St. Andrews

[snell]

Evening all

I have a week off in March and I was thinking of booking a night or twos stay in the town of St. Andrews.

Unfortunately I wouldn't be able to play any golf. But I really want to have a look around the course and maybes the club shop if that's possible??

So my main question is...is it worth going there to have a look about, bearing in mind I won't be able to actually play any golf at all?

 

[NWJocko]

Evening all

I have a week off in March and I was thinking of booking a night or twos stay in the town of St. Andrews.

Unfortunately I wouldn't be able to play any golf. But I really want to have a look around the course and maybes the club shop if that's possible??

So my main question is...is it worth going there to have a look about, bearing in mind I won't be able to actually play any golf at all?

Yes, well worth wandering round the first tee/18th green of the Old Course, walking round to the first tee of the New and the Links clubhouse is only 5 minutes and again worth it for a nosey.

The shop in the Links clubhouse is mainly tat tbh, go to Auchterlonies though, a great shop. If you can ask them to show you the old clubs they have out the back, incredible collection and really interesting :thup:

 

[snell]

Yes, well worth wandering round the first tee/18th green of the Old Course, walking round to the first tee of the New and the Links clubhouse is only 5 minutes and again worth it for a nosey.

The shop in the Links clubhouse is mainly tat tbh, go to Auchterlonies though, a great shop. If you can ask them to show you the old clubs they have out the back, incredible collection and really interesting :thup:

Can you just nosey about the 1st and 18th?

 

[NWJocko]

Can you just nosey about the 1st and 18th?

Yep, you can walk down the road and stand behind or to the side of the 18th green on public roads/walkways. Take a look on Google maps, the course is surrounded at that end by roads down to the beach etc. Can walk down the side of the 18th (towards the tee) and go for a pint in the Jigger aswell. Dunvegan pub is also worth a visit, loads of memorabilia etc, thats on the corner at the top of Golf Place, about 200 yards from the 18th green.

 

[stokie_93]

You're more than welcome to follow me around as I shoot level gross on the Old Course 15th March! :thup:

 

[Simbo]

Well worth going to even if you can't golf, the links clubhouse is great for food and has good views of the courses, the stuff in the golf shops tend to be just St. Andrews stuff though, as said auchterlonies is best if you want proper golf stuff, you can get an old course bag tag in there lasered with whatever you want on it for £15.
The golf museum is also there. Although Iv never been in it.
If you go on a Sunday the old course is closed and you can wander about on it, swilican bridge for pics, there's also,a fake flag at the side of the 18th green for photos.
The dunvegan right across the road from auchterlonies is a decent pub aswell with lots of golf memorabilia on the walls and stuff.

 

[GG26]

Back of the 17th green is another great spot to watch a few groups come through.

 

[snell]

Well worth going to even if you can't golf, the links clubhouse is great for food and has good views of the courses, the stuff in the golf shops tend to be just St. Andrews stuff though, as said auchterlonies is best if you want proper golf stuff, you can get an old course bag tag in there lasered with whatever you want on it for £15.
The golf museum is also there. Although Iv never been in it.
If you go on a Sunday the old course is closed and you can wander about on it, swilican bridge for pics, there's also,a fake flag at the side of the 18th green for photos.
The dunvegan right across the road from auchterlonies is a decent pub aswell with lots of golf memorabilia on the walls and stuff.

Cheers for the info

Is that the case every Sunday where you can wander about?

 

[Hobbit]

Absolutely worth a visit, as is the town and the Jigger Inn. I love the place, even when I'm not playing. Looking forward to a few days there in July!!

 

[louise_a]

St Andrews is a nice town to have a wonder around regardless of the golf, also if you don't want to stay in a hotel there are loads of B&Bs.

 

[snell]

Absolutely worth a visit, as is the town and the Jigger Inn. I love the place, even when I'm not playing. Looking forward to a few days there in July!!

Yeah the golf history of the place is the main reason I want to go...I'd love to play, but the missus isn't much if a golf fan...so if I can mix the golf trip with a few bars and nice food I'm onto a winner

 

[Liverbirdie]

Yep, lovely old fashioned town.

