Sunday at The Old Course at St. Andrews

A Different Kind of Day at The Home of Golf

Daniel Jones

August 26, 2025

4 Minute Read

At golf clubs around the world, Sunday is often the busiest day of the week. But not at The Old Course.

On most Sundays in St. Andrews, there isn’t a single Old Course tee time to be had. Not because the sheet is full, but because it’s completely empty. Like most things in St. Andrews, the explanation for this comes down to tradition.

One that dates back centuries and has been steadfastly upheld since the days of Old Tom Morris.

Back then, the prevailing view in Scotland was that a person’s place on Sunday was in the church, not on the links. Old Tom, a devoted Presbyterian, agreed wholeheartedly. So when locals once petitioned him to open the course for Sunday play, his response was brief and resolute:

“If the golfer doesn’t need a rest, surely the course does.”

That wisdom still holds true today. And in a time when nearly 50,000 rounds are played on The Old Course each year, one quiet day of rest feels more important than ever.

What You’ll Find on a Sunday

Instead of golfers, you’ll find locals and visitors alike walking the historic fairways. Families sharing picnics. Dogs chasing tennis balls. Kids building sandcastles in the bunkers. To say it's a different vibe would be an understatement.

What might be the most famous course in the world becomes—for one day a week—a public park. And for many, it’s their first true glimpse of the place they’ve dreamed of playing for years.

Chris McConn, H&B’s Director of Planning, summed it up after a recent visit with his son:

“Sunday in St. Andrews with good weather is awesome. Everyone is out walking the course, restaurants are hopping, everyone is walking the town. It was great. We ate at the Jigger and then walked the entire Old Course. Brendan was in awe. And once he saw it, he really wanted to play it. Thank goodness we hit the ballot.”

A Walk Worth Taking

If your Expedition happens to begin on a Sunday, you’ll find no better way to shake off the jet lag and get acquainted with The Old Course. If you have a large group, it's also probably your best chance to gather everyone and snap a photo on the Swilcan Bridge.

From there, follow Chris's lead and grab a table at the Jigger Inn, then walk the links at your own pace. You’ll pass landmarks you’ve seen a hundred times in photos—and realize they’re even more meaningful in person.

And while Sunday is the only day the course is officially closed to play, you’re welcome to walk The Old Course either before or after the golfers descend for the day. Early mornings are especially peaceful.

If you’re out ahead of the first tee time, you’ll often feel like you have the entire course to yourself. By the time you reach the far end of the links, the town behind you and the Eden Estuary ahead, you’ll understand why this place draws golfers back again and again.

Several years ago, we filmed a short video on this very topic. And while it’s now approaching a decade old, it still captures the atmosphere of a Sunday in St. Andrews.