There are many in golf who claim that the New Course at St Andrews is the equal of the Old, and while this is clearly nonsense Old Tom Morris's track has plenty to recommend and is well worthy of its flag rating and cult status.

The New Course is built on bumpy, softly contoured links ground mostly set between the Old Course and St Andrews beach. Its best features are the nasty pot bunkers that guard most of the narrow, lumpy fairways and the cleverly arranged putting surfaces that generally require brave drives to safely approach from clear angles. Indeed, the greens on the New Course are the highlight and there is extraordinary variety and charm across all 18 green complexes. If the holes themselves matched the quality and originality of the green sites this would indeed be the best course in St Andrews. As it stands, a cramped routing and some tee shot monotony keep it a rung beneath the very best courses in the region.

More than a century old now, the New Course at St Andrews continues to win many fans and remains a superb second course option for those visiting the Old Grey Town.