The seventh course at the Home of Golf will be open for longer this year with the season running from 1 March until 6 November. Despite the difficult weather during December and January, some important maintenance work was carried out over the winter and the course has recovered well from a busy 2010 season.
Work was done to level out areas at the back of the 4th and 17th greens to create more pin positions on each hole. Elsewhere greenkeepers have been focused on course preparation and improving drainage ahead of the season.
Last year the course enjoyed a particularly busy summer when the Open Championship was being staged on the Old Course.
Designed by David Kidd, The Castle Course has won numerous awards as the best new course since it opened in 2008. It has been included in the prestigious Golf Digest Top 100 International Courses and was the biggest riser in last year’s Golf World Top 100 rankings.
Euan Loudon, chief executive of St Andrews Links Trust, said, “We are all set for what promises to be another busy season at The Castle Course. The winter maintenance programme has gone well and the changes to the 4th and 17th greens are bedding in nicely. The course has undoubtedly made an impact on the golfing world and we look forward to welcoming many more local and visiting golfers in the months ahead.”
St Andrews Links Trust www.standrews.org.uk