Golf course architect and native Scot David McLay Kidd (creator of famed Bandon Dunes in Oregon) called in hundreds of loads of earth to create the effect of dune-swept linksland for The Castle Course, the newest of the seven courses overseen by the St. Andrews Links Trust.
Nevertheless, The Castle Course looks like it has been here forever.
The instantly aged landscape, however, belies the legitimately long history of the land upon which the golf course is built. Kinkell Ness, the stunning escarpment upon which the dual ninth and 18th green is now situated, was in the Middle Ages the site of Kinkell Castle, home of the prominent Moneypenny family, who were deeded the land in 1211.
Hence the name "Castle Course" and the peer's helmet logo adopted by the course.
The Castle Course is like nothing else in Fife - perhaps not like any other golf course in Scotland. Visitors to the historic links at St. Andrews will be well-rewarded if they make time for this newest addition to 600 years of golf history.
The Castle Course - St. Andrews
The clubhouse at The Castle Course has nearly 180-degree views of the sea, and looks a bit like one of the course's many accursed "hummocks."
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The Castle Course - hole 12
The 454-yard 12th hole at The Castle Course is one of only two uphill holes (along with 11).
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The Castle Course - hole 14
The 400-yard 14th features several hairy "hummocks," some of which are on the best line and blind from the tee.
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The Castle Course - hole 15
The 585-yard 15th is an absolute monster of a hole, and if you get off-line here, you might never see the fairway again.
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The Castle Course - hole 17
The 184-yard, par-3 17th is like nothing else in Fife. You will remember this hole for a lifetime.
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The Castle Course - hole 18
The 555-yard, par-5 closer at The Castle Course is a massive, downhill left-to-right dogleg.
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The Castle Course - hole 1
The Castle Course's 346-yard opening hole is the most forgiving of the entire golf course.
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The Castle Course - hole 2
The view of St. Andrews from the second green is second only to the view from the sixth green.
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The Castle Course - hole 4
The enormous green at the 540-yard, par-5 fourth hole features three tiers, all running downhill from the fairway.
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The Castle Course - hole 6
The Castle Course's 421-yard sixth hole runs right up to the cliffside overhanging the sea.
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The Castle Course - sixth hole
The view of St. Andrews from the sixth green at The Castle Course is superb.
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The Castle Course - hole 7
The tee of 456-yard seventh hole offers yet another stunning view of the town (behind) and the coastline (ahead).
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The Castle Course - hole 8
The green of the petite 141-yard eighth at The Castle Course may look inviting, but it's hard to hold, and there's not much room behind it.
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The Castle
