Two of the St Andrews Links golf courses have come out on top in a prestigious international ranking run by the American Airlines’ magazine.
The Old Course topped the poll in Celebrated Living magazine’s Platinum list of the Top 20 International Golf Courses and was closely followed by The Castle Course in second place.
Other courses in the top 20 included Ballybunion, the King’s Course at Gleneagles, the K Club, Carnoustie, Muirfield and Turnberry.
The poll is voted for by readers of Celebrated Living and features rankings for the best international courses and the best in America.
The Old Course is known around the world as the Home of Golf and regularly features highly in international rankings and its younger sister, The Castle Course, has also earned its fair share of awards. In 2008, when it opened, The Castle Course named by Travel & Leisure Golf magazine as the New Course of the Year and International Development of the Year by Golf Inc magazine in America. The course was also included in the prestigious Golf Digest Top 100 Courses in its first year alongside the Old, New and Jubilee courses.
“With the focus of world golf set to return to St Andrews Links in July with the 150th anniversary Open Championship on the Old Course, the latest recognition is very welcome,” said Alan McGregor, chief executive of St Andrews Links Trust. “It is encouraging to hear this feedback from golfers and shows that the experience and service we provide at our courses is appreciated. It is also pleasing to see The Castle Course being ranked alongside some wonderful courses so soon after it opened.”
The Castle Course is the only one of the Links courses which will be open for play during the week of the Open Championship from July 12-18. A small number of visitor times are still available on July 13. For booking enquiries email reservations@standrews.org.uk.
Pictured: The Castle Course