St Andrews: The Home of Golf and Scotland's Oldest University
St Andrews combines the birthplace of modern golf with Scotland's oldest university, founded in 1413. A guide to the town's history and landmarks.
A medieval pilgrimage centre
Long before it became synonymous with golf, St Andrews was one of medieval Scotland's most important religious sites, built around relics of the apostle Andrew said to have been brought to the coast in the eighth century. St Andrews Cathedral, consecrated in 1318, was once the largest church in Scotland and a major pilgrimage destination, though it was abandoned after the Scottish Reformation in 1560 and now survives as a substantial ruin overlooking the North Sea. St Andrews Castle, built around 1200 as the residence of the town's bishops, later became notorious for the murder of Cardinal Beaton there in 1546, an episode tied directly to the religious upheaval of the period.
Scotland's oldest university
The University of St Andrews was founded in 1413, making it the oldest university in Scotland and the third-oldest in the English-speaking world after Oxford and Cambridge. That academic pedigree still shapes the town: with a population of around 18,000, St Andrews has a notably young demographic profile during term time, and the university's international reputation, boosted in recent decades by high-profile alumni, has made the town one of Scotland's more cosmopolitan small settlements.
The Old Course and the birthplace of modern golf
Golf has been played on the links at St Andrews since at least the fifteenth century, early enough that King James II banned the game in 1457 for distracting men from archery practice, a ban later lifted by his successor. The Old Course, one of seven public courses managed by the St Andrews Links Trust, is widely regarded as the game's spiritual home and helped establish the modern convention of an eighteen-hole round; the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, founded in 1754 and based beside the course, was for over a century the sport's global rule-making authority. The British Golf Museum, adjacent to the Old Course, traces this history in detail.
Visiting St Andrews
May through September is the recommended season, covering both the main golfing calendar and the town's best weather, and most visitors spend one to two days, extending to three or four if playing a round on one of the public courses. West Sands beach, a two-mile stretch familiar to anyone who has seen the opening scene of Chariots of Fire, sits just beyond the Old Course and remains a popular walk regardless of interest in golf.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is St Andrews really the home of golf?
Golf has been played on the St Andrews links since at least the fifteenth century, and the town's Old Course and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, founded in 1754, are widely credited with shaping the sport's modern rules and format.
How old is the University of St Andrews?
It was founded in 1413, making it the oldest university in Scotland and the third-oldest in the English-speaking world.
Can the public play the Old Course at St Andrews?
Yes, it is a public course managed by the St Andrews Links Trust, though tee times are in high demand and often allocated by ballot during peak season.
What happened to St Andrews Cathedral?
It was Scotland's largest church until it was abandoned following the Scottish Reformation in 1560; its extensive ruins remain on public display overlooking the North Sea.