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The Swilcan Bridge at St. Andrews in Scotland.

ST. ANDREWS

The Home of Golf announces a record year in 2023, with unprecedented demand, and revenue across its golf courses and facilities.

283,082 rounds of golf where played at the historic golf venue.

St. Andrews Links and Trust, that manages the historic courses of St. Andrews, says 2023 had an 11% increase in play over the record in 2019. Occupancy was at 78% last season.

The Links Golf Academy has 7.6m balls hit at St. Andrews, which is a jump of over 2 million balls, of the previous record. St. Andrews retail had a 20% increase, with Food and beverage up 29%. Because of the increase in play from late 2022 and in 2023, the financial reserves from money lost have been restored.

Because St. Andrews is a charitable trust, all profits are reinvested into the operation, both maintenance and preservation of the Links at St. Andrews. As a result, the Trust has announced an investment strategy to upgrade the aging infrastructure. The following is a list of the key projects.

The multi-year upgrade of irrigation systems across all seven courses. Improvements to the Links Clubhouse and Golf Academy. But there is a plan coming together on how to keep the Castle Course open year-round. The trust will work to help area coastline from eroding, and stop area flooding.

STATEMENT FROM NEIL COULSON-Chief Executive of St. Andrews Links and Trust.

“These unprecedented results for 2023 underline the renown in which the Home of Golf is held. Both here in St. Andrews and around the world. The demand, not just on our golf courses but across all facilities, has been incredible. So this has accelerated our recovery from the difficult period of 2020 and 2021.”

“But the recovery of our balance sheet and reserves allows us to revisit a strategy. This strategy in our physical and digital infrastructure, will further enhance the golfers in St. Andrews. These investments will continue to protect the links for future generations to come.

The St. Andrews Links and Trust manages seven courses including the historic Old Course, that has hosted the Open Championship a record 30 times.