Eden Course

The Eden Course sits right next to St Andrews, and if you're even remotely interested in golf, you'll want to play it. This is the third course at the Old Course Hotel complex, and it's significantly more forgiving than its famous neighbour - which means you might actually enjoy your round rather than spend it cursing into the wind.

It's a proper links course with all the drama that entails: rough that'll swallow your ball whole, greens that slope in directions your brain can't quite compute, and enough elevation change to give you a decent workout. The routing takes you out towards the coast, and on a clear day the views across the Fife coastline are decent enough to distract you from your terrible swing. Allow a good four hours for eighteen holes, longer if your group is anything like mine.

This works best for golfers with some experience - beginners will find it punishing, but intermediate players and above will get proper value. The course doesn't have the tourist crowds of the Old Course, which means faster play and more genuine golf. You'll need to book ahead and expect to pay a fair whack, but it's cheaper than the Old Course itself.

If you're staying at Craigtoun Meadows Holiday Park or Cairnsmill Caravan Park, you're perfectly positioned. You can play here one day, nip into St Andrews town centre another, and still have time for a proper seaside walk. It's the sort of course that rewards a full golf holiday rather than a casual swing.