Duke's, St Andrews

A St Andrews course that is not by the sea, the Duke's is an inland, heathland course a couple of miles outside of the town. It is actually the golf course of the Old Course Hotel. As the Hotel has no guaranteed access to times on the St Andrews Old Course, beside which it sits, it was decided to build their own championship standard course.

The Duke's course has an excellent pedigree, being originally designed by five time Open Champion Peter Thomson. Opened in 2005 the golf course is set high above the town so gives lovely panoramic views across the town to the sea. Thomson did not believe in making things easy for the golfer and feels that the game should be about strategy – throughout the whole round. To help open up the course to almost all levels of golfer there is a choice of five teeing points at every hole.

A major revision in 2006 by Tim Liddy brought in to play five completely new holes and made significant changes to the bunkers. The intent was the course should "grow out of the land" rather than be imposed upon it.

There are lots of bunkers here. Many are much flatter and wider than links style pot bunkers, indeed there are many large bunkers and tracts of sand around the course with 'natural' edging which blends with the heathland setting and the long rough and gorse. Inspiration came from traditional heathland golf courses of the 1920s.

The Duke's course hosted the European International Amateur Championship in 2014, as well as the 2008 Scottish Amateur Stroke Play competitions and the 2003 Scottish Amateur Championship.

If you are in St Andrews for a few days and want a contrast to all the links golf then the Duke's is worth a visit.

The course has a modern clubhouse with excellent changing facilities, bar and dining room, and all golfers have use of the full driving range and practice area.

The Duke's is a long walking and quite hilly golf course, so fortunately ride-on buggies are available to all golfers here – but be sure to reserve in advance to guarantee yourself one.

Address:
Duke's Golf Club
Craigtoun Park
St Andrews
Fife
KY16 8NX
What 3 Words:
///buggy.thirsty.stew
Telephone:
01334 470214
Email:
dukes@oldcoursehotel.co.uk
Costs (2022):
Weekday round: £140.00
Weekend round: £140.00
Trolley hire: £7.00
Club hire: £40.00
Buggy hire: £50.00
Restrictions:
Handicap certificate required: No
Buggy hire:
Yes
Driving range:
Yes
Course rating:
77.1
Slope rating:
142
Airport driving times*

* For guidance only - all timings are traffic dependent.

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