St Andrews Links Clubhouse, which serves the Old, New and Jubilee courses, is set to offer a new dining experience in the New Year.

The clubhouses will be closed on Christmas Day. There will be no food and beverage facilities available on New Year’s Day, although reception and locker facilities will be open.
 

The Castle Course in St Andrews has received three prestigious international awards in its inaugural season.

The course has been recognised by Travel & Leisure Golf magazine in America as the New Course of the Year. It was also named International Development of the Year by Golf Inc magazine in America pipping the Els Club in Dubai to the title.

St Andrews Links was graced by Stephanie Willemse yesterday.

Green fees for the six 18 hole courses and the nine hole Balgove are priced according to the season: high, shoulder and low.

Tickets for three and seven day play can be bought on the first day of play from the clubhouses or starters. These can be used over a period of seven and fourteen days respectively. Advance Reservable Three Day Tickets may also be bought from the reservations team.

Payment can be made in cash (sterling), cheques (with guarantee card) and major credit cards (except Diners Club). To avoid speculative bookings, we regret that pre-paid green fees cannot be refunded.
 

Sweden's Robert Karlsson broke the British Isles' stranglehold on the Dunhill by winning the tournament at the first extra hole in a three way play off with Ross Fisher of England and German Martin Kaymer. Jarmo Sandelin was fourth on eight under. Karlsson's final round of 65 on the Old Course brought him to ten under par. He praised the condition of the Old Course, saying it was 'fantastic to play.'
 

Day three

Day two

Day One.
Best rounds on the Old Course today were 66s from Australia's Marcus Fraser, Scot Marc Warren and Grégory Bourdy of France. Joint leaders are England's Ross Fisher and Dane Søren Hansen, who both shot 64 at Kingsbarns. Germany's Martin Kaymer is third on 65.

Two-time Open champion Padraig Harrington, along with nine other members of Europe’s Ryder Cup team, will have an early chance to make up for the disappointment of their defeat in Valhalla as they bid for the prestigious Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews next month.

Harrington and Ryder Cup players Paul Casey, Soren Hansen, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Robert Karlsson, Graeme McDowell, Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson, Lee Westwood and Oliver Wilson, who were all members of the team beaten by the United States, are among the entries for the event which takes place at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns from October 2-5.

The participants in the SALJGA Open 2008 after the prizegiving ceremony

A busy opening month for The Castle Course saw more than 4000 rounds of golf played at the new seventh course at St Andrews Links.

Both local and visiting golfers have been taking up times at the new clifftop layout leading to it being fully booked on many days. Since it opened for play on June 28 the course has drawn visitors from as far afield as Australia, Japan, Dubai and the USA.
 

Top qualifier for the Eden Trophy was Gordon Stevenson (Whitecraigs) on 137, four under par. Kevin Duncan (McDonald) scored 139. Local player Frazer Ogston was third on 144. Frazer is a graduate of St Andrews Links Junior Golf Association and was a Scottish under-14 champion in 2004. Gemma Webster (Hilton Park) was the best of the ladies, carding a two over par 150 total in the Strathtyrum Trophy.

The Eden Tankard (handicap) went to Terry Rice (Blundells Hill), who beat Gavin Quinlivan (Ballybunion) 2 and 1

The Strathyrum Salver (handicap) was won by Georgina Keane (Ballybunion) 1 up over Carol Houghton (Oakmere Park)

 

Once again the St Andrews Links Junior Opens saw great golf being played by participants with worthy champions emerging at the end of a gruelling week which featured heavy rainfall in the final stages.

 

Boys’ Open champion is 18-year-old Nicky Maddison of Newcastle City GC who beat St Andrews Links Junior Golf Association member and Scottish Under 16 strokeplay champion Ian Redford (King James VI) by 4 and 2 in their Old Course final.

