Kicking off the top 10 on my list is the newest golf course at St. Andrews Links – The Castle Course.


The Castle Course is the only non-traditional links golf course at St. Andrews. Located 5 miles from the Old Course on seaside cliffs overlooking the town of St. Andrews and St. Andrews Castle, the views are stunning.


Perhaps best known for Bandon Dunes, Scotsman David Kidd created an adventurous course that is not without controversy. Initially, there were claims that the course was too difficult with greens that bordered on unfair. The greens have since been softened. The course features 6 holes along the ocean, including two of the best finishing holes you will find anywhere. The routing is well done here allowing for ocean holes on both 9’s and endless views. I think the golf course is fantastic and a must play if you are in St. Andrews.

The views on this course are unique to the Castle Course and I’m not sure there is anything like it anywhere else in the world.



The uphill par 3 3rd is called “cathedral” and has a nice view of St Andrews Cathedral in the distance.




The wind comes into play big time on this course and with the firm and fast conditions, shots into the wind can really go. This was my windiest round in Scotland, a steady 30 mph the whole round. The Par 4 6th hole is a hole that plays significantly downhill, with a helping wind I hit one of my better drives, a 5 wood went about 315 yards that left me with a perfect view of St. Andrews from behind the green.


There are not many “birdie holes” on this course, but the closest thing is probably the par 3 8th. Just 141 from the tips. It’s a great short hole with ocean long.



Aside from the 6th, the 9th was my favorite par 4. Another downhill hole with the ocean on the left and plenty of room to hit a bomb down the fairway and get as glost to the green as you can. I hit it in the right rough, but my buddy (who is not long) hit it 340 yards and had a chip into the green. To date, it is still the longest drive he has ever hit in his life. The photo shows the 9th hole on the right which shares a green with the par 5 18th on the left.



The finishing holes here are fantastic. Below is a view from behind the 16th green. Notice the Biarritz green (a green with a depression/gully in the middle) a bump and run is always the best option on a Biarritz.




17 is the signature hole and it’s the best hole on the golf course. Really, one of the best par 3’s you will find anywhere. An 185 yard par 3 from cliff to cliff with ocean in between. For us, this played directly into the wind. I actually hit my best shot of the day here…I had 178 to the pin and hit my 220 club dead into the wind to 12 feet. The best miss here is short left as most shots will bounce toward the middle of the green, short right and you are swimming.

My local Scottish caddy told me that when the links trust wanted to buy the land for the golf course, the farmer that owned the land demanded the same amount for the land on this hole as the remaining entirety of the course...he knew it would be an amazing golf hole. He was right and he got paid.




18 is a great finishing hole. A long par 5 with ocean all the way down the right. There is plenty of fairway here although you can’t see it from the tee. There is a huge bunker in the middle of the fairway at 100 yards, so you must plan your approach. Lay up short or try to get it close to the green. (The Drone photo of the 9th/18th above illustrates this well)



After the round we had lunch in the clubhouse. I highly recommend it. Not only was the food very good, the views are some of the best you will find. If you get a chance to play the castle course. Don’t miss it.