Castle Course, St Andrews re-opens

for new season on Wednesday, April 1

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY ST ANDREWS LINKS TRUST
After a successful opening few months in 2008, when around 14,000 rounds of golf were played, the seventh course at the Home of Golf will reopen for the high season.
Designed by leading golf architect David McLay Kidd, the Castle Course attracted a great deal of attention and received recognition as the best new course of the year. It scooped a series of prestigious international awards from publications such as Travel and Leisure Golf, Golf Inc and Golf Magazine in the US. It was also named straight away in the Golf World Top 100 ranking in the UK.
The Castle Course is managed and maintained by St Andrews Links Trust which looks after the other six public courses in St Andrews including the famous Old Course.
The course proved popular from the outset and, with its dramatic undulating landscape atop the cliffs overlooking St Andrews, it provided a challenge for golfers of all abilities. After listening to feedback from golfers, work was carried out over the winter.
“We were very happy with the way the course performed in its first four months,” said Alan McGregor, chief executive of St Andrews Links Trust. “There was a great deal of feedback from golfers and we have studied closely the responses we received. In partnership with the architect and the Links Management Committee, we have made a few modifications to the course over the winter months and these alterations should ensure that golfers have an even more enjoyable experience.”
Much of the work has taken place on the 15th hole. The mounds in the middle of the fairway have been removed and the burn in front of the green has been re-routed to create more room for approach shots. On the fourth hole, the large mound to the right of the green has been removed and mounds have also been removed from the fifth, sixth, 14th and 18th fairways.
The distinctive Castle Course clubhouse will also reopen on April 1 and patrons will be able to have a relaxing meal in the restaurant as they enjoy striking views of St Andrews and out to the North Sea.
The course opens for play on Wednesday, April 1 and will be open for the season until November 1. Tee times can be booked by contacting 0044 1334 466666, emailing reservations@standrews.org.uk or online at www.standrews.org.uk.