Old Course at St Andrews set to undergo changes ahead of 2027 Open

Project seeks to refine the strategic challenge for elite players

The 18th hole at the Old Course, St Andrews. Picture: The R&A

In a bid to ‘refine the strategic challenge’ for elite players, work will begin next week on a programme of enhancements and restoration to the Old Course at St Andrews ahead of The Open in 2027.

The project will involve changes to a small number of areas for future championships while restoring traditional features that have evolved over time to improve the everyday playing experience for local and visiting golfers on the world-renowned links.

Following The 150th Open in 2022, the course was reviewed and the proposed changes have been carefully planned with the agreement of St Andrews Links Trust, which manages the Old Course, and The R&A, which is responsible for The Open. The design work will be carried out by leading international golf course architects and links golf specialists, Mackenzie & Ebert.

Six holes will be lengthened – the 5th, 6th, 7th, 10th, 11th and 16th – while one will be shortened slightly – the 12th. The overall championship yardage of the course will increase by 132 yards to 7,445 yards. New championship tees will be created on the 5th, adding 35 yards, the 6th, adding 17 yards, the 7th, adding 22 yards, and the 10th, adding 29 yards. Tee enlargements will see increases in length at the 11th (21 yards) and the 16th (10 yards).

Mark Darbon, chief executive of The R&A, said, “Our approach is grounded in deep respect for the course’s unparalleled history. We believe this work is important in ensuring the Old Course continues to evolve and challenge the world’s best golfers in the years to come while enhancing the experience of local and visiting golfers.” 

Neil Coulson, chief executive of St Andrews Links Trust, said, “Every generation has played a part in shaping the Old Course, and this latest programme continues that long tradition. The work will restore features that have changed subtly over time and refine others to preserve the course’s unique character.” 

 The upcoming changes to the Old Course continue an evolution of the links over the centuries. There have been several periods in its history where substantial changes have been carried out including, for example, the adding of over 60 new bunkers between 1899 and 1905, and nearly 350 yards of length being added across The Opens in 2000 and 2005.

One of the most significant areas of new work will be on the 16th hole where an historic playing route will be restored to the left of the Principal’s Nose and Deacon Sime bunkers along with the addition of two bunkers to add risk on the left hand side of the extended fairway.

On the 17th, the Road Hole Bunker will be sympathetically restored to reduce the effect of sand splash build-up over time.

Separate upgrades to the course’s ageing irrigation system are also being carried out during this period, providing a more efficient tool for turf management. Both projects will take place simultaneously, minimising disruption.

Meanwhile, the PGA Champions Tour will be adding a new event in the Algarve in 2026, next year’s schedule has confirmed.

Two new tournaments highlight the 28-event roster that features a record-setting purse total.

The Portugal Invitational in Algarve (July 27-August 2), and the Jefferson Lehigh Valley Classic in Allentown, Pennsylvania, are the new additions to the schedule. The total prize money for the season is $69 million (€59m), a slight increase from this year.

"We are thrilled to be adding new events in Portugal and Pennsylvania to an existing schedule highlighted by tremendous title sponsors in many markets which have become staples of Champions Tour golf," PGA Tour Champions president Miller Brady said. "The incredible play we've seen from some of the game's legends this season is sure to continue in 2026, and we are looking forward to building on that continued momentum for our partners and fans."

The Champions Tour will visit four countries - Morocco, Scotland, Portugal and Canada - and 18 different US states.