St Andrews — Jubilee Course¶
The one pressed right against West Sands: sea visible on most holes, and the toughest test in the St Andrews Links rotation. Narrow fairways, small greens, penal rough and a constant wind off St Andrews Bay. Built in 1897 for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee — originally for ladies and beginners — before Donald Steel converted it to a championship layout in 1988; only fragments of the original routing remain.
Location¶
St Andrews Links, in town — 15 minutes' walk from the town centre, alongside West Sands beach. Map.
The Course¶
Par 72, 6,742 yds. Narrow driving holes, small well-protected greens, and a strong collection of par 3s — the 15th (named for Donald Steel himself) runs closest to the coastline of any St Andrews Links course. On a breezy day this is a serious examination — arguably harder than the Old Course on the same wind. It runs closest to the sea of all seven Trust courses.
History¶
1897 (Jubilee year, John Angus); extended to eighteen in 1905; Donald Steel redesign, 1988 — Curtis Strange hit the opening tee shot at the 1989 relaunch. Qualifying venue for the St Andrews Links Trophy, where scores routinely run higher than on the New Course. Golf World ranks it Scottish #60 (2025). A few holes carry official names — the 1st "Willie Auchterlonie", the 8th "Eden's Edge", the 12th "The Butts", the 15th "Steel's Gem".
Scorecard¶
White tees (source: BlueGolf, official Links Trust data; SI from that card):
| Hole | Name | Par | SI | Yds | M |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Willie Auchterlonie | 4 | 6 | 367 | 336 |
| 2 | — | 4 | 13 | 360 | 329 |
| 3 | — | 5 | 3 | 546 | 499 |
| 4 | — | 4 | 12 | 371 | 339 |
| 5 | — | 3 | 18 | 162 | 148 |
| 6 | — | 5 | 1 | 498 | 455 |
| 7 | — | 4 | 10 | 373 | 341 |
| 8 | Eden's Edge | 4 | 8 | 369 | 337 |
| 9 | — | 3 | 15 | 192 | 176 |
| 10 | — | 4 | 5 | 411 | 376 |
| 11 | — | 5 | 11 | 497 | 454 |
| 12 | The Butts | 5 | 4 | 538 | 492 |
| 13 | — | 3 | 17 | 188 | 172 |
| 14 | — | 4 | 9 | 438 | 401 |
| 15 | Steel's Gem | 4 | 2 | 356 | 326 |
| 16 | — | 4 | 14 | 428 | 391 |
| 17 | — | 3 | 7 | 211 | 193 |
| 18 | — | 4 | 16 | 437 | 400 |
Playing It¶
Green fees: £150 (2026, high season); £75 low season; around £45 winter. Book online at standrews.com — no ballot (unlike the Old Course).
Getting There¶
Walk from town or park at the St Andrews Links clubhouse.
Notes¶
The "St Andrews experience" without the Old Course ballot: same town, same bay, sea contact, real golf.