St Andrews: Golf Origins and Old Course History Tour

Golf’s beginnings feel close at St Andrews: from the Old Course’s 1st tee and 18th green, you can see the land where the game took shape. This 75-minute walk connects those famous views with the people, rules and events that helped make the town the Home of Golf.

I like that the guide pairs golf history with stories about St Andrews itself, so the walk works even if you are not a dedicated fan. I also like the chance to cross parts of the course and pose on the Swilcan Bridge, though that photo stop is not available on tournament days. One thing to weigh: you need to walk comfortably and follow the guide in fluent English.

Key points before you book

• See the Old Course from its most famous vantage points: The walk takes in the 1st tee, 18th green, fairways and the Royal and Ancient Clubhouse.
• Get a guided history, not just a photo stop: Expect stories about golf’s development, the Open and the figures who shaped the game.
• Look for old course photographs: The guide uses rare images, including one showing the Swilcan Bridge at its original height.
• Save time for the bridge photo: A Swilcan Bridge stop is part of the walk, except on tournament days.
• Finish beside the 17th fairway: The tour ends at the Jigger Inn, where you can buy a drink or a bite after the walk.
• Know the limits: The group walks across parts of an active golf course. This is not a suitable choice for people with walking difficulties or children under five.

Why this walk makes the Old Course easier to understand

A view of the Old Course can be striking, but the meaning of its landmarks is not always obvious from the path. This tour gives you a guide to explain how the course developed and why features that look familiar from television matter to the game.

The walk also sets golf in its town context. It opens with St Andrews history and the evolution of the game, rather than treating the course as an isolated sporting monument. That wider view is useful if you want to understand why St Andrews became known as the Home of Golf, not just take a picture of a famous fairway.

The guides are a central part of the experience. Richard is named often by people who took the tour, and his background as a former caddie and golf historian gives him both course-side insight and a feel for the game’s past. Alan is also named as a guide, so the particular person leading your walk may vary. Expect an engaging storyteller, but do not book on the assumption that you can request a specific guide.

From Hotel du Vin to the first tee

Meet outside Hotel du Vin at 40 The Scores. The tour leaves promptly, so arrive early enough to find the meeting point and settle in. There is no luggage drop-off, so bring only what you can comfortably carry on the walk.

The first part introduces St Andrews and the development of golf. This is where the guide can untangle familiar myths and give you a frame for what follows. Some of the historical background may take a little while to build, and one person found the opening 15 minutes slower than the rest. If you are eager to get straight to the course, give the introduction a chance: it helps make the landmarks more than a roll call of golf names.

A fluent command of English matters here. The guide speaks live, at a natural pace, and the tour is not designed for translation or very slow delivery. If you have difficulty hearing in a group or following spoken English, this walk may not be a good fit.

Reading the Links from the Old Course

The route takes in panoramic views of the Links land, home to six golf courses, four of them on links land. The guide helps you see the Old Course as part of a working golf setting, rather than a museum display. The stories cover how the course changed and how those changes helped shape the game played around the world.

You will see the 1st tee with the Royal and Ancient Clubhouse behind it, along with the 18th green and the 1st and 18th fairways. Those familiar views have a special pull for golf fans, but there is more to notice than the clubhouse or a famous green. One guide pointed out how undulating the 18th fairway is, compared with the flat 1st. Details like that give you a sharper sense of the ground beneath the televised moments.

The route also brings in stories from the Open and from the people who helped shape golf. Historic photographs add a useful visual layer. The image showing the Swilcan Bridge at its original height is a particularly concrete way to see how the course and its landmarks have changed.

Do not expect to play a round or enter every part of the course. This is a guided walk around its landmarks, with access to parts of the course during the visit. You cross the 1st and 18th fairway at your own risk, and you need to watch for golf balls during live play. That is part of the appeal, but it also calls for attention and sensible behaviour.

The Swilcan Bridge photo stop

The Swilcan Bridge is the classic photo moment. The guide makes time for pictures, and guides have helped take photos for individuals and couples at key locations. If you want a picture of your group rather than a series of selfies, this can be a real plus.

The stop depends on the golf calendar. The photo opportunity is excluded on tournament days, so do not plan your visit around a guaranteed bridge pose if a major event is under way. The walk still covers course history and views, but that particular photo can be the image you most want to bring home.

