The best golf holes in St. Andrews range from the famous, to the notorious, to the relatively unknown.
During the 150th Open Championship at The Home of Golf, some of the best holes in St. Andrews took center stage.
But as anyone who has visited St. Andrews will tell you, the area is home to no shortage of outstanding golf.
Although the holes are in no particular order, what follows is our imaginary perfect golf course, composed of the best holes in the St. Andrews area.
And while many of these holes are not found in St. Andrews proper, they are all located at courses commonly played during St. Andrews golf trips.
Here are 18 of the best golf holes in St. Andrews.
1st Hole – Old Course at St. Andrews
When it comes to the best golf holes in St. Andrews, you have to start at the beginning. By the numbers, the 1st hole at The Old Course at St. Andrews it may not seem like much. But the looming R&A clubhouse, the small gallery around the tee, and the anticipation of the round to come, will make it a daunting, yet unforgettable, proposition.
6th Hole – Carnoustie Golf Links
The 6th hole at Carnoustie Golf Links is perhaps best known for its role in Ben Hogan’s victory in the 1953 Open Championship. During each of the four rounds, Hogan took on the out of bounds up the left side to set up his approach to the par-5. Hogan executed the shot perfectly each time, and the rest is history. Carnoustie renamed the hole Hogan’s Alley in honor of the feat.
Photo courtesy of Carnoustie Golf Links
6th Hole – Panmure Golf Club
Next door to Carnoustie, the 6th hole at Panmure is also named after Ben Hogan. When “The Hawk” came to Carnoustie for the 1953 Open, he spent two weeks learning how to play links golf at Panmure. As Hogan’s favorite on the course, the 6th deserves an automatic entry among the best golf holes in St. Andrews.
Photo courtesy of Panmure Golf Club
15th Hole – Kingsbarns Golf Links
The 15th at Kingsbarns Golf Links isn’t just one best golf holes in St. Andrews, it’s one of the finest par-3s in all of Scotland. The peninsula green feels like a frighteningly small target, but is much larger than it appears from the tee. Of course, the corner of the sea that surrounds the green is likely to capture most of your attention.
17th Hole – Old Course at St. Andrews
Arguably the most famous hole in St. Andrews, the 17th is also one of the most difficult on The Old Course. From the tee shot over the corner of The Old Course Hotel, to the notorious pot bunker and road guarding the green, any par on the Road Hole should be celebrated.
14th Hole – Crail Golfing Society
If it’s picturesque par-3s that you’re after, the 14th at Crail Golfing Society is as good as it gets. The view from the tee is one of the finest in the St. Andrews area. But if the wind is up, it could be the longest 150 yards that you’ll ever play.
12th Hole – Kingsbarns Golf Links
It should come as no surprise that Kingsbarns Golf Links is home to multiple entries among the best holes in St. Andrews. The sea is in view almost every step of the way at Kingsbarns, and nowhere is that more evident than the 12th hole. The coastline is in play for the entire length of this par-5. And at 606 yards from the back tee, it’s also one of the longest holes in Scotland.
14th Hole – Lundin Links
Just 20 minutes south of St. Andrews, Lundin Links is home to one of the best golf holes in the area. The 14th hole is a brilliant downhill par-3 with an appropriate name: Perfection. With the sea serving as backdrop, the tee shot lives up to the name. And like the 14th at nearby Crail, if the wind is howling off the North Sea, the shot may require almost everything in your bag.
17th Hole – Dumbarnie Links
The newest entry among the best golf holes in St. Andrews is found at Dumbarnie Links. Although the sea is a prominent feature of the round, our favorite hole at Dumbarnie Links runs away from the water. The par-4 17th hole is bisected by a 200 year old stone wall, and is easily the most intriguing tee shot that you’ll hit all day.
17th Hole – Carnoustie Golf Links
Carnoustie is home to arguably the best closing trio of holes in St. Andrews and Scotland as a whole. The par-4 17th hole is named “Island” because the meandering Barry Burn creates a fairway landing area that feels like exactly that. Depending on your line off the tee, your ball could cross the burn four different times before reaching the green.
Photo courtesy of Carnoustie Golf Links
9th Hole – New Course at St. Andrews
Although some will claim that the most difficult par-3 in the St. Andrews area is found at the 9-hole course in Anstruther, we happen to think it’s right in the heart of town. The 9th hole on the St. Andrews New Course measures 225 yards and runs uphill along the edge of the estuary at the far end of the links. The hole will likely require everything in your bag. If you come up short – as many often do – the green nestled in a hollow will make for a challenging up and down.
14th Hole – Old Course at St. Andrews
The 14th at The Old Course is one of the best holes in St. Andrews, not because of its difficulty or views, but a notorious bunker that should be avoided at all costs. The aptly named Hell Bunker stands guard on your 2nd shot, and those who fail to clear it will find that it lives up to the name. Jack Nicklaus famously carded a 10 on the 14th hole after needing four swings to escape the depths of the Hell Bunker.
18th Hole – Old Course at St. Andrews
No list of the best holes in St. Andrews would be complete without the 18th at The Old Course. The Swilcan Bridge, the R&A Clubhouse, the Valley of Sin, and centuries of golf history are all found in this relatively short, straightaway par-4. Whether it’s your first or tenth time in St. Andrews, the stroll up the 18th fairway never gets old.
2nd Hole – Crail Golfing Society
The Balcomie Links at Crail Golfing Society is one of the purest examples of links golf in Scotland. The par-5 second hole is a sweeping dogleg, with the beach hugging the right side for the entire length of the hole. The tendency is to err to the left, but doing so when the wind is up can make getting home in three a challenge.
15th Hole – Jubilee Course at St. Andrews
The 15th hole on the St. Andrews Jubilee Course is named Steel’s Gem. Architect Donald Steel transformed the Jubilee from a 12-hole beginners course, to arguably the most challenging course in the Links Trust portfolio. The 15th ranks among the best holes in St. Andrews thanks to a cracking approach shot over the corner of a dune to an elevated green. As the name suggests, it’s a gem of a hole.
18th Hole – Kingsbarns Golf Links
As explained in our guide to the best 18th holes in golf, ending a links course on a high note is not all that common. But Kingsbarns, to no surprise, is equal to the task. The approach over a narrow burn is the perfect punctuation to the remarkable experience offered at Kingsbarns. The old stone bridge was unearthed during construction, and reminds us of the game’s ancient heritage here, even if the course is still an infant compared to the others nearby.
17th Hole – Castle Course at St. Andrews
Many golfers either love or hate the St. Andrews Castle Course, but everyone can agree the course features some spectacular views. The par-3 17th hole is possibly the best example. With the sea cutting uncomfortably close from the right, the tee shot will require one of your best swings of the day. Easier said than done, given the setting and the ancient spires of St. Andrews rising in the distance.
18th Hole – Carnoustie Golf Links
There was simply no other place to cap the best holes in St. Andrews. The 18th at Carnoustie Golf Links is the most notorious closing hole on The Open rota. Possibly, all of major championship golf. The 1999 Open Championship taught us two things… It’s never over until the final putt is holed, and the Barry Burn should never be toyed with.
Photo courtesy of Carnoustie Golf Links
That’s our view of the best golf holes in St. Andrews. Naturally, this is a highly subjective exercise. Which begs the question…
Which holes would make your list that didn’t make ours? Tag us @HavershamBaker on social media with your picks.
Our free guide includes over 40 pages of valuable insight, plus links to nearly 50 additional resources, on Golf and the Good Life in Scotland.
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