Oh, Scotland! Oh, Golf! And where better to combine the two, than at St. Andrews, where golf evolved more than six centuries ago? Exciting news! This summer, St. Andrews is adding a 7th course, called the Castle Course. This eighteen-hole course is a public course, and opens June 28.

As an avid golfer, I learn as much as I can about new courses, new clubs, tips, and new players. One of the best places to play golf is, of course, at the Home of Golf, St Andrews Links, in Scotland. When I learned that St Andrews was opening a new, 7th, course - the Castle Course - I had to get the scoop. I had the great fortune to talk with Stephenie Simpson, Marketing Officer, St Andrews Links Trust. Here's what she had to say...

WE: Please tell us a little bit about St. Andrews...

SS: Golf has been played at St Andrews Links for over 600 years. The town has hosted more Open Championships than anywhere else and for many golfers it is their life long ambition to play here. St Andrews Links Trust was set up by an Act of Parliament in 1974 to manage and preserve the courses for future generations. There are six, soon to be seven, public courses - making St Andrews Links the largest public golf complex in Europe.

WE: You have a new course at St. Andrews, the Castle Course. Could you please tell us about it?

SS: The Castle Course is the seventh course to open at the Home of Golf and is set on a spectacular cliff-top location with views overlooking St Andrews Bay. The course has been designed by leading Scottish course architect David McLay Kidd who gained world renown for his Bandon Dunes design in Oregon. Kidd has designed the course to provide a challenging but enjoyable experience with five tees to suit golfers of most levels of ability. Bookings are now being taken for the courses first season, June 28 to October 31.

WE: Why did St. Andrews decide to build another course?

SS: The decision was taken to help ensure that we had enough capacity to meet the increasing demand from local golfers. There have been a number of housing developments in recent years which have contributed to this demand. This also gave us the opportunity to create a course that would offer a different experience to the other courses in the area.

WE: What is the North Sea's influence on the course? I see this is a links-style course...

SS: The North Sea does have an influence - changes in the tide throughout the day alter the wind directions.

Kidd has worked hard to remain faithful to traditional links golf. Due to the location of The Castle Course we have described it as a cliff-top course but it does have a very links-like feel, sharing many features with the existing courses at St Andrews Links such as large undulating greens and the grasses uses to seed the course.

WE: What about accommodations, at St. Andrews? The Old Course Hotel seems incredible.

SS: There are three luxury five star hotels in St Andrews, The Old Course Hotel being one of them. There are also many other hotels and guesthouses in the area. For a small town, St Andrews has a huge variety of accommodation to choose from.

WE: Thanks so much, Stephenie. I can't wait to get there and play some golf! Please note: St Andrews Links Trust is now taking reservations for the Castle Course (as well as its other 6 courses) from its opening, June 28, through the close of the season, October 31, 2008.

For more information on St Andrews Links Trust, please see:
http://www.standrews.org.uk/

To book online, please click here for the Linksnet system:
http://www.linksnet.co.uk/

And, to view the New Castle Course, please click here:
http://www.standrews.org.uk/golf/the_courses/course_no7.html

All photographs provided by, and copyright of, St Andrews Links Trust.