Earlier this week it was announced that the St Andrews Links Trust would take over the management and management of the Dukes course. The group, which currently manages seven public courses at St Andrews, including the Old Course, will take over the long-term lease of the Duke’s Course from January 5, 2026, renaming it the Craigtown Course.
The par-71 parkland course, located two miles southwest of the Old Course, was designed by five-time British Open champion Peter Thomson. Previously a farm on the grounds of Craigtown, hence the new name, work began on the course in 1993 and it opened for play in 1995.
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When Kohler acquired the Old Course Hotel in 2004, it also took ownership of the Duke’s Course. Shortly thereafter, the course was renovated by Tim Liddy, adding five new holes and giving the course more of a heathland feel.
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However, from early 2026, the course will be run by St Andrews Links Trust, which currently manages the Old Course and the New, Eden, Jubilee, Strastylum, Balgove and Castle courses.
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Peter Thomson considers plans for Craigtown Park at Duke’s CourseAnd in 1992.
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“The Craigtown Course deal adds a new course to the Home of Golf portfolio for the first time in 18 years and is an ideal opportunity to expand the golf experience we offer.”
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These are the words of Neil Coulson, chief executive of the Lynx Trust. Nearly 300,000 rounds of golf are booked each year at Links Trust courses. With the addition of the Craigtown course, Coulson believes visiting golfers will have more opportunities than ever to play in the home of golf.
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“Demand for golf in St Andrews has risen to unprecedented levels in recent years, with ticket holders and tourists playing more rounds than ever before. The Craigtown Course has enabled us to strategically invest in our facilities to provide additional capacity and offer more golf opportunities.”
Unlike St. Andrews’ seven other public courses, the Craigtown course is elevated and plays among tall pine trees and around large natural bunker terrain and undulations. The course can extend to 7,500 yards from the championship tees, but there are five teeing options and drops to 5,216 yards from the gold tees.
The new course logo features the site’s signature trees, but also follows the recent rebranding of course logos within the St Andrews Links Trust.
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Visitors will be able to book tee times on the St Andrews website in the new year.
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