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David Brice
Golf International Inc.

The opening of a new golf course is rarely an event warranting much more than a mention on the back pages of the local newspaper. Open that new course in the Scottish town of St. Andrews however, and everything moves to a different level, commanding global attention - at least in golfing circles.

Bandon Dunes first brought fame to David McLay Kidd.

St. Andrews sparkling new Castle Course will officially open to the public next Summer, becoming the seventh layout owned and operated by the town, since the fabled Old Course first introduced the world to a rudimentary form of the game, back in the 14th century. The attention now being poured onto the new arrival compares to the pending birth of a prince born to be king and in many ways, the Castle Course will indeed be Royalty.

The decision to build a seventh course was necessitated by the continued growth in demand to play the established championship courses of St. Andrews. Led by the historic Old Course, with the pair of centenarians, The New and The Jubilee Courses, in hot pursuit, St. Andrews was bursting at the seams with golf visitors, but unable to accommodate all who wished to play its best courses. The only solution was to build an additional course of the highest possible quality. It seems St. Andrews has succeeded and in the process, demonstrated to golfers around the globe that the best Scottish golf courses are not limited to only links layouts.

St. Andrews Castle Course officially opens to visitors on June 28th, 2008

The formidable task of designing a championship course, worthy of bearing the St. Andrews name, was awarded to David McLay Kidd, a 36 year old, native Scotsman, who had already established a solid reputation for creativity and imagination in his designs. Kidd was responsible for the original layout at Bandon Dunes that brought instant fame to an isolated corner of southern Oregon and had accomplished similarly impressive end results with his work at Queenwood in the Surrey countryside, outside of London. He has undertaken the re-design of Gleneagles Centenary Course, in preparation for its hosting of the 2014 Ryder Cup and lists Hawaii's Nanea and South Africa's highly acclaimed Fancourt among his growing portfolio.

Tough, challenging and very Scottish, The Castle will be a must play.

Kidd was presented with a site for his St Andrews design that at first glance, must have appeared somewhat less than encouraging -- a boringly flat potato farm sitting on a Fife cliff-top, 2 miles from the heart of town.

With creative juices released, imagination running in top gear and no shame in using earth moving equipment to literally carve his creation from the red clay soil, David McLay Kidd has sculpted a work of art that cannot fail to be anything less than a rousing success. It will never have the history of The Old Course, nor the same sentimental attachment, but for any serious golfer, The Castle Course throws down the gauntlet in a challenge, the equal of any Scottish layout. The handsome good looks and breath-taking views it pours on from start to finish, are just thrown in as a bonus.

St. Andrews new Castle Course - the 17th hole

Although not a true links course, the design contains many links characteristics, with the added thrill of being perched, sometimes precariously, 80 feet above the crashing surf of the North Sea. The elevation and exposed location only adds to the cantankerous nature of the wind, which in these parts and even at sea level, is notorious for it's fickle ways.

Measuring a more than healthy, 7,200 yards from the tips, the considerate use of 5 different tee positions on each hole, enables this to be reduced to as little as 5,600 yards for mere mortals. But this is a rare kindness on a layout that is very serious.

St. Andrews Castle Course - a cliff-top delight

Any memories of The Castle's previous life as a potato farm are long gone. Elevation changes are a constant and dramatic factor on this previously flat piece of land, varying over 100 feet between the highest and lowest points. The fairways, though wide, are filled with a never-ending array of swales, hollows, ridges and humps. The greens, including a double green (the 9th and 18th) reminiscent of The Old Course, are filled with contours - sometimes subtle, more often not - bring an emphasis on abilities with the short stick. The bunkering, though never overdone, is always strategically placed and clearly designed to collect the price of any errant shot.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of The Castle Course is not how it excels in any one or two aspects of the design, but more, the overall test it provides from tee to green. Filled with an ever-changing variety of tests, which at times are stern, but always fair and certainly very Scottish, it's the kind of challenge to be relished and enjoyed to the fullest by every golf connoisseur.

There can be no question that St. Andrews has done itself proud with this new addition, which will inevitably be numbered among Scotland's finest. But if the purpose in introducing this new jewel, was to quell the growing demand to play St. Andrews courses, the end result may be quite the opposite. What has been produced in The Castle Course is one more St. Andrews layout that shouldn't be missed.

For a few suggestions on how best to include to the sparkling new Castle Course and other St. Andrews area gems, in your Scottish golf trip, click here.

© 2007 David Brice / Golf International Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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