THE DUKE’S COURSE, ST ANDREWS - 15 POINTS

Building a new golf course in St Andrews is a tough gig. In recent years, the Links Trust took a lot of flack for the addition of The Castle Course, and the courses at the Fairmont aren’t really thought to be adding a great deal to golf in the area. The Duke’s Course gives the golfer something very different though - it’s two miles inland and makes no pretence to be a links golf course. You could debate whether it is parkland or heathland, but links it is not!

The course is owned by The Old Course Hotel. It gives them a guaranteed option for their guests when it is hard to get them onto one of the Links Trust courses. The course was designed by the great Peter Thompson and opened in 1995. There have been changes to the course since then, with new bunkers, remodelled greens and a new closing stretch, but the bones of Thompson’s original course are absolutely still there. Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, opened the course, hence the name. Time will tell whether the title survives!

Thompson talked about wanting to create a ‘rugged heathland’ course. While there are signs of both elements, don’t expect anything too wild, or too heathery.

However, you should expect to find a long course. I can sound like a bit of a broken record on this subject, but choose your tees with care. Playing off the black tees comes in at a whopping 7,500 yards - the shortest of the 5 options is the reds at 5,200 yards - and there are a fair few uphill shots too. I played it in on a brisk October day and the course was pretty wet, so I decided to go off a combination of greens and whites and played the course at about 6,400 yards, which was plenty long enough. A lot of golfers view The Duke’s as a bit of a slog and playing the wrong tees will be a major contributory factor.

One of the characteristics of The Duke’s is the prolific bunkering - both from the tee and around the green you will be faced with stern challenges if you stray into the sand, so getting the right line from the tee, and distance control with your approach shots is key. Many of your approach shots will be uphill too so you really need to concentrate on your clubbing. Just to add another dimension, there are quite often hazards through the back of the greens too.

Overall, this was a very solid parkland course and had some really nice visual moments, but I also felt it was trying a little too hard in places. There is no need to bring a huge bunker all the way up to the tee on the 4th, and the bunker way behind the 9th seemed to be there more for aesthetics than architectural value.

However, I am probably nit-picking a little. While the course played long with the wet ground, the greens were rolling very well and the general conditioning was good. Holes are really well framed with both trees and gorse, and usually only poor shots will be troubled by either.

There were some strong holes out there. The par 3 eighth is a really good uphill hole at 175 yards from the white tees, 250 yards from the back. From the tee it’s hard to see the amount of dead green over the first bunker (in the picture above) and getting anywhere on this green from the tee is quite an achievement.

I think the back nine is the stronger of the two halves. The run from 11 to 14 is particularly good, with the pick of the crop being the 13th - ‘Braw View’. As you walk over the hill you will get a braw view over the course to St Andrews and the water beyond. The hole itself is lovely - a good drive with a bit of run leaves a short iron into a pretty narrow green with a deep bunker short and two more long.

It’s a good finish too, with another tough par 3 at 16. You will need plenty of club to avoid the bunkers short and right, but go long and left and you are in trouble as well.

I do have two quibbles with the par 3s. Three of the four are ‘long’ holes, averaging 185 from the whites and there isn’t a short one at all. I know, in the quest for yardages, par 3s are lengthened but I frankly find it a little dull. And they are the 15-18 stroke indexes. This drives me nuts. These are not the four easiest holes on the property by any stretch of the imagination, and when playing match play this is a real pain.

The 17th is a rare flat hole on the back 9 but the fairway is framed with some huge, magnificent trees and the green is well bunkered. 18 is a really tough finishing hole up the hill. By the time you have climbed up to the clubhouse you really will be ready for some refreshment!

The Duke’s Course, St Andrews, is a very different experience compared to anything else in the area. It is hard to imagine turning down a round at The Old Course, or indeed the New, for a round here, but that wasn’t the purpose of the course when it was built. But, as an additional round in a St Andrews itinerary, the Duke’s course is well worth considering. I probably wouldn’t make the trip inland if the ground was too wet, but on a dry day, if you fancy something a little different, the Duke’s is worth a visit.

BOOKING THE COURSE

I played at Duke’s in October for £70 - which, as a Scottish resident, included a bacon roll and cup of coffee. This was really excellent value! The summer peak rate is about £160 but they often have offers on so it is well worth looking at the website - https://www.thedukescourse.co.uk/ - or giving them a call.

Prices correct as of August 2023.

TOUR TIPS

St Andrews pretty much exists for two things - golf and the university. Accommodation can be pretty expensive so it is well worth considering staying in university accommodation if you're there in the summer months. It's cheap, close to the town centre and absolutely fine for a couple of nights. At the other extreme, The Old Course Hotel will give you a spectacular view, but at quite a cost. There is plenty in between and Tripadvisor will help you find something right for you.
 
When it comes to drinking there would be two obvious choices. The Dunvegan Hotel is very close to the 18th green of The Old Course and has a bar full of memorabilia and good drink on tap - there are also rooms available.

Another place to seek out is The Jigger Inn. OK, it's far from an authentic Scottish boozer as it's owned by the Old Course Hotel, but just to be able to sit alongside the 17th fairway and watch players come by is a great experience. As for the pub itself, it's a Scottish pub as the Old Course Hotel thinks American tourists would want it. Have one there and then move on into town!

There are plenty of other pubs in St Andrews happy to take your money. I have been to a few but local ex-student Graylyn Loomis has been to a lot more. Here's a link to his guide - http://www.graylynloomis.com/the-best-pubs-in-st-andrews/. There's lots of great stuff on Graylyn's pages about St Andrews so if you are looking for inside tips it’s a really good resource.

When it comes to playing other courses in the area, you are spoiled for choice in Fife. If I was planning a trip, and wanted to go for the ultimate experience, I would do the Old and New, Kingsbarns and Carnoustie (which is only 40 minutes away) and maybe throw in Dumbarnie too. However, if you want to tone it down a bit, but still play some cracking courses, then Elie, Crail, Leven and Lundin would all be worthy additions for a really authentic Fife experience! 

CONTACT DETAILS

The Duke's St Andrews,
St Andrews,
Fife,
KY16 8NX,
Scotland


Web - www.thedukescourse.co.uk
Email - dukes@oldcoursehotel.co.uk
Phone - +44 (0) 1334 470214

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