The Old Course at St Andrews Review
Course review · St Andrews · 3 rounds played
Played & written by Marcus Santana
By Marcus Santana · Published March 31, 2026
9.3/ 10
The short version
Playing the Old Course is 40% golf and 60% history, and I was fine with that until the 17th, when it turned into 100% golf and I made six.
How it played
Everything runs. I putted from 40 yards off greens more than once and it was the right shot. Wind decides your score; on a calm morning it is gettable, in a breeze it is a different course entirely.
How it looks
Flat, brown, huge double greens and bunkers you cannot see until you are in one.
What won me over
- there is nothing else like standing on the first tee
- the ground game is compulsory and joyful
- the Road Hole is worth the ballot stress
Good to know before you buy
- the ballot lottery makes planning hard
- in dead calm it can feel underwhelming
My verdict
9.3/10. Every golfer should get one crack at it.
Marcus Santana
Founder & Lead Tester, Homie Golf
Every product on this site is played, walked or worn before it gets a score. No paid placements, no press-release numbers.
Course reviewed
The Old Course at St Andrews
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