
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the course and leading databases. Peter Thomson's Duke's Course opened in 1995, a par 72 of about 7,512 yards. In 2026 the St Andrews Links Trust took it over and rebranded it the Craigtoun, with an indicative summer green fee of about 155 pounds and lower shoulder season and resident rates (2026). Fees change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The Duke's is a big, muscular inland course that asks for length off the tee and a sure touch around large, contoured greens. Thomson routed it to use the elevation, so blind shots are few and the views are constant, with the spires of St Andrews and the North Sea filling the horizon on the higher holes.
The fairways are wide by championship standards, but the heather, gorse and deep bunkering punish the wayward, and the greens are quick and full of movement. The closing stretch climbs and falls across the ridge, demanding control of both line and distance into greens that shed a loose approach. It is a course best enjoyed in a buggy or with a caddie, given the walk.
As an inland complement to the links, the Duke's earns its place on any extended Fife itinerary. It is more forgiving off the tee than the Old Course yet a real test in wind, and now that it sits within the Links Trust, it is both better value and easier to pair with a round in town.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Resort and pay and play course, now operated by the St Andrews Links Trust; open to visitors |
| Green fee | From about 155 pounds in the high summer, with lower shoulder season rates and reduced Fife and Scotland resident fees (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Through the St Andrews Links Trust; easier to secure than the Old Course and well suited to a flexible day |
| On the day | Buggies and caddies available; the course is hilly and walks long |
| Getting there | Craigtoun, about a ten minute drive inland from the centre of St Andrews |
| Best months | May to September for the driest turf and the longest evenings; spring and autumn for value |
Green fees and access verified June 2026; the Craigtoun is operated by the St Andrews Links Trust and rates change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
St Andrews itself is the obvious base, a compact university town packed with hotels, guest houses, restaurants and the history of the game, all within a few minutes of the Duke's. From luxury at the Old Course Hotel and Fairmont to comfortable inns in the centre, there is lodging for every budget.
For a golf focused trip, St Andrews and the wider East Neuk of Fife hold a remarkable concentration of great courses, from the seven Links Trust courses in town to Kingsbarns, Crail and Dumbarnie along the coast. Base yourself in St Andrews and build a week around the links, with the Duke's as a relaxed inland round.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near The Duke's Course, St Andrews.
Build a St Andrews golf trip
We secure tee times across St Andrews and the East Neuk of Fife, pair the Duke's with the best of the links and book the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
The Duke's Course, St Andrews questions
Who designed the Duke's Course and when did it open?
The Duke's Course was designed by five time Open champion Peter Thomson and opened in 1995 on high ground above St Andrews. In 2026 it was rebranded the Craigtoun under the St Andrews Links Trust.
What is the par and length of the Duke's Course?
The Duke's Course is a par 72 that plays to about 7,512 yards from the back tees, an inland heathland and parkland test rather than a links.
How much does it cost to play the Duke's Course?
Under the St Andrews Links Trust the indicative high summer green fee is about 155 pounds in 2026, with lower shoulder season rates and reduced Fife and Scotland resident fees. Always confirm current rates before booking.
Is the Duke's Course a links?
No. The Duke's Course, now the Craigtoun, is an inland heathland and parkland course set above St Andrews, a deliberate contrast to the famous links by the sea.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.