You can walk along the beaches, through the churchyard, nice little high streets and a few cracking boozers.

The golf museum is well worth it, I was in there for about 2 hours.

 

[louise_a]

I have just noticed something saying that the old Course is closed on Sundays, when I was up there last summer it was being played on on the Sunday.

 

[patricks148]

I have just noticed something saying that the old Course is closed on Sundays, when I was up there last summer it was being played on on the Sunday.

Pretty sure the Old course is closed for play on a Sunday, all the others open though

 

[Simbo]

Cheers for the info

Is that the case every Sunday where you can wander about?

Has been pretty much every time I go up, there's is quite often a wee queue waiting to have their photo taken on the bridge.
If the wife isn't a golf fan maybe you could have a look at the fairmont hotel and golf courses there. They offer decent package deals, overnight stays with golf/spa. She could maybe do the spa for a few hours and you could play a round. The fairmont sits up beside the castle course and kingsbarns and is only a 10 minute drive from the old course.

 

[Garush34]

Old course closed Sundays as others have said and they do guided walks around the course - https://www.standrews.com/relax/guided-walks-of-the-old-course

Also go up to the abbey and check out the graves of Old and young Tom, which is worth a visit. Golf museum is a good look around, obviously a lot of history in there and not too much cost if I remember rightly.

Dunvegan defo worth a visit. Have been going to St Andrews for a few years and have never been in, but when it when I was last there. Just loads of photos on the walls, amazing to see.

 

[Jimaroid]

The Old isn't closed every Sunday of the year. There are some tournaments and club meetings held on The Old on Sundays; R&A organised meets, Links Trophy, Dunhill and The Open (when held) all immediately spring to mind. You can always get the exact list of closures and when Sunday's are in play here: https://www.standrews.com/play/busy-dates

Snell, there are plenty of good bars, pubs and restaurants. The town used to be lacking good places to eat but it's practically drowning in good cafes and restaurants now.

My tips: Janettas for ice cream & good coffee, Cromars or Tailend for fish & Chips both are takeaway+sit-in. Whey Pat, Criterion, Central, The Keys, St Andrews Brewing Co. for best beers. Dunvegan is essential for beer & golf. There's also an Innis & Gunn place now with plenty of good beer but it's ridiculously expensive. Forgans, Mitchells, The Adamson, Roccas @ Russacks Hotel for best food. Taste has the best coffee but it's a tiny place, Cottage Kitchen is my favourite cafe but it's also often full.

 

[User62651]

Would concur - its a great spot to wander about, has a nice mix of golf tourists, busy student town and plenty activity. If you're driving the East Neuk villages are very couthy too and not far away. I had a wander about the Old on a Sunday - Swilcan bridge, the Valley of Sin, tv just doesn't capture any of the undulations of terrain really.
If you haven't been to St A, as a golfer when you come round the corner at the 18th green I swear there's something quite other-wordly or spiritual about the place you just don't get anywhere else.
There are a couple of putting courses nearby too if you've a little time to spare. I played the one near the 1st tee of the Old course, never have found the Himalayas course, think its up by the new clubhouse somewhere.

 

[Garush34]

Would concur - its a great spot to wander about, has a nice mix of golf tourists, busy student town and plenty activity. If you're driving the East Neuk villages are very couthy too and not far away. I had a wander about the Old on a Sunday - Swilcan bridge, the Valley of Sin, tv just doesn't capture any of the undulations of terrain really.
If you haven't been to St A, as a golfer when you come round the corner at the 18th green I swear there's something quite other-wordly or spiritual about the place you just don't get anywhere else.
There are a couple of putting courses nearby too if you've a little time to spare. I played the one near the 1st tee of the Old course, never have found the Himalayas course, think its up by the new clubhouse somewhere.

It is, basically opposite the second tee for the Old course. Played it in October last year with the Mrs, was a good laugh and a good way to spend a hour or so.

 

[richart]

It is, basically opposite the second tee for the Old course. Played it in October last year with the Mrs, was a good laugh and a good way to spend a hour or so.

Also a good place to warm up before you play the Castle course.