St Andrews — Eden Course¶
The most accessible of the St Andrews Links Trust courses: a sheltered routing between the town Links and the Eden Estuary, laid out by Harry S. Colt in 1914 to relieve the demand for golf in St Andrews. Wide fairways, troublesome bunkers and undulating greens, with several of St Andrews' best par 3s (the 8th and 12th most cited). Donald Steel made alterations in 1989.
Location¶
St Andrews Links, in town — walkable from the centre. Map.
The Course¶
Par 70, about 6,200 yds. Eleven of Colt's original holes survive (2–9, 11, 13); the standouts are the two-tier par-3 5th with its 7-foot green slope, the 45-yard three-tier 8th green, and the 14th and 15th playing around the only inland pond on any St Andrews Links course (Donald Steel's 1985 addition). The 432-yard 17th runs along the old railway line, out of bounds right. Not a sea-contact course — the estuary is near but the routing turns inland — yet it is genuine links ground and a local favourite.
History¶
Harry S. Colt, 1914; Donald Steel alterations, 1989. Home of the Eden Tournament, played annually since 1919 — the first edition drew J.H. Taylor, James Braid, Harry Vardon and Alister MacKenzie, who judged the course second only to the Old Course in Scotland. NCG Top 100s Scotland #12. No official hole names published; the 17th is a Road-hole homage.
Scorecard¶
White tees (source: Golfify aggregator, corroborated by the Links Trust WHS chart; treat as indicative):
| Hole | Par | SI | Yds | M |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 11 | 326 | 298 |
| 2 | 4 | 3 | 449 | 411 |
| 3 | 4 | 8 | 417 | 381 |
| 4 | 4 | 17 | 273 | 250 |
| 5 | 3 | 15 | 144 | 132 |
| 6 | 4 | 5 | 407 | 372 |
| 7 | 4 | 13 | 346 | 316 |
| 8 | 3 | 9 | 178 | 163 |
| 9 | 5 | 1 | 505 | 462 |
| 10 | 3 | 14 | 196 | 179 |
| 11 | 4 | 7 | 375 | 343 |
| 12 | 4 | 16 | 341 | 312 |
| 13 | 4 | 2 | 422 | 386 |
| 14 | 4 | 10 | 350 | 320 |
| 15 | 3 | 18 | 170 | 155 |
| 16 | 5 | 6 | 513 | 469 |
| 17 | 4 | 4 | 432 | 395 |
| 18 | 4 | 12 | 351 | 321 |
Playing It¶
Green fees: £75 (2026, high season); £38 low season; around £19 winter. Book online at standrews.com — no ballot.
Getting There¶
Walk from town; park at the Links clubhouse.
Notes¶
The weather fallback for the Jubilee-or-Eden decision: when it blows too hard, Eden's shelter earns its keep. Also the budget pick of the whole St Andrews rotation.