At Morton Golf, we are very excited about the new Castle Course at St Andrews. It has much to live up to. But with its impeccable pedigree and the wealth of knowledge and experience that have gone into it, the Castle. From a blank canvas of featureless farmland David Maclay Kidd has sculpted a spectacular course with all the appropriate challenge and excitement you would expect from a course with such illustrious sisters. Course promises to be a worthy addition to the St. Andrews Links stable.

With its cliff top location, the Castle Course is not a links course. However, it has been designed in the Scottish links tradition. The specially cultivated mix of bent and fescue grasses will give the course an authentic links feel and playability. Because the approaches to the greens will be similar to the greens themselves, running shots will be as playable as pitches.

Full consideration has been given to the environment surrounding the course. It is linked to St Andrews town by an area called Kinkell Braes, a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest full of wildflowers. In keeping with this, extensive areas of natural rough and wild meadow will provide a variety of wildlife habitats and help the course to blend in harmoniously with its surroundings.

From its elevated position, overlooking the North Sea, the panorama is magnificent. This unparalleled view of St Andrews has attracted artists for centuries. Beyond the town lies the expanse of Tentsmuir forest and further to the north Dundee and Arbroath can be seen as well as Carnoustie Links.

Whichever links course you choose to play, you can enhance your enjoyment by having a preparatory links coaching session. Links golf demands some specific techniques. Drier, firmer ground conditions call for tricky little ‘bump and run’ shots and those sea breezes can be pitiless unless you modify your angle of trajectory to accommodate them. Having a few of these local tricks up your sleeve really helps you to rise to the challenge.

Morton Golf can arrange a coaching session for you with the Honorary Professional of the R&A, Jim Farmer.  A former Scottish National coach, Jim was asked to teach American actor Jim Caviezel to swing for the 2004 film ‘Bobby Jones - Stroke of Genius’. A session with Jim will save you shots; you’ll enjoy your holiday more and it will add a new dimension to your game which will last long after your return home.