St Andrews Links Trust, the body responsible for managing the historic courses in St Andrews, has announced a record year for 2023 with unprecedented demand and revenue across its golf courses and facilities.
A total of 283,082 rounds were played at the historic venue, representing an 11% increase on the previous record set in 2019 with course occupancy across its seven courses also hitting a record high of 78%.
Demand was replicated across all facilities with 7.6 million balls hit at the St Andrews Links Golf Academy, two million more than the previous record number. Additionally, both retail and F&B operations reported 20% and 29% increases in customer numbers year on year, underlining the growing popularity of the Home of Golf.
Increased custom is linked to the global growth of golf and a pent-up demand for experiential travel as well as an enhanced appetite for play from local ticketholders following two years of Covid restrictions.
As a result, 2023 saw a record £44m in operating revenue and an £11.5m operating profit for the Trust, building on revenue of £34m and a profit of £3.7m in 2022. This performance has restored the financial reserves of the Trust following two years of significant losses in 2020 and 2021.
As a charitable trust, all profits are reinvested into the operation, maintenance and preservation of the links at St Andrews and the Trust has also announced an ambitious investment strategy to upgrade ageing infrastructure. Key projects include a multi-year upgrade of irrigation systems across all courses, extensions and upgrades to the Links Clubhouse and the Golf Academy and a plan to open the Castle Course all year round.
In addition, the Trust also plans to continue to invest in and seek funding for sustainability and coastal management measures to protect its coastline from erosion and climate-induced flood risk. This builds on award-winning existing activity including the largest and longest-running dune restoration project in Scotland.
Neil Coulson, Chief Executive of St Andrews Links Trust, said: “These unprecedented results for 2023 underline the renown in which the Home of Golf is held both here in St Andrews and around the world. The demand, not just on our golf courses but across all facilities, has been incredible and has significantly accelerated our recovery from a difficult period in 2020 and 2021.
“The recovery of our balance sheet and reserves allows us to revisit a strategy to invest in our physical and digital infrastructure to further enhance the experience of golfers in St Andrews and to continue to protect the links for future generations.”
A copy of the 2023 Annual Report & Accounts for St Andrews Links Trust can be found here: 2023 St Andrews Links Trust Annual Report & Accounts