Multi-million pound irrigation investment at the Home of Golf

St Andrews Links Trust will break ground this winter on a £10.5 million multi-year irrigation project that will optimise water usage and improve player experience across its golf courses.

Work to install 1,500 new sprinklers across the historic Old Course is scheduled to begin in winter 2025-26, more than doubling the current number of 800.

The change will offer a more targeted approach to course management at the Home of Golf allowing for more efficient use of water and will also feature ‘hidden’ pop-up sprinklers to provide better irrigation for the Old Course’s vast greens without compromising the playing surfaces.

Hundreds of sprinklers will be added across the remaining courses in a staged process over the next five years, allowing greenkeeping staff more detailed control of water and reduced run times.

Alongside this, the Links Trust has increased its collection of rainwater and use of bore holes, ensuring that water used for course irrigation across the courses is derived entirely from sustainable sources.

Work on the Old Course, which will host The 155th Open in July 2027, will begin in November 2025 and is scheduled for completion in March 2026 ahead of the main playing season.

Installation will be completed in stages to allow the course to remain open for play and to minimise disruption as much as possible. 

A ‘mole plough’ will be used to lay new pipework and cable, reducing the requirement for digging trenches across the course. 

However, given the significance of the project it will require a number of holes to be closed at any one time throughout the duration of the work. 

To recognise this the Old Course will not be sold as part of St Andrews Links’ traditional three-round package this winter and instead will only be available via the ballot with a reduced green fee offered.

The current irrigation system, which was installed in 2000-01, has reached the end of its lifespan. 

As well as more effective water usage, the new system will open up new pin locations across the course with the installation of the ‘hidden’ pop-up sprinklers on some putting surfaces.

Once work is completed on the Old Course, the New and Jubilee Courses will be next in line followed by the Eden, Strathtyrum and Balgove Courses. Each phase will be planned to take place during the winter season over the coming five years to minimise impact and disruption.

The massive project and multi-million-pound investment comes as the Trust looks to lead the way in creating a more sustainable future for the sport as well as reinvesting surplus derived from Trust activities back into the site.

Earlier this year, the organisation launched a new sustainability strategy, Our Journey to a Greener Future, which underlines its commitment to protecting and enhancing the historic courses in St Andrews.

Neil Coulson, chief executive of St Andrews Links Trust, said: “Over the next five years we are making a significant investment in our courses, not just to improve the experience for all those playing on our iconic courses, but to safeguard their future.

“As the Home of Golf, we take our responsibility to protect this land seriously and want to lead the way in securing a more sustainable future for our sport.

“The project was one of the first we discussed early in 2022 as we set out a strategy to increase surplus to enable reinvestment into our facilities. I am pleased this work will soon be underway as we continue to ensure we have the best facilities available for all our local and visiting golfers”

Sandy Reid, Director of Greenkeeping at St Andrews Links Trust, said: “Our new irrigation system will allow us to take a more targeted approach to course management. We will be better able to irrigate specific parts of the courses, which is particularly useful during dry spells such as we’ve experienced recently as it ensures all irrigation gets to the areas most in need. This will ultimately allow us to operate more efficiently, improve course conditions and maintain our sustainable and responsible use of water.”