St Andrews Old Course Four holes to watch

1ST hole-Burn
(Champ & Medal 370yd Par 4)
There are acres of room on the left for your drive. The only danger is the out-of-bounds fence which runs all the way down the right-hand side. It is arguably the easiest opening hole in championship golf, although teeing off with the history and tradition of St Andrews all around is a daunting prospect.

The second shot is tricky. The green start on the bank of the Swilcan Burn, and the pin is often close to it.

11th hole-High
(Champ & Medal 172yd Par 3)
 The green is on the edge of the River Eden and exposed to the wind,making club selection a problem.

Anything short is likely to run into the large, deep Hill bunker on the left, or the small, deep Strath bunker on the right. If you land in either, consider playing out backwards. 
Make sure you don't go over the back - you're in thick rough playing to a down slope.

The putting surface is always very quick, with a great deal of borrow.

14th hole - Long
(Champ 567yd Medal 523yd Par 5)
The ideal shot passes to the right of the four Beardies bunkers -which are hard to see from the tee - but avoid the out-of-bounds wall on the right. This is especially difficult if the wind is coming off the sea.

The next main problem is Hell bunker, which is huge. Middle-handicap players who have hit their best drives still cannot carry this bunker in a head wind. Good players who can carry Hell may end up in Grave or Ginger Beer. However, you can hit left on to the 5th fairway, leaving maybe a 5-iron to the double green.
   
17th hole-Road
(Champ & Medal 461yd Par 4) Your strength and the wind determine how much of the Old Course Hotel grounds you over fly. If you have avoided Cheape's bunker, you probably have 200yd (180m) to go. Don't try it - it's too dangerous. Hit the ball 190yd (170m), up the right of the fairway, then pitch on - very carefully. The green is raised, wide and shallow, and is set at an angle to the fairway. The road runs behind the green, inviting disaster. The Road bunker is cut into the front of the green, which is contoured towards it. If you avoid pitching into it, you can always putt into it. Many do so.