The Old Course at St Andrews
St Andrews, Scotland
About The Old Course at St Andrews
The Old Course at St Andrews, also known as the Old Lady or the Grand Old Lady, is considered the oldest golf course in the world. It is a public course over common land in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, and is held in trust by the St Andrews Links Trust under an act of Parliament. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews clubhouse sits adjacent to the first tee, although it is but one of many clubs that have playing privileges on the course, along with some other non-clubhouse owning golf clubs and the general public. Originally known as the "golfing grounds" of St Andrews, it was not until the New Course was opened in 1895 that it became known as the Old Course.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
What Should You Expect to Shoot?
These expected scores use the World Handicap System formula: your handicap index × slope ÷ 113, plus course rating. Use them to set a realistic target before you tee off.
Championship
Rating 76.0 · Slope 143 · Par 72 · 7,305 yards| Your Handicap | Course HCP | Expected Score | Over Par |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 10 | 86 | +14 |
| 10 | 17 | 93 | +21 |
| 15 | 23 | 99 | +27 |
| 20 | 29 | 105 | +33 |
| 25 | 36 | 112 | +40 |
| 30 | 42 | 118 | +46 |
Back
Rating 73.5 · Slope 138 · Par 72 · 6,721 yards| Your Handicap | Course HCP | Expected Score | Over Par |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 8 | 81 | +9 |
| 10 | 14 | 87 | +15 |
| 15 | 20 | 93 | +21 |
| 20 | 26 | 99 | +27 |
| 25 | 32 | 106 | +34 |
| 30 | 38 | 112 | +40 |
Middle
Rating 71.0 · Slope 132 · Par 72 · 6,200 yards| Your Handicap | Course HCP | Expected Score | Over Par |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 5 | 76 | +4 |
| 10 | 11 | 82 | +10 |
| 15 | 17 | 88 | +16 |
| 20 | 22 | 93 | +21 |
| 25 | 28 | 99 | +27 |
| 30 | 34 | 105 | +33 |
Forward
Rating 74.0 · Slope 130 · Par 73 · 5,700 yards| Your Handicap | Course HCP | Expected Score | Over Par |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 7 | 81 | +8 |
| 10 | 13 | 87 | +14 |
| 15 | 18 | 92 | +19 |
| 20 | 24 | 98 | +25 |
| 25 | 30 | 104 | +31 |
| 30 | 36 | 110 | +37 |
Scorecard
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Par | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
| Yards | 376 | 453 | 398 | 480 | 570 | 412 | 371 | 178 | 352 | 3,590 | 386 | 174 | 348 | 465 | 618 | 456 | 423 | 495 | 357 | 3,722 | 7,312 |
| Stroke Index | 7 | 3 | 13 | 11 | 17 | 1 | 9 | 15 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 16 | 2 | 10 | 6 | 18 | 12 | 14 |
Holes That Decide Your Round
Play for the fat of the green and take bogey off the table. Build your pre-round plan →
Three good shots beats two heroic ones. Bogey here is a solid result for anyone above 10 handicap.
Attack the pin — if your wedge game is on, this is where strokes get gained back.
Expected par or better. If you drop a stroke here, it's usually a mental mistake — which is trackable.
Pre-Round Checklist for The Old Course at St Andrews
Your Game Plan for The Old Course at St Andrews
The scorecard tells you the course. The Grand Plan assessment tells you you — which part of your game is actually bleeding strokes. Pair both, and you have a pre-round strategy tailored to this course AND your weaknesses.
Tee Sets
Championship
- Yards:
- 7,305
- Par:
- 72
- Course Rating:
- 76.0
- Slope:
- 143
Back
- Yards:
- 6,721
- Par:
- 72
- Course Rating:
- 73.5
- Slope:
- 138
Middle
- Yards:
- 6,200
- Par:
- 72
- Course Rating:
- 71.0
- Slope:
- 132
Forward
- Yards:
- 5,700
- Par:
- 73
- Course Rating:
- 74.0
- Slope:
- 130
Other Notable Courses near St Andrews
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the par at The Old Course at St Andrews?
The Old Course at St Andrews is a par 72 course with 18 holes measuring 7,312 total yards. Front nine par 36 (3,590 yards), back nine par 36 (3,722 yards).
What is the longest hole at The Old Course at St Andrews?
The longest hole is hole 14, a par 5 playing 618 yards.
Which hole is hardest at The Old Course at St Andrews?
Hole 6 has the lowest stroke index (1). It's a par 4 playing 412 yards.
What should I shoot at The Old Course at St Andrews?
Use the expected-score table above — it's calculated from your handicap and this course's official WHS rating and slope. A 15 handicap typically shoots mid-80s to low-90s depending on the tee set; a 25 handicap mid-90s to low-100s. Track your actual scores against these targets to see how your game travels.