GOLFING AT ST ANDREWS' DUCHY

Matt Stott produces the trailers that promote upcoming programmes and series on Travel Channel. When he’s away from the edit suite, he has an almost unhealthy interest in all things golf related and a particular love of Irish golf courses. He plays off an extremely average 18 handicap, but insists he talks a good game. When left alone in a room, it’s not long before he starts practicing his golf swing.

It started off as one of those mornings you generally try to avoid. A cracking March morning and two excited golfers heading off to a very respected club with the eternal optimists' approach to travel, not allowing for woeful map reading skills. The earlier-than-usual tee off time was fast approaching and we were lost. Eventually, my old playing partner, Dave, and myself skidded into the car park, and ran to the changing rooms. Not really suitable behaviour for any club let alone Dukes, St Andrews.

Thankfully, the caddymaster understood, and the group behind was also running slightly late. Dicky, our golf partner gave us a cold stare. We responded with an apologetic shrug of the shoulders, trying to warm up and relax before teeing off. The course was in a much better state than we were. Dukes starts with a long par 5, water on the left with a long uninviting rough on the right. Luckily, we'd exercised restraint the night before, so weren't suffering too badly from hangovers. Not that you’d know from our drives. Dave and I had evidently left our composure in the car under a beaten up map of Scotland. Dicky however, was as calm as you like, enjoying our addled play.

Dukes Course is perched way up in the hills of the Kingdom of Fife, Scotland, and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding Scottish landscape, including St Andrews Bay. Initially though, the course takes you round the woody areas of the Front 9 saving the vistas for later. As you'd expect, the layout was extremely well designed and the tee conditions were excellent, especially for March in the uncertain North. Dukes was opened by HRH Prince Andrew in 1995 and designed by the five times Open Champion Peter Thompson. A keen attention to detail makes this course a real challenge but it is ultimately fair.

Even though it's a Parkland course, the design lends itself to a strategic game similar to a traditional links course, especially apparent on the Back 9. Peter Thompson has adhered to the legendary principles of St Andrews and designed a course that has its roots firmly in the grand traditions of Scottish Golf. Having designed over 100 courses to date, he's applied some noticeable flair, mixing rolling fairways and contoured greens with some ominous looking bunkers to entice the bigger hitters on longer holes.

As the course is high up, overlooking the coastline of Fife, it's completely at the mercy of any prevailing winds. As a result, it can play just like a links. Measuring over 7,000 yards from the Championship Tees and playing to a par 72, it's not exactly a pushover. However, the course has more than length to its bow. Dave hits a mighty drive and found that after a number of holes, caution was a much better bet. Course management and strategy are rewarded here and judging our scores from the Front 9, we had to adapt. Quickly.

There are opportunities for some good scoring at Dukes, but be warned; fly the ball at your own risk – like good links courses of the area, opting for pitch n' run is the preferred option. The design and landscape of the Back 9 shifts considerably with the vista opening up so dramatically, you suddenly feel as if you’ve been wearing blinkers. From the 11th on, you truly get to appreciate Scotland's beauty first hand. It's a real help if there isn't a group sticking close to your tail from here on in.

For any budding golfer wishing to play this part of the country, Dukes will certainly not disappoint. The 13th is magnificent, and has views that might get in the way of your golf. The greens at Dukes were extremely challenging, protected by as many as eight pot bunkers and contours to perplex any golfer. There are a fine variety of burns, bracken and ponds at Dukes; it’s sometimes easy to forget you're in the links capital of the world.

As far as costs go, Dukes is a very reasonable £60 for the quality on offer. The service and attention to detail are what you'd expect from a course like this and more importantly, availability is key. Unlike the fiercely popular Old Course, it's still relatively easy to book a tee off time at Dukes and it is yet to suffer the overcrowding associated with other courses of such a high standard.

Once you've made your way up the 18th, The Clubhouse is a welcome finish to a memorable day. In luxury befitting the St Andrew's Hotel, there's ample space to relax and unwind, and the food here was first class. No matter what time of year you play Dukes, a fine Scottish whisky is the order of the day. Like the countless whisky distillers that make Scotland famous, Dukes is a fine blend of tradition and modernity, allowing for a relaxed but at the same time challenging experience.

To find out more about Dukes visit www.oldcoursehotel.co.uk

To find out more about Golf in Scotland visit www.visitscotland.com

And if you have any comments on Dukes or any recommendations for other golf lovers, DROP ME A LINE

July 2005