6,604 yards • Par 71

Now over 100 years old, it is probably the oldest "new" course in the world. Opened in April 1895, the course was built in response to increasing demand for golf at St Andrews, both from locals and from the visitors who were flocking to the town in increasing numbers on the recently constructed railway. The result is a classic links course with great skill designed to exploit the natural topography. It's built over flat, open-spaced ground with many undulations and depressions. Sandy soil and coarse grasses dominate the course. The course plays a par 71 and 6,604 yards. The front nine plays out in 3,270 yards, slightly shorter than the back nine. All but one par 4 plays between 330 and 360 yards.The sixth is the longest par 4 on the side at 445 yards. It's second in length in par 4s only to the 10th, which is an enormous 464 yards. On days where the wind is blowing, it's nearly impossible to reach in two. The round closes with a 408-yard par 4. Some of the fairways and greens are actually shared amongst the holes. Some say that the reputation of the Old Course has caused the magnificence of the New Course to be one of golf's best-kept secrets. Even though it remains one of the oldest and most storied courses in Fife, it's far easier to land a tee time than its more storied neighbour.

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