The Old Course, St. Andrews

Diagram of ‘The Home of Golf’ and the oldest course in the world, St. Andrews.

The links at St. Andrews trace its historical roots back to the Twelfth Century, when the king ruled that the land that would ultimately become the course was the common property of the citizenry of the nearby town of St. Andrews. Golfers didn’t first make their appearance until several hundred years later, in the mid-15th century. With the exception of a brief window when the game was banned (King James II was worried too much time was spent golfing, and not enough on archery practice), it continues to be enjoyed on the course to this day.

This map shows the Old Course of St. Andrews in the mid-1920s and shows the location of each tee, major hazards, and course amenities. Each hole’s name and corresponding length is provided in a table in the upper left, with the longest topping out at nearly 525 yards!

The map was surveyed and drawn by Alister MacKenzie in 1924 and published by W.C. Henderson & Son, Ltd., University Press. Color lithography by McCorqudoale Ltd. of Glasgow.