I first came across Aimee Smith in 2021 when she sent me a direct message on Instagram. Aimee was looking for reference photos of Royal Dornoch and I happily sent her a handful of images of the fifth hole. Ever since, I’ve followed Aimee’s work and have watched with admiration as she uses the tools of social media to connect … Read More
So You Didn’t Get an Advance Old Course Tee Time… Now What?
A few days ago I received a dreaded email… “Thank you for your application for an Advance Old Course Tee Time at St Andrews Links in 2024. Unfortunately, your High Season application has been unsuccessful.” After waiting for a month, dreaming about the Old Course, and planning ahead, it’s a gut punch to not get an advance tee time. That said, it’s not the end of the … Read More
A Guide to the Pubs in St Andrews, Scotland (2023 Update)
You have likely heard of the concept of a “third place” in life. You have home and work, but the “third place” refers to somewhere that anchors you in a community. In a sense, it’s a home away from home. Pubs in the UK are the perfect example of a third place. The bartenders know the patrons, know their orders, … Read More
Returning to St Andrews With My Son (Ahead of the 150th Open Championship)
In June of 2019 I took a golf trip to St Andrews with two of my buddies. At the end of our trip, I slid my golf clubs into my locker at the New Club and left town for a wedding in England. Little did I know, I wouldn’t return to St Andrews (or really travel for golf) for three … Read More
St Andrews Old Course – What Makes it So Special?
I am one of the lucky few that has called the St Andrews Old Course my home course. I attended the University of St Andrews for four years and played around 200 rounds on the Old Course. No other course in the world is like the Old and nowhere else has been able to replicate what makes it special. Rather … Read More
How to Choose a Golf Tour Company & Are They Worth the Money?
To my own (and my wife’s) detriment, I’m always the guy who tries a task myself. Buy a dining table? I can make one. Faucet won’t work? Don’t call the plumber. I’ve always been the same way with my golf trips and this website is an extension of that. I’ve dedicated hundreds of hours to content about courses and how … Read More
How to Get a Tee Time on the St Andrews Old Course
Getting a tee time on the St Andrews Old Course isn’t the easiest or most straightforward process. In this post I break down the various methods to secure a tee time that include one lesser-known option! The Old Course Daily Ballot The ballot is a random drawing to determine a given day’s tee sheet on the St Andrews Old Course. … Read More
The 6 Non-Golf Reasons You Should Visit St Andrews
This post is from Alexa Hammer in her Hammer & The Links section of the site! Please excuse my long absence from writing… I returned to the United States in late May and quickly left to travel to Erin Hills, Wisconsin for an internship with the USGA at the 2017 U.S. Open. It was such a special experience to be a part … Read More
Links to St Andrews Book Review
I met Josh Evenson in 2010. I was a first year student at the University of St Andrews and he was getting his Masters in economics. We connected as Americans obsessed with everything Scottish golf. In addition to his studies, Josh was working with the R&A’s Heritage Division combing through the sport’s historical archives. We shared pints in the St Andrews … Read More
A Local Guide to the St Andrews Open Championship
St Andrews transforms drastically from the cool, dark Scottish winter to the bright, vibrant summers. That transformation is even starker in the lead up to the Open Championship, and the buzz that occurs during the event is only matched every five years. The places mentioned below were favorites of mine that I discovered during four years in St Andrews. This will offer … Read More
To Hell and Back
This post from Liam Frean is the fourth in the Living as a Links Golfer section of the site. The section will grow as Liam lives the life of a student golfer in St Andrews, Scotland! The start to my summer has been a slow but great one. Often it has been filled with boredom at work – something I have been … Read More
University of St Andrews Traditions
This post from Liam Frean is the third in the Living as a Links Golfer section of the site. The section will grow as Liam lives the life of a student golfer in St Andrews, Scotland! This month has been exceptionally busy. It has been filled with exams and having to say goodbye to friends as they go away over the … Read More
East Coast Fever in Scotland
This post from Liam Frean is the second in the Living as a Links Golfer section of the site. The section will grow as Liam lives the life of a student golfer in St Andrews, Scotland! Summer has hit St Andrews with all its force. Never did I expect Scotland to be such an amazing and breathtaking place. Over the last … Read More
Golfing Memories – Liam’s Introduction
This introductory post from Liam Frean is the first in the Living as a Links Golfer section. The section will grow as Liam lives the life of a student golfer in St Andrews, Scotland! Golf has given me so many memories. I feel no better way to introduce myself than by telling you about how I got into golf, and … Read More
Returning to St Andrews
I am writing this on a flight returning from St Andrews, Scotland. This trip back to the town marks my first visit since my graduation from the University of St Andrews. My small personal to-do list during the visit included seeing old friends, a movie at the New Picture House, a curry from Jahangir Indian restaurant, and of course, a … Read More
St Andrews Jubilee Course Review
The St Andrews Jubilee course was my first choice for a quick afternoon round of golf during my four years in the town. The course flies under the radar for many golfers visiting St Andrews, and for others, including locals, it has a fearsome reputation as the hardest track in town. The course is a favorite of the University of … Read More
History of the Hamilton Grand
The building that has become the Hamilton Grand is a famous feature behind the 18th green of the St Andrews Old Course. The building features in many photos of the legendary course, and it stands in the background of every Swilcan Bridge picture. Some call it the second most photographed building in all of golf, second to the clubhouse of … Read More
St Andrews Eden Course Review
The Eden course does not immediately come to mind as a “destination course” for those on golf trips to St Andrews. The start of the course is a twenty-minute walk from the center of town, so visitors rarely stumble across the Eden. However, if you have played the Old Course, you have seen the Eden course to the right of … Read More
St Andrews New Course Review
The St Andrews New Course holds a special place in my golfing heart. It was where I played my first round in St Andrews, and I cut my links golf teeth over its slopes and bunkers. A typically fast pace of play, first-come, first-served tee time system, and very enjoyable course design have made the New a favorite of many … Read More
Where to Stay in St Andrews
There are many great accommodation options in St Andrews. The town is filled with hotels and B&Bs, ranging from very expensive options all the way down to St Andrews Tourist Hostel. Because of the wide array of choices, it would be impossible for me to review all the hotels and B&Bs. I have included places in this post which I … Read More
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