He takes a title that was won three years ago by Chris Wood, who recently finished fifth at The Open and won the Silver Medal as top amateur. This was Nicky’s fourth title of the season following on from his victories in the Northumberland Under-18 Strokeplay and Junior Mathchplay competitions and the Fenwick-Smith Trophy.

A high standard of play will be seen across St Andrews Links next week when this season’s Boys’ and Junior Ladies’ Opens take place at the Home of Golf.

Both tournaments give an early indication of emerging young golfers with former Boys’ Open champions including 2005 winner Chris Wood, who recently finished fifth at The Open at Royal Birkdale and has just turned professional.

Alex Salmond today announced that the Ricoh Women's British Open would be played in Scotland on at least five occasions between 2011 and 2020.

'The success of the 2007 Women's British Open here at St Andrews proved once again that there is nowhere better to stage major golfing events,' said the First Minister at a press conference.

Congratulations to Padraig Harrington on a second Open victory. St Andrews Links looks forward to welcoming you back in October for the Dunhill.

A chemistry student has developed a sudden interest in history after striking the very first hole in one on the brand new Castle Course at St Andrews.

Stuart Cross was in his element after hitting the perfect shot at the much talked about seventeenth hole on the internationally acclaimed development on Tuesday 8 July, less than a week after it was officially opened by The Duke of York.
 

St Andrews Links Trust today announced a freeze on visitor green fees for its seven public courses for 2009.

The announcement means that high season green fees for visitors to the Old Course will remain at £130, the New and Jubilee courses at £65 and The Castle Course at £120.

For only the sixth time in 600 years of history a new golf course opened at St Andrews Links, the Home of Golf, today.

The Castle Course was opened by the Duke of York at a special ceremony attended by around 150 leading figures from the world of golf and from golf clubs and organisations in St Andrews.

Continuing a line which began when the first track was cut through the gorse to create what became the Old Course, The Castle Course is the seventh course run by St Andrews Links Trust and the first championship-length 18-hole golf course to open at the Links for more than 100 years.

The best known family in American football, the Mannings, took on the Old Course today.
From left, Peyton Manning, Archie Manning, Cooper Manning and Eli Manning

One of the most respected sportswomen of the last 40 years who has made a significant contribution to the growth of ladies’ golf worldwide made a visit to the Old Course today.

Renee Powell, a pioneering player, coach, educator and goodwill ambassador was joined on the tee by long-time friend Angela Bonallack, Brian Whitcomb, president of the PGA of America, and Kenny Wood of the St Andrews charity New Links. Renee was also accompanied by her 91-year-old father William Powell, making his first visit to Scotland in over 60 years.
 

Carnoustie's Keir McNicoll crossed the Tay to triumph at the Home of Golf today, winning the Links Trophy by one shot from France's Rudy Thuillier after a closing round of 68. Keir finished on 283, five under par, clinching the title with a birdie at the final hole. Michael Stewart (Troon Welbeck) shared second place with Rudy. Sam Hutsby (Westhook) was fourth on three under.

Callum Macaulay (Tulliallan) leads the Links Trophy after two rounds, winning the Ian Forbes Memorial Trophy. A 71 today gave him a total of 137, seven under par. Keir McNicoll (Carnoustie), third in 2006, is second this year on six under. Craig Hinton (The Oxfordshire) was third reserve but has had a great few days to lie five under. Best round today was a 66 by Australian Rohan Blizard (New South Wales) who had a share of 135th place yesterday after a 79 on the Jubilee but made the cut of 145. A total of 55 players will be in action in rounds three and four, with only eight shots between them all.
 

Wallace Booth (Comrie) followed up last week's four shot win in the Scottish Open Strokeplay Championship with a 66 on the Jubilee Course. Wallace was helped round by his sister, Carly, who caddied for him days after becoming the youngest player in the history of the Curtis Cup. Fellow Scot Callum Macaulay (Tulliallan) joined Wallace on 66 to share the lead going into the second round on the Old Course. 2005 St Andrews Boys' Open winner Chris Wood (Long Ashton) and 2006 Eden Trophy winner Oliver Farr (Ludlow) are among six players one shot back.
 

