L
Very enjoyable
Mike was an excellent guide. Very knowledgeable about the history and the present day course
St Andrews Old Course History Tour
+9 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 1h 15min
- Price from
- $27 / person
- Location
- St Andrews
- Rating
- 4.7 / 5 · 217 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 15
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- St Andrews Tours
- Meeting point
- Hotel du Vin, 40 The Scores, St Andrews. Richard will see you outside the front of the Hotel for your shared tour. Please be on time as these public tours will not wait. The hotel is also open to the public for refreshments (not included).
Description
These are bucket list award-winning tours with professional local guides. Aimed primarily at those with a more in-depth interest in golf, you will learn about the origins and the development of both the game and the Old Course through a timeline spanning the 13th to 20th century, plus Open and Dunhill history, finishing with a photo shoot on the iconic Swilkan Bridge (excludes tournament days). Hear memorable Road Hole moments and gain recommendations for a few more things on the bucket list to do while here, including the Himalayas and the Jigger Inn. Round off your tour by the Old Course Jigger Inn. Sundays - Walk on the Old Course fairway - excludes championship/tournament days) *Check the booking calendar for availability Tours endorsed by famed Golf historian David Joy and RIck Steves.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Meet your guide outside front of hotel for the start of your shared tour. Please don't be late as these public tours will not wait. Tour start: Gain an overview of town history leading to 1123 Links charter.
Discover the origins and early development of the game of golf, from 13th-century stick and ball in the Low Countries to Edinburgh in 1744 and why St Andrews is the Home of Golf.
The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews
Learn about how Old Course development also developed the game of golf, where fairways and bunkers come from, golfing moments, Old Tom and the old Caddie Shack!
The Open Championship, Dunhill Cup, further course development from 12, 10 to 18 holes and important sites around the 18th.
The 1st/18th fairway and farmers, Rusacks Hotel, the Mannings, original 1st tee and 18th hole, how early caddies and ladies caused Old Tom to create the world's first putting green!
Photos on one of the most iconic landmarks in the game of golf, and one of the most photographed bridges in the world. Excludes tournament days - Dunhill, Open etc and busy days.
The Jigger Inn
Hear about some of the jaw-dropping golfing moments at the Road Hole - the 17th green of the Old Course, then finish the tour near the famed Old Course Jigger Inn for refreshments (not included).
What's included
Included
Professional local guide
Professionally taken photos on the Swilkan Bridge (excludes tournament days)
Not included
We also have a private tour on Viator: Private St Andrews Old Course History Tour
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.7
217 reviews
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Tours not suitable for under 5s
- A fluent command of English is essential for all participants. Speaking slowly or translating does not work.
- Not suitable for strollers/carriages
- Not suitable for Crutches, walking frames, mobility scooters
- There is nowhere to leave any of the above and golf clubs etc while on tour, so make alternative arrangements
- Calls will not be answered. Text/message or email only.
- Not suitabe for those with new knee/hip replacements, sprainked ankles etc.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does St Andrews Old Course History Tour take?
St Andrews Old Course History Tour lasts about 1h 15min. The itinerary has 7 stops.
How much does St Andrews Old Course History Tour cost?
Prices start at $27 per person for this St Andrews experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
Can I cancel St Andrews Old Course History Tour for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is Hotel du Vin, 40 The Scores, St Andrews. Richard will see you outside the front of the Hotel for your shared tour. Please be on time as these public tours will not wait. The hotel is also open to the public for refreshments (not included). Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is St Andrews Old Course History Tour offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 15 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Not suitable for strollers/carriages
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Not suitable for Crutches, walking frames, mobility scooters
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is St Andrews Old Course History Tour worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.7 out of 5 across 217 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by St Andrews Tours.
Reviews(217)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
D
Mike was very...
Mike was very knowledgeable and funny, he gave us a great tour of The Old Course and had recommendations for lunch afterward. A great experience overall!
C
Great info but a tad short
Our tour guide, Ken, had a lot of great information and trivia to share. He was also very friendly and accommodating, snapping photos for us through the tour. It was just a tad short - getting to see other parts of the course would have been nice.
P
Yes worth seeing on Sunday
We went to St Andrews on a Sunday and didn’t know that we could walk the whole course even picnic on the fairways! Lol The course has its church rest day and it’s also considered a local park, so go figure the propaganda and compromises made over scotch.
R
Book this tour!
Ed was wonderful! We were able to customize our itinerary mainly focusing on The Old Course and he gave us some great suggestions. He also gave us a tour of the town with a lot of history. And he gave us a list of must-see places for the rest of our time in Scotland. Highly recommend!
L
Great way to visually link so much that I did and didn’t know.
This turned out to be a private tour since others failed to show. I apologize for not remembering my guides name but he was great. I learned so much about the history (and present day) that i had not read about in the past. It was a great experience being able to visually link all this information.
S
St. Andrew’s at its finest
Donald was fabulous!!! We learned so much.
R
Great history lesson
Easy walk, learned a lot about golf. Ben was a great guide. September was a slower pace and the crowds were thin
D
St Andrews Old Course Tour
A great walk explaining the history of the town and of course the home of golf. Would recommend this to any Golf enthusiast.
W
old course tour visit
a good lecture, moderate walk, good places for pictures be prepared for changing weather conditions no bathrooms
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- Shortest: St Andrews Old Course History Tour — 1h 15min
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| St Andrews Old Course History Tour | 1h 15min | 4.7 (217) | $27 | |
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from$27
4.7(217) Free cancellation