New Course
St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland
The New Course at St Andrews Links, far from an upstart, quietly celebrates its place alongside its more storied neighbor, a course conceived in the late 19th century to relieve pressure on the Old Course. Crafted on land adjacent to the Eden Estuary, it presents a deceptively subtle test, where firm turf and cleverly contoured greens demand strategic thinking as much as brute force. This classic links layout, designed by Old Tom Morris, is characterized by undulating fairways and pot bunkers that are often hidden from the tee. It favors players who can shape their shots and control their trajectory in the ever-present coastal winds. While lacking the dramatic dunes of some links courses, the New Course possesses a unique charm, rewarding intelligent play and exacting a price for over-aggression. Subtle undulations and blind approaches make this course memorable. While it may not host the Open Championship, the New Course has been a regular venue for prestigious amateur events, subtly testing the mettle of future stars and club members alike. Overlooked by some in the shadow of its more famous sibling, the New Course offers a more accessible experience without sacrificing the inherent challenges and timeless appeal of links golf. It is a place where tradition and camaraderie intertwine, where members often gather in the clubhouse to replay their rounds over a pint and share stories that have been passed down through generations.
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Public column compares courses anyone can play.
Best in World
Public: #262
Best in UK
Public: #41
Best in Scotland
Public: #25
Golfers say the New Course offers a solid links experience that often gets overshadowed by its famous neighbor, with most praising the out-and-back routing that plays away from town on the front nine and returns along the estuary. Reviewers note the course sits closer to the bay and attracts fewer tourists, resulting in better pace of play that locals appreciate. Many highlight memorable stretches through the middle holes near the water and find the layout genuinely challenging, with gorse-lined fairways and difficult aiming points off the tee, though one visitor considers it merely a fill-in option while visiting St. Andrews. Overall, most find it a fun and underrated test that rewards low, ground-game shots and stands well on its own merits.
8.2
131 players
Played with my son, played really well on a beautiful day, and birdied 18 to finish! Hard to beat that!
Often overlooked., the New Course is a great walk. The front nine heads away from town and the back nine heads back into town. Depending on the wind, can truly be a tale of 2 nines. A whole lot of fun!
Right next to the Old, the New sits closer to the Bay. The locals prefer this one as it gets less tourist play and has an overall better pace. Very similar to the Old with a relatively out and back layout. Some really solid holes in the middle of the round out by the Estuary and an interesting finish.
The second best links at St. Andrews. Fun somewhat benign holes that force your ball to stay close to the ground.
A course you play just because you came to play the old course and need something to do on the other days you’re there.
I found the New to be much harder than I anticipated. Gorse everywhere and tough to find aiming points off the tee. A great challenge with 8-10 being the highlights.
Public courses closest to New at St Andrews Links.
FAQ
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
New at St Andrews Links has a Course Vaults score of 8.2 out of 10 based on 75 explicit golfer ratings.
New was designed by Old Tom Morris.
Yes. New at St Andrews Links is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at New is 71.
New plays 6,625 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at New is 127.
