St Andrews Links (Eden Course)

The Quiet Test Beside the Estuary

The Eden Course at St Andrews Links opened in 1914, when Harry Colt was asked to create another full-length course west of the Old, New, and Jubilee. His routing used the existing linksland rather than imposing a severe test, giving the course a more measured character within the wider complex.

Colt's greatest influence appears around the greens. Their pronounced slopes, tiers, and shoulders can turn a straightforward approach into a demanding recovery, while deep pot bunkers make the safest line from the tee worth finding.

The course was altered in the mid-1980s under Donald Steel's masterplan. The first two and final two holes were reconfigured to release ground for Open Championship practice facilities and the tented village, but the central character of Colt's design remained.

One feature has no equivalent elsewhere across St Andrews Links: the pond affecting the 14th and 15th holes. Added during Steel's work, it introduces inland water to a portfolio better known for burns, sand, and wind. Combined with the undulating surfaces and open fairways, it ensures that the Eden rewards control without relying on relentless length.