Named after Scotland’s patron saint, whose bones are thought to be buried there, St Andrews is a charming and historic Scottish town perched picturesquely on a cliff-top overlooking the North Sea.
Golfing Greatness
Golf has been played on the windswept beaches and fertile fields of this corner of Fife since the15th Century, but when people discuss the birthplace of golf, they generally mean the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, which first met in 1754 and still controls the rules of the game. Surprisingly, given the town’s location and modest size, the Royal and Ancient’s Old Course at St Andrews is just one of eight magnificent championship golf courses, weaving a green ribbon around the ivy-clad stone buildings of the quaint university-dominated town centre.
Royal and Ancient Club House
Guests on Teed Up golf holidays in St Andrews can expect to spend a couple of days in the town, playing a round at the Old Course and the Castle Course. After completing your game, there are plenty of sights to enjoy in and around St. Andrews. For those who find a round of golf too light a physical task, take a walk along the seafront and then climb the spiral steps in the 108ft St Regulus church tower for breathtaking panoramic views of the town and the promise of more exercise on the Fife Coastal Walk.
For a less strenuous workout, the narrow cobbled streets and alleyways richly reward some gentle meandering, boasting a host of independent shops, cafes and restaurants, plus the stunning stone buildings of the 600-year-old university. The Botanic Garden also offers plenty to see and do on a sunny day.
Alternative Amusements
On the days when the Scottish weather is damp, visitors can explore the ruined cathedral, castle, aquarium and the British Golf Museum, or even take one of the frequent trains to nearby Edinburgh and enjoy a day in Scotland’s capital city.
As well as stringent handicapping rules, the courses at St Andrews are challenging, which is why escorted golf tours can provide the perfect solution for those keen to explore the birthplace of golf with experienced players and all the comforts of home. All Teed-Up’s escorted golf package tours take place with small groups and offer first-class accommodation, meals, transfers and guided sightseeing, as well as access to and advice for playing on the most hallowed turf in golf.
The British Open
In 2015 the British Open returns once more to St Andrews, engulfing the town in a celebration of its long association with golf for a week in the middle of July. A perfect time of year to visit Scotland, summer is beautiful in St. Andrews. There are miles of sandy beaches to explore, made famous by the film Chariots of Fire, and long summer evenings where the sun barely sets before rising once more.
As well as playing the Old Course and enjoying the Open, the Teed-Up British Open package also takes in three other British Open courses in Scotland, Carnoustie, Turnberry and Troon, and more in England. Our 2014 British Open package sold out quickly, so book your place today to avoid missing out on the golfing holiday of a lifetime.