St. Andrews to welcome Castle Course

On June 28, 2008 the city of St. Andrews will christen the Castle Course as it officially opens to the public, becoming the seventh 18-hole course owned and operated by the St. Andrews Links Trust.

The first new course to be built by the Links Trust since 1914 has been described as a "clifftopper", sitting some 60 to 80 feet above the sea which it runs along for a mile.

The Castle Course was built on land previously occupied by a potato farm. Reforming the land was the task of architect David McLay Kidd, creator of Oregon's Bandon Dunes, who shaped the track into one of the most highly awaited courses to debut in recent memory.

Seaside and treeless, the Castle Course resembles a links-style course but isn't classified in the same standing as the other six St. Andrews courses. The newest layout isn't built on requisite sand-based linksland, but rather on a clay-soil tract.

Visiting St. Andrews newest venue will be similar to other courses in Scotland and the course will have five tees measuring from 5300 to 7200 yards.

The experience of playing the Castle Course will be a treat for the senses. The North Sea is a visible presence on every hole while the view toward St. Andrews is one of the finest possible.

Given the history and rich tradition associated with The Old Course at St. Andrews, The Castle Course is already in elite company. The newest addition to the collection of courses will be on par with the most famous member of the family in terms of pricing. The Castle Course will be priced at 120 Euros while The Old Course will remain the most expensive St. Andrews offering with a price tag of 130 Euros per round.

Numerous publications are already buzzing about the Castle Course.

PGA Tour.com had this to say: The Castle Course is located two miles outside of St. Andrews, occupying a majestic cliff-top setting, which has been converted from a flat potato farm into a roller coaster ride of gargantuan proportions. Daivd McLay Kidd, the young Scotsman responsible for Bandon Dunes, deserves all of the credit for creating a seaside grem, more than worthy of carrying the St. Andrews name. Although not a true links, it has many links characteristics and you'll never find a more testing track. Already it has been tagged as St. Andrews toughest and likely to be as much in demand as The Old Course itself.

Golf Odyssey was also flattering of the Castle Course in its review stating, "Architect David McLay Kidd has done an excellent job creating a course worthy of golf's most prestigious address. I say created, because the land on which The Castle Course presides had been a flattish potato farm. Well, no longer. Now the land twists and turns, heaves and hovers, plunges and punishes. Its transformation into what will be one of world's most talked about golf courses is almost unfathomable."

The Castle Course will be a public course. For more information or to make a booking call 44 (0) 1334 466666, or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Online bookings for the period from June 28 to October 31 can be made now. The course will be closed from November 1 to March 31 2009. The Castle Course can be booked on its own or as part of the two course policy operating when booking the Old Course.