The Old Course, Reversed! Rare opportunity to go around both ways in Scotland offered

November 30, 2023 | by Sean Melia of AmateurGolf.com

St. Andrews Old Course

Think you've done it all in golf? The Old Course was designed to be played both directions; the lucky few will get to try it

The Old Course at St. Andrews is steeped in history. It’s current routing isn’t the only way that golf has been played there over the centuries, and St. Andrews Links Trust announced today that for one week every year, golfers will have the chance to play the course in reverse.

The modern routing of the course goes in a clockwise direction, but golf was played anti-clockwise at St. Andrews up until the early 1900s. In fact, the routing would alternate every week, but that changed in the early 20th century.

Since then, there’s been one day a year when a small number of local club members golfers would play the reverse routing on the Saturday closest to November 30, which is St. Andrews Day.

Now, the masses will have a chance to tee it up on the anti-clockwise course. From March 28 - April 2, golfers can apply to play the course in reverse and then also play it in the current routing. So for three of the six days, the course will be played in reverse. An incredible opportunity that the St. Andrews Links Trust plans to make available annually.

Applications for packages will open for a 48-hour window from 11-12 December 2023.

“We are excited to introduce Old Course Reversed, which will give more of our ticketholders and golf visitors the opportunity to experience something unique in the world of golf,” said Neil Coulson, CEO of St Andrews Links Trust.

“The anti-clockwise routing is such a vital piece of the history and evolution of the Old Course we feel it is important to celebrate this during a dedicated event open to all golfers from near and far. We believe the introduction of Old Course Reversed will be hugely popular and will capture the imagination of golfers around the world.”

Golfers will be able to enter an open ballot as well as apply for a limited number of advanced packages. Whereas St Andrews Links ticketholders can play through the usual local ballot and a dedicated ticketholder day.

Advanced public packages will be priced at €666 and feature three rounds of golf with one Old Course, one Old Course Reversed, and one on the Castle Course as well as food & drink and Academy vouchers.

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