Discover the Bunkers of the Old Course

The Old Course at St Andrews is remarkably iconic. Regarded as the spiritual Home of Golf and a 29-time host of the Open Championship, this historic layout is unique and holds a special place in the heart of those who have waked those famous fairways and crossed the Swilcan Bridge. 

Noted for its many distinctive features, the Old Lady is revered for its many bunkers scattered around the narrow stretch of land that the course inhabits. It's reported that there are 112 of these traps, but it feels like far more, as it seems that each time you walk the holes, you find another that is tucked away in the rough, apparently out of play, only to discover that the otherwise innocuous and randomly positioned bunkers can prove deadly to a scorecard. 

The bunkers point to the ancient and developing nature of the Old Course, which was once played in the opposite direction. Consequently, many of them face the wrong way from the tee, remaining hidden from unspecting golfers. Their position reflects the increased length and changes to the holes - there were once 22 rather than 18 - and gives an insight behind the nature of the layout, which has been enhanced and created over a period of centuries. 

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Most golfers will be aware that the bunkers on the Old are named, each possessing their own piece of history within the game, some holding particular notoriety when it came to players attemping to triumph in an Open at the Auld Grey Toun.

Cheape's 

Cartgate 

Cottage

The Spectacles 

Coffins 

Shell 

Short Hole Bunker 

Kruger 

Boase's / End Hole

Strath 

Hill 

Admiral's

Stroke

Nick's 

Lion's Mouth

The Beardies

Hell 

Rob's 

Principal's Nose / Grant's / Wig

Deacon Sim

Scholar's 

Road Bunker