By Peter A Walker
Copyright insider
St Andrews Links Trust has reported total revenues of £48.5m and a surplus of £10.8m.
Its latest results also showed that 281,554 rounds of golf were played over its courses during 2024, broadly similar to the post-pandemic high of 2023.
The charity which manages the Old Course and six other public courses in the town, uses its surplus to reinvest its facilities and to protect and maintain the ‘home of golf’.
Part of that is the £10.5m, multi-year project to modernise irrigation systems across its courses, beginning with the Old Course this winter. The Links Clubhouse will also be renovated and extended following The Open in 2027, while a recent dune restoration project, which involved the rebuilding of a 200 metre sand dune on the Jubilee shoreline, was completed at the beginning of 2025.
Chief executive Neil Coulson said: “These are a strong and stable set of results which give the trust a platform to reinvest with confidence in our facilities, in access, and in encouraging golfers of all ages, abilities and backgrounds who want to play the game.
“As a public and charitable trust, we deliver economic, social, and cultural benefit to Scotland, while offering a unique, inclusive experience that resonates with people around the world.”
In 2024, a new digital singles daily draw for the Old Course delivered 3,600 places from more 14,500 entries, replacing the overnight queue and improving customer experience.
Earlier this year, the trust unveiled an impact report which found the economic value of golf in St Andrews totalled £317m annually and supports 4,345 jobs across Scotland.
The AIG Women’s Open was held at the Old Course in August 2024, setting a new attendance record for the championship, with more than 50,000 spectators. The Open will return in 2027 for the 31st time – more than any other venue.
Sandra Tuddenham, chair of the trustees, added: “Our 2024 performance gives us the confidence to reinvest in what matters most – accessibility, innovation, sustainability and people.
“The surplus we generate supports our courses, our community and future generations of players.”
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