Scottish Heritage – The Origins of the 18-Hole Course

St Andrews: The Origins of the 18-Hole Course

By Dale Hayes

There is a lovely tale that a golf course is made up of 18 holes because there are 18 tots in a bottle of whisky. That might be a wonderful story, but unfortunately it is not true.

The Real Story

The truth is that St Andrews originally had 22 holes. Over time, it was decided that a few of the holes were too short, so four holes were removed in order to create a longer and better-balanced golf course. That decision ultimately established the now universal standard of 18 holes.

A Course Steeped in History

The Old Course at St Andrews was established in 1552 and remains remarkably unchanged since those early alterations. The course plays to a par 72 and famously features seven double greens.

Originally, the 1st and 17th holes shared a green until they were separated in 1863 by Tom Morris, who was then known as the “keeper of the greens.”

The Home of Golf

St Andrews is essentially a public golf course and, to this day, it closes on Sundays to allow members of the public to walk freely across the fairways and grounds.

The town is also home to numerous golf clubs, including The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, St Andrews Thistle Golf Club, St Andrews Golf Club, The New Golf Club, St Regulus Ladies Golf Club and St Rule Golf Club.

A Stage for the Game’s Greatest Moments

The Old Course regularly hosts The Open Championship, along with events such as the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and the St Andrews Links Trophy — one of amateur golf’s major tournaments.

Perhaps no quote captures the significance of St Andrews better than the words of the great amateur Bobby Jones himself: “I could take out of my life everything but the experiences here in St Andrews and I would still have had a nice full life.”

Source: St Andrews Links Facebook Page