QUICKSHOT: The home of golf

Few places in the world can match this historic links

Golf has been played here for more than 600 years, and while technology has changed the modern game, the ground’s natural contours, vast double greens and sneaky pot bunkers ensure that strategy remains the key to success.

Few places in the world can match the aura of standing on the Swilcan Bridge or facing the challenge of the Road Hole.

Even with its generous fairways, the Old Course is rarely straightforward. The wind can shift in an instant, making every shot a test, and those who try to overpower it often come undone. Just look at the list of champions here; experience and touch tend to separate the champions from the rest.

This week’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship appears on the DP World Tour, as per usual. Played across three great Scottish layouts, Carnoustie, Kingsbarns and St Andrews (pictured). The tournament is a unique test that blends world-class golfers with the fun of the pro-am format which includes celebrities and Hollywood stars from across the globe.

Is there anywhere better than watching a Sunday sunset across the Old Course? The Home of Golf, one of the most iconic backdrops in the sport.

Main image: Gannet77/Getty Images

This article was featured in the October 2025 issue of Golf Digest Middle East. Click here for a digital issue of the full magazine

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