Golf in St Andrews and Fife
The home of golf and the kingdom around it, where the Old Course shares a single town with six other links, Kingsbarns and Dumbarnie set the modern standard down the coast, and the old clubs of the East Neuk reward anyone who looks past St Andrews. The courses that matter, the regions, the seasons and how to plan it.
Photograph: The St Andrews Golf Club, Scott Taylor, via Google
Why golf in St Andrews and Fife
No square mile in golf carries the weight of St Andrews. The game has been played on the linksland here for some six centuries, the R&A clubhouse stands behind the first tee of the Old Course, and the town runs seven public links across a single stretch of dunes and shore. To stand on the Swilcan Bridge or walk up the eighteenth past the grey stone of the Auld Grey Toon is the closest the sport has to a pilgrimage, and for a great many travellers it is the reason they make the trip at all.
What raises Fife above a single famous course is the depth around it. Kingsbarns and Dumbarnie, both modern links built to look ancient, would anchor a trip anywhere else in the world. The East Neuk holds Crail, the seventh oldest golf club in existence, along with Elie, Lundin and Leven, honest old links with a fraction of the crowds and the price. You can fill a week within a short drive of St Andrews and never play the same kind of hole twice, which is exactly why this is the best concentrated golf destination on earth.
The regions
St Andrews
The home of golf itself, with the Old, New, Jubilee, Eden, Castle, Strathtyrum and Balgove courses run as public links, plus the Duke's and the Fairmont resort on the hill above the town.
Kingsbarns and the coast
The stretch of shore just south of St Andrews holding the two great modern links, Kingsbarns and Dumbarnie, both designed to ride the natural ground above the sea.
The East Neuk of Fife
The fishing villages and old clubs at the corner of the kingdom, where Crail, Elie, Lundin Links and Leven give pure, unhurried links golf with history in every hole.
The courses that matter
The Old Course
The most famous course in the world, a par 72 of shared fairways, vast double greens and the Swilcan Bridge, which has hosted The Open thirty times. Access is largely by daily ballot, and it is closed to play on Sundays.
Kingsbarns
A modern links built to look as old as the game, a par 72 of around 7,200 yards running along the bay, and one of the three courses of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship each autumn.
The New Course
Laid out by Old Tom Morris to ease the crush on the Old, a classic links many locals rate above its neighbour, sharing the same dunes and weather without the wait or the price.
The Castle Course
The newest of the St Andrews links, a bold clifftop par 71 on farmland east of town with huge greens, sweeping views back to the cathedral and a far stiffer test than its setting suggests.
Dumbarnie Links
The newest great links in Fife, a par 72 of around 6,900 yards on rumpled ground above Largo Bay, wide and generous off the tee and an instant fixture in the national rankings.
Crail, Balcomie Links
The home of the Crail Golfing Society, the seventh oldest golf club in the world. A short, joyful Old Tom Morris links on the cliffs at the corner of Fife, all sea views and clever old holes.
Golf House Club, Elie
A characterful old links in the village of Elie, where the starter still uses a submarine periscope to see over the hill on the first. James Braid learned the game here, and the closing stretch by the sea is a delight.
The Jubilee Course
The toughest and most exposed of the St Andrews links, hard against the West Sands, a long par 72 that takes the full force of the wind and rounds out a stay on the public courses.
Designers, opening years and host history verified June 2026. Old Course access is largely by ballot and is closed on Sundays. Always confirm visitor access and fees directly before booking.
When to go
| Season | Conditions | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| May to September | Firm turf, the longest days, the warmest and busiest weather | Peak links season, book the Old Course ballot and the marquee links well ahead |
| April and October | Cooler and changeable, softer rates, real fine spells | The value sweet spot, with the Dunhill Links bringing the stars in early October |
| November to March | Cold, short days, some courses on winter rules | Off season, hardy links golf only, the Old Course closed on Sundays |
The weather off the North Sea is changeable in any month, so pack for wind and rain even in July. Plan a high summer trip for the long evening light, when a keen group can play thirty six holes and still walk into town for dinner.
Indicative costs
| Item | Indicative 2026 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Old Course green fee | Around 320 pounds in high season | Plus the daily ballot or an operator package for a guaranteed time |
| Championship links | Around 130 to 295 pounds | Kingsbarns, Dumbarnie, the Castle and the New Course |
| A long weekend, all in | Around 1,500 to 3,500 pounds per person | Hotels and several rounds, excluding flights |
Indicative third party figures for the 2026 high season, shown to set expectations only. We are a guide, not an operator, and never quote our own pricing. Always confirm directly before booking.
Getting there and around
Edinburgh airport is the usual gateway, a little over an hour by road from St Andrews across the Forth and into the kingdom of Fife. There is no airport in St Andrews itself, so a hire car is the sensible way to link the town with Kingsbarns, Dumbarnie and the East Neuk, all within a half hour drive. Many travellers do not drive at all once they arrive, since the seven St Andrews courses, the shops and the restaurants are all walkable from the town centre, and taxis or a driver cover the trips out to the coast.
Where to stay
St Andrews is the natural base. The Old Course Hotel and the Rusacks look straight onto the links, while the town is full of smaller hotels and guest houses within a short walk of the first tee. For a quieter, more rural stay, the Fairmont and the Duke's sit on the hill above town with their own golf, and the East Neuk villages offer characterful inns close to Crail and Elie. Book the marquee hotels and the Dunhill week far ahead, and let one planner line up the right base and the right tee times together.
Plan your St Andrews and Fife golf trip
Tell us the courses you want and roughly when. One concierge costs the whole trip to the head and replies within one working day, with no obligation.
St Andrews and Fife golf questions
When is the best time to play golf in St Andrews and Fife?
May to September is the prime season, with the firmest turf, the longest days and the warmest weather, though it is also the busiest and dearest. April and October are quieter shoulder months with softer rates and a real chance of fine links weather. Winter golf is possible on the St Andrews courses but cold, with the Old Course closed on Sundays year round.
How do you get a tee time on the Old Course at St Andrews?
There is no single way. A small number of times are sold in advance, but most visitor rounds come through the daily ballot, entered two days ahead, or by joining the single line queue early in the morning. Many travellers book a guaranteed time through an authorised operator as part of a package. The Old Course is closed to play on Sundays. Always confirm access directly before booking.
How much does a golf trip to St Andrews cost in 2026?
St Andrews is a premium links destination. Indicative 2026 high season green fees run to around 320 pounds on the Old Course, roughly 295 pounds at Kingsbarns and 130 to 250 pounds at the other championship links, with the shorter St Andrews courses much cheaper. A long weekend with hotels and several rounds typically lands between 1,500 and 3,500 pounds per head. Always confirm directly before booking.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Old Course ballot timing, links openings and the trips worth taking. One considered email every other week.