The Dukes sits just outside St. Andrews proper, occupying gently rolling farmland about two miles from the Old Course. Designed by Peter Thomson, the five-time Open champion, and his longtime collaborator Michael Wolveridge, the course opened in 1995 and represents a modern interpretation of Scottish links golf on an inland site. The layout takes advantage of natural contours and establishes playing corridors through what was previously agricultural land, creating a heathland character distinct from the town's traditional links venues. The routing moves across open terrain with views toward St. Andrews Bay and the North Sea, though the course itself lacks the coastal dune formations of the links proper. Thomson's design philosophy emphasized strategic options and natural ground movement rather than artificial shaping, and the layout features wide fairways that encourage varied angles of approach. Several holes play along ridgelines or through shallow valleys, and the bunkering follows traditional Scottish patterns with deep pot bunkers and sprawling waste areas. The Dukes operates as part of the Old Course Hotel complex and serves both resort guests and visiting golfers seeking an alternative to the ballot-dependent Old Course. The facility includes a clubhouse with dining and practice areas, and the course has hosted regional amateur competitions and qualifying events. Its location makes it accessible to golfers exploring the broader St. Andrews area, offering a parkland-heathland experience that complements rather than replicates the historic links courses in town.