Singles
Breanne Loucks lost to Kimberly Kim 3 and 1
Jodi Ewart lost to Amanda Blumenherst 2 and 1
Liz Bennett lost to Stacy Lewis 3 and 2
Carly Booth lost to Tiffany Joh 6 and 5
Michele Thomson halved with Jennie Lee
Florentyna Parker beat Meghan Bolger 6 and 4
Krystle Caithness beat Mina Harigae 2 and 1
Sally Watson lost to Alison Walshe 1 hole
GB&I 2½ USA 5½

The defending champions will take a three point lead into the final day singles after completing another winning session this afternoon. The USA side has taken three of the four session played so far, with only this morning's foursomes shared. Eight singles take place tomorrow starting from 10am. Stacy Lewis is the star of the tournament so far with four straight victories to her name.

Foursomes (Morning)
Carly Booth & Breanne Loucks beat Kimberly Kim & Jennie Lee 3 and 2
Sally Watson & Michele Thomson lost to Alison Walshe & Stacy Lewis 5 and 4
Liz Bennett & Jodi Ewart halved with Amanda Blumenherst & Tiffany Joh A/S
GB&I 1½ USA 1½

Fourballs (Afternoon)
Carly Booth & Breanne Loucks lost to Kimberly Kim & Mina Harigae 2 and 1
Sally Watson & Krystle Caithness beat Amanda Blumenherst & Meghan Bolger 3 and 2
Elizabeth Bennett & Florentyna Parker lost to Alison Walshe & Stacy Lewis 1 up
GB&I 1 USA 2

 

It was a great day for the visiting team as the USA won both sessions by 2-1 to take the lead at the end of the first day's play in the 35th Curtis Cup. Amanda Blumenherst and Stacy Lewis both scored two points. Sally Watson was the only British player to gain a maximum return. Local girl Sally won with Scottish team mate Michele Thomson in the morning and then with fellow Fifer, Krystle Caithness, in the afternoon.

Foursomes (Morning)
Liz Bennett & Jodi Ewart lost to Stacy Lewis & Alison Walshe 3 and 1
Sally Watson & Michele Thomson beat Mina Harigae & Jennie Lee 1 up
Breanne Loucks & Florentyna Parker lost to Amanda Blumenherst & Tiffany Joh 1 down
GB&I 1 USA 2

Fourballs (Afternoon)
Carly Booth & Michele Thomson lost to Kimberly Kim and Mina Haringae 3 and 2
Sally Watson & Krystle Caithness beat Tiffany Joh and Meghan Bolger 3 and 2
Florentyna Parker & Liz Bennet lost to Amanda Blumenhurst & Stacy Lewis 3 and 1
GB&I 1 USA 2

US Curtis Cup team member Alison Walshe has been speaking about her initial impressions of St Andrews.

Mary McKenna, captain of the Great Britian and Ireland team expressed her delight at the first staging of the Curtis Cup match at the Home of Golf. 'I think it will be very special,' she said today. ' I think its going to turn out to be the Curtis Cup.'
 

Scotland's Kylie Walker (Buchanan Castle) is the new St Rule Trophy champion after she held off the challenge of France's Audrey Goumard to win the prestigious tournament by a single stroke. Isabelle Boineau was third on 150. Kylie's two round total of 148 (75, 73) was a creditable four under par and represents superb play in difficult conditions, with an easterly wind blowing in off the sea at over 25 mph throughout the day. Kylie, who is 21-years-old, led after the first round and her total was eight under the CSS for the event. Audrey won the Lawson Trophy for the best score by an under 18 player. France (Goumand, Boineau) won the team event by ten strokes with a total of 299. Scotland (309) came second; Ireland finished third (314).

