So You Didn’t Get an Advance Old Course Tee Time… Now What?

Graylyn LoomisFeatured Post, Scottish Golf Travel, St. Andrews2 Comments

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

The 6 Non-Golf Reasons You Should Visit St Andrews

Graylyn LoomisHammer & The Links1 Comment

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

A Local Guide to the St Andrews Open Championship

Graylyn LoomisSt. AndrewsLeave a Comment

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

Returning to St Andrews

Graylyn LoomisSt. AndrewsLeave a Comment

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

Graylyn LoomisCourse Reviews, St. Andrews5 Comments

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

Graylyn LoomisScottish Golf Travel, St. Andrews5 Comments

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

Graylyn LoomisCourse Reviews, St. Andrews4 Comments

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

Graylyn LoomisCourse Reviews, St. Andrews17 Comments

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

Graylyn LoomisSt. Andrews2 Comments

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

Where to Play Golf in St Andrews

Graylyn LoomisSt. Andrews4 Comments

The perfect first golf trip to Scotland uses St Andrews as a base of operations. Settle down into one of the many lodging options in town (to be discussed in a later post) and make day trips out from St Andrews to visit courses. I have witnessed, and participated in, many golf trips where people play 36 holes per day, … Read More

St Andrews Old Course Changes: Phase 2

Graylyn LoomisSt. Andrews5 Comments

The second round of changes to the St Andrews Old Course took place in the winter of 2013. The renovations are occurred over the 3rd, 4th, 6th, 9th and 15th holes. To see the first phase of changes which took place over the winter of 2012, view the Old Course changes phase 1 here!  Martin Hawtree’s design changes have been implemented … Read More

St Andrews Castle Course Review

Graylyn LoomisCourse Reviews, St. Andrews4 Comments

The St Andrews Castle Course draws mixed reactions from those who have played the course. David Kidd designed the Castle, which opened in 2008. The course is set just outside of St Andrews, a short eight-minute drive south down the coast towards Crail. The views at the course are second to none. The sea is visible from nearly every hole, … Read More

What is a Links Golf Course?

Graylyn LoomisGeneral Post, St. Andrews6 Comments

The question of “What is a links golf course?” was posed to me countless times during my four years in St Andrews. After a round on the St Andrews Old Course yesterday in 45MPH+ winds, I felt inspired to write a definitive answer to this repeated question. In addition to answering the question of what technically makes a links course, … Read More

St Andrews Old Course Changes: Phase 1

Graylyn LoomisSt. Andrews6 Comments

Phase 1 of the changes to the St Andrews Old Course took place over the winter of 2012. These photos were taken on a typically cold and rainy Scotland day. To view the Phase 2 of the Old Course changes, which took place over the winter of 2013, view those here! 17th Hole 2nd Hole – Two bunkers short and … Read More

The Other St Andrews Links Courses

Graylyn LoomisCourse Reviews, St. Andrews1 Comment

Imagine having an older brother who always gets more attention than you. You are one of seven siblings, but people always come to your house to visit him, not any of you. You are a very interesting person yourself, but you’re never given a chance. You are overlooked by nearly everyone. Every five years tens of thousands of people come … Read More