A little patience helps here. The group may need time to take turns, and the bridge is a working course landmark, not a private photo set. Wear comfortable shoes and be ready to follow the guide’s directions.

Stories that reach beyond golf

The strongest version of this walk is more than a lesson in course design. Guides bring in the history of the town, religious significance and the people connected with the game. That broader material gives non-golfers something to hold on to, even if they do not know a birdie from a bogey.

The storytelling is often lively, with humour and room for questions. Richard is particularly praised for making connections with the group and taking an interest in participants, while also sharing the kind of practical course knowledge a former caddie can offer. One guide may speak quickly, however, and a few people have found it hard to catch every word. If you have trouble hearing outdoors, choose a place near the guide and ask questions when the group pauses.

I would recommend this to a mixed-interest couple or family if one person loves golf and another is mainly curious about St Andrews. The town stories, historical pictures and photo stops keep the visit from feeling like a specialist lecture. Still, if you have no interest in golf history or the Old Course, the course-focused route may not be the best use of your time.

Ending at the Jigger Inn

The walk finishes at the Jigger Inn, a famed spot overlooking the 17th fairway. Refreshments are not included, but you can choose to stop for a drink or a meal after the guided portion. That makes the ending easy to extend at your own pace, rather than building a meal into a fixed tour schedule.

The Jigger Inn also gives you a chance to keep looking toward the course after the guide has finished. If you have questions left over, this is a natural moment to ask them before you head back into town. Just remember that the tour itself lasts about 75 minutes and the stop for refreshments is optional and extra.

Is $20 good value for 75 minutes?

At $20 per person, the tour offers a relatively low-cost way to understand the Old Course beyond its best-known views. You get a professional local guide, a planned walking route, course history, old photographs and the chance to see the fairways up close. For a golf fan, the guide’s stories and the bridge photo can make that price easy to justify.

The value is less about covering a large area and more about knowing what you are looking at. You could see some of the same views on your own, but you would miss the explanations about how the course developed, why particular features matter and how St Andrews shaped golf. If you are looking only for a quick photo, the guided history may be more than you need.

The walk is short enough to fit into a day in St Andrews, though it is not a sit-down activity. Comfortable shoes are essential. Baby strollers, walking frames, crutches and mobility scooters are not permitted, and the experience is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with walking difficulties. Children under 16 need an adult, and children under five are not suited to the tour.

Should you book the Old Course history walk?

Book it if you want context for the most famous golf course in the world, enjoy stories told by a local guide, or want a structured way to see the 1st tee, 18th green and Swilcan Bridge. It is especially worthwhile if you are new to St Andrews and want the history and town setting explained together.

Skip it if you need a step-free or supported walk, cannot comfortably cross the course, or need interpretation into another language. Also check whether tournament play affects the Swilcan Bridge photo stop if that is your main reason for booking. For most visitors who can manage the walk and follow English commentary, this is a compact, personal introduction to the course and the town that grew around the game.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The guided walk lasts about 75 minutes. Time at the Jigger Inn afterward is optional and not included in that duration.

How much does it cost?

The stated price is $20 per person.

Where does the tour meet?

Meet outside Hotel du Vin, at 40 The Scores, St Andrews KY16 9AS. Tours leave promptly at the scheduled time and do not wait.

Where does the tour finish?

The guided walk ends at the Jigger Inn, which overlooks the 17th fairway. Any refreshments there are not included.

Can I take a photo on the Swilcan Bridge?

Yes, the tour includes a photo stop at the bridge when tournament days do not prevent it.

What will I see on the walk?

The route takes in views of the Links land, the Old Course’s 1st tee and 18th green, the 1st and 18th fairways, and the Swilcan Bridge. It also covers the Road Hole in the guide’s stories.

What language is the tour in?

The live tour is in English. Participants need a fluent command of English, since speaking slowly or translating is not part of the tour.

Is the walk suitable for people with mobility difficulties?

No. It is not suitable for people with walking difficulties, wheelchair users or people who use walking aids such as crutches, walking frames or mobility scooters.

Can children join the tour?

Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. The tour is not suitable for children under five.