Rarely is the Old course ranked outside the top ten because it’s a very special links, designed by Mother Nature. Surely there is little left to write about St Andrews; the spiritual home of golf, the world’s most famous links course, the mother of golf and so on. It is probable that golf was played here way back in the 12th century; what is certain is that the Old course is one of the oldest golf courses in the world.

Carnoustie is a big natural seaside links and is widely considered to be one of the world's most difficult golf courses. In fact, according to the results of a Top 100 survey, Carnoustie is the toughest golf course in Britain & Ireland.

The oldest "new” course in the world, was built by the Keeper of the Green, Tom Morris in 1895. With boasting undulating fairways and challenging greens, the New Course is a classic test of links golf.

With a traditional layout that presents more difficulty than its brother “Old”, it is a hidden gem eclipsed by the Old Course. Based on the traditional out and back routing, it features shared fairways and a double green at the 3rd and 15th holes.

Dumbarnie Links is scheduled to open in May 2020; this world-class links course is just minutes from St Andrews. The course lies on a rare piece of land with over a mile and a half of sea frontage with panoramic views over the Firth of Forth.

The 345-acre site may have the appearance of the style of the classic links, but it features dual elevations and elevated tees where holes play directly towards panoramic views of the sea that will inspire players of all levels.

Eight miles south of St Andrews lies Kingsbarns, possibly the last true links to be developed in Scotland. In fact, Kingsbarns’ golf origins go back some 200 years when it was home to a nine- hole course and golf club. The new revival is heralded as a truly spectacular and worthy addition to the legendary St Andrews portfolio. Embracing the sea as it does, the layout is superb with each hole offering a great sea view, and seven of them actually playing over or alongside the sea. The course design provides great variety and presents a stiff golfing challenge balanced by generous greens and wide fairways. Kingsbarns blends together all the advantages of a modern course with the traditional features of an old links course.