The oldest and most famous golf course on earth, the Old Course at Scotland’s St. Andrews, began a program of enhancements and restoration during the first week of November. The work is being undertaken by the R&A’s choice in renovation architects, U.K.-based Mackenzie & Ebert, ahead of the 155th Open Championship in 2027.
The project will refine the strategic challenge for elite players in a small number of areas for future championships while restoring features that have evolved over time to improve the everyday playing experience. Separate upgrades to the course’s aging irrigation system will also be carried out, providing a more efficient tool for turf management. Both projects will take place simultaneously to minimize disruption.
Following the 150th Open in 2022, the course was reviewed and the proposed changes have been carefully planned with the agreement of the St. Andrews Links Trust, which manages the Old Course, and the R&A, which is responsible for the Open.
“Our approach is grounded in deep respect for the course’s unparalleled history,” said Mark Darbon, chief executive of the R&A. “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 program 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.
“Our guiding principle is simple: to protect what makes the Old Course so special while ensuring it continues to offer a fair, challenging and enjoyable experience for golfers of every level. The Old Course has never stood still. Its enduring greatness lies in its ability to adapt while retaining its soul.”
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 more than 60 new bunkers between 1899 and 1905, and nearly 350 yards of length being added across the 129th Open in 2000 and the 134th Open in 2005. The most recent adjustments of significance were undertaken in advance of the 144th Open in 2015, which included bunker additions and removal, and the regrading of the back-left portion of the 11th green to create more options for hole locations.
One of the most significant areas of 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.
Six holes will be lengthened — the fifth, sixth, seventh, 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 fifth, adding 35 yards; the sixth, adding 17 yards; the seventh, 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).
On the second hole, the two right-side bunkers will be relocated farther on and to the left to make them more relevant to the line of play. New bunkers will be added at elite level drive length on the sixth and the 10th. On the ninth, the right-side approach bunkers will be extended slightly toward the line of play, including Boase’s Bunker which will be restored to its larger and less rounded shape.
The championship tee on the 12th will be realigned slightly to help ease championship spectator movement in this location and the main daily play tee on the 14th will be realigned and re-positioned slightly.
On the 17th, the Road Hole Bunker will be sympathetically restored to reduce the effect of sand splash build-up over time.
Work was slated to get underway November 3. Separately, work on upgrading the Old Course irrigation system began the week of October 27.
THE SOCIAL ASPECT
Ansley Golf Club (Settindown) re-opened last week. @jimryangcdesign shaped all the stunning bunkers - some of my favorite we’ve shaped 👌🏻 They were designed to match the natural beauty of the existing property and set the Club apart from everyone else in ATL. What do you think? pic.twitter.com/rMpVhuufij
— Tyler Rae (@TylerRaeDesign) November 3, 2025
BREAKING GROUND IN THE SANDHILLS
Camden Country Club in the South Carolina Sandhills has broken ground on a course restoration by Scot Sherman.
"The course is one of a handful where both Walter Travis and Donald Ross have worked — beginning over 100 years ago," Sherman told GolfCourseArchitecture.net.
Known at inception as Kirkwood Links, and situated 35 miles northeast of Columbia, Camden Country Club was originally designed by Travis to serve as an amenity for the adjacent Kirkwood Hotel. During that era, nearly all putting greens in the Southeastern U.S. were sand, not grass, and were generally flat, with little to no contour. Travis, a world-renowned putter in his competitive career, decided to install sand greens with contour at Camden — with surprising success.
In succeeding years, turfgrass greens took root in the region, so Kirkwood followed suit. Because Travis had passed away in 1927, the club turned to Ross in 1939 for a redesign. The club benefited from Ross’ plentiful available free time during the post-Depression year, as he was on-site personally for a great deal of the construction.
Ross and Travis were mutual admirers, so Ross employed the lightest touch he could in the remodel. He was able to use a substantial number of Travis traits in the new greens and throughout the course. “This mixture of Travis and Ross influence truly makes Camden’s course unique,” said Sherman. “I have been fortunate to work on several Ross courses and this layout is special. It is a study in exquisite routing, strategy, aesthetics, simplicity, and a timeless challenge on every putting surface. When coupled with the wonderful site set among the Sandhills region of South Carolina, this is a course worth restoring, preserving and showcasing. Its design will easily stand the test of time.
“So far, the club has focused on turf conditions and restoration of native sandy areas,” said Sherman. “Looking ahead, the club has a wealth of original Ross and Travis sketches and plans. So, the scope of the restoration and construction project includes study of these historic documents to determine the path forward. From there, all greenside bunkers will be restored first, fairway bunkers will then be restored in a following phase. During this process the native sandy areas, wiregrass, and broomsedge will be infused into the layout on an ongoing basis. Finally, after much consideration and study, the greens will be re-grassed in the last phase.”
Work began in 2025, with subsequent phases to unfold throughout 2026.
A NEW, BUT REIMAGINED COURSE IN ZIMBABWE
Work began this summer on a new Peter Matkovich-designed golf course at The Hills Luxury Golf Estate in Harare, Zimbabwe. It is a reimagination of a previously existing course called Warren Hills.
"The Hills Luxury Golf Estate is part of our vision to develop premium gated communities in Zimbabwe," Ken Sharpe, CEO of WestProp Holdings, told GolfCourseArchitecture.net. "The project has faced challenges typical of large-scale developments; however, the delays have allowed us to perfect the estate design and bring out a development that we had not imagined 14 years ago. We are working well with the authorities to get the necessary approvals and support."
The mixed-use project has been budgeted at $280 million and includes residential, commercial and recreational spaces, including the golf course and 862 home sites. The golf course will be completely made over from the old Warren Hills spread. Warren Hills had been leasing the land, but the lease expired in 2019 and the club was unable to continue making rent payments. WestProp prevailed in a 2023 legal proceeding and closed the Warren Hills course.
Matkovich, a Zimbabwe native who played in several British Opens, has been the most prolific and successful designer in his home country, along with a fistful of acclaimed courses in South Africa and elsewhere. "The layout is undergoing a complete redesign, with changes to the routing, greens, hazards and overall layout to enhance playability and aesthetics," Sharpe said. "Matkovich’s design philosophy ensures that the course remains challenging yet enjoyable for golfers of all skill levels."
WestProp has also embarked on a beautification project that ties into environmental enhancement. More than 2,000 indigenous trees are being planted, along with a wetlands rehabilitation effort that has already witnessed the return of fish and birds. Course work will likely continue through the spring of 2026, with an expected opening date of December 2026.
