St Andrews Jubilee Course

Now enjoying the second hundred years of its life St Andrews Jubilee Course is showing no signs of slowing down - and does not seem inclined to give up its reputation as St Andrews' sternest challenge. The course began as a simple enough 12 hole layout that was opened (after only three months of work) to mark Queen Victoria's jubilee in 1897 and was intended to appeal to ladies and children. Fittingly the first ever shot struck on the course was with a club made by Old Tom Morris. At the turn of the last century the course was increased to 18 holes at the cost of just £150. At the time of the Second World War Willie Auchterlonie made further improvements guided by the belief that the Jubilee would one day become a championship course. That dream became reality in the late 1980's when Donald Steel created the challenging course that we are so familiar with today. The St Andrews Jubilee Course now measures 6724 yards.

The St Andrews Jubilee Course may not be the best of the St Andrews links courses, but played off the medal tees it is definitely the hardest. The combination of undulating greens, tight fairways and sheer length will test every aspect of your game. The original course went down either side of the last line of dunes by the sea, but the redesign in the 1980s saw several holes go through the dunes, giving spectacular holes on the back nine. The front nine includes the massive sloping green at the par-3 5th, which can be very tough if the flag is up on the left side. The 8th by the shore is classic short dog-leg par 4 and part of the original course, before the front 9 is completed with the 9th, which can be very tough into the wind. The start of the back nine is a litle bland, but the last 4 holes will put the smile back on your face with the dangerous short par-4 15th and dog leg 16th offering some striking holes through the dunes. Usually relatively easy to get on and well worth the green fee.