The Sports Turf Research Institute has given the Links great praise in its spring assessment. The Castle Course also received accolades for its condition ahead of opening in June

New pictures of The Castle Course show its suberb condition six weeks before opening to the public on 28 June

Six of the GB&I Curtis Cup team will be practicing their skills at the Home of Golf tomorrow. The ladies last visited St Andrews in December.

The seventh annual Father & Son Tournament was won by Louis and Holger Peens from South Africa. The popular better ball stableford competition is held over four top quality courses, with the concluding round on the Old Course. The Peens beat English pair Steven and Kristopher Gray into second place. The competition honours Old Tom Morris and his son Tommy. Next year's event takes place 18-23 April 2009

Masters champion Trevor Immelman is a confirmed fan of the Old Course, as he revealed during last season's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, when he finished joint sixth: 'It is such a joy to play that course... You feel very special...'

 Until Monday the Old Course is being played in a clockwise direction - the opposite of the normal route. This was the original way the course was tackled.

A free Shuttle Bus service runs between the two clubhouses, the first tee of the Old Course and the Golf Practice Centre in the high season.

This enables golfers, and others, to travel from one side of the Links to the other without having to take a car. This applies particularly to golfers who wish to use the St Andrews Links Golf Academy or the Golf Practice Centre before their round on the Old, New or Jubilee courses, or who wish to play a second round on a course on the other side of the Links.

St Andrews Links Golf Academy has strengthened its coaching team with the addition of two new members of staff who have experience in some of the finest golfing destinations in the world.

St Andrews-born Mike Kinloch returns to his home town from the Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club, while Kevin Hale makes the journey north from Ryder Cup venue The Belfry.
 

For the first time since 1994, four Scottish players have been selected by the Ladies’ Golf Union to compete on home soil in the 35th Curtis Cup.

Carly Booth, (15), will become the youngest ever GB & I team member, superceding fellow Scot Jane Connachan who, in 1980 played at the age of 16. Krystle Caithness, (19), a reserve in 2006, Michele Thomson, (20) and Sally Watson, (16) make up the quartet.

Welsh star, Breanne Loucks, (20), a member of the 2006 GB & I side has again been selected to play in the biennial match over the historic Old Course, St Andrews from 30 May to 1 June 2008.

Completing the team of eight and making their first appearance in the contest are England’s Elizabeth Bennett, (25), Jodi Ewart, (20) and Florentyna Parker, (18).

Mary McKenna, Captain of the GB & I team said; “ I am delighted with the team that has been selected. It was no easy task with the quality of the squad being so high. I feel very confident that we can win the Curtis Cup on this historic occasion.”

This year, a new three-day format of play has been introduced, featuring three foursomes and three four-ball matches on the first two days. All eight players will play singles matches on Sunday to conclude the competition.

The USA team has won the last five Curtis Cup Matches and leads the series by 25 wins to 6 GB & I wins and 3 matches drawn.

Architect of The Castle Course David Kidd, second left, with project manager Peter Mason, design associate Paul Kimber and chief agronomist Jimmy Kidd. The four played a round on the seventh course at the Home of Golf today. The Castle Course opens on 28 June

Picturesque St Andrews in the snow

Tiger Woods has once again spoken of his admiration for the Old Course. Currently in Dubai, Tiger was asked about his favourite places to play golf:
'You know, my favourite golf course is St Andrews. Obviously it's the home of golf and the history behind it; that golf course, the nuances and the intricacies behind it and understanding how to manage your way around that golf course, that's fun.
The different wind conditions, I just think that's just a lot more cerebral than people think of how to manage your game around that golf course. I enjoy that type of golf.'
 

The Castle Course naming competition was recognised at a prestigious awards ceremony held at the recent USPGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Florida. The competition received an award in the PR/Promotions category of the International Network of Golf (ING) Industry Honours. In November 2006, more than 4000 entries from around the world were submitted for the competition, which was held through the standrews.org.uk website. It also attracted worldwide media coverage. The competition was recognised by the ING judging panel, which comprised senior golf industry representatives, as an outstanding promotional initiative.