St Andrews Links

Opened in 1895, the New Course is Old Tom Morris’s tighter, more orderly counterpart to the Old Course.

The New Course unfolds on the same sandy linksland as the Old Course, situated slightly further inland. The terrain is low-lying, firm, and exposed, featuring natural undulations, gorse, and tall grasses that more extensively frame the lines of play. The absence of spectacular sea views reinforces a more introspective experience: the wind, the textures of the ground, and the proximity of other courses define the landscape.

Opened in 1895, the New Course was designed by Old Tom Morris at a time when the popularity of the Old Course necessitated a second major golf course. Its name is deceptive today: it is one of the oldest layouts still played in its general form. The project did not seek to reproduce the Old Course, but rather to offer a more legible flow, with distinct greens and more separated holes. Its longevity is due to the quality of the routing and the minimal interventions over time.

Old Tom Morris designed a more conventional course than the Old Course, with more individualized fairways, simple greens, and a sequence that demands more precise ball striking. Bunkers are often placed in natural landing areas, while the greens defend themselves through their orientation and firm surrounds. Nevertheless, the layout retains the fundamental qualities of a links course: variable angles, unpredictable bounces, and numerous possibilities for ground play.

The New Course features holes oriented in different directions, preventing the player from consistently playing with or against the same wind. Fairways are less expansive than on the Old Course, and gorse can penalize an errant shot. The greens, often elevated or sloped, require choosing an approach area rather than a simple landing spot. The sequence of the back nine is particularly demanding when playing into the wind.

The New Course offers a less ceremonial and often quieter experience than the Old Course. It is appreciated by connoisseurs for its rhythm, consistency, and lack of gratuitous frills. Access remains that of a public course within St Andrews Links, with the same caddie services, infrastructure, and immediate proximity to the town.

The Round selects it because it provides insight into Old Tom Morris's work in a more ordered context: an austere, balanced, and enduring links course, where quality arises from the routing and the repetition of precise decisions.

Opened in 1895; designed by Old Tom Morris; built to alleviate pressure on the Old Course; considered by many regulars to be the most complete course in the complex after the Old Course.