Old Course Shop, St Andrews Links

The Old Course Shop sits right on the edge of golf's most famous real estate, and even if you've never swung a club in your life, it's worth a look. This isn't some stuffy museum - it's a working pro shop that's been flogging golf kit to pilgrims and players since the dawn of time, basically. You'll find everything from proper vintage memorabilia to current merchandise, all wrapped up in the kind of atmosphere that only builds when a location has done the same job for centuries.

Golf obsessives will spend hours here, naturally. The merchandise ranges from serious clubs and apparel to the sort of trinkets that make decent souvenirs - golf balls with the Old Course printed on them, that sort of thing. Non-golfers might find twenty minutes is enough, wandering about and soaking in the history. Kids get a bit bored unless they're already keen on the game.

It's free to browse, right there on the Links itself, so there's no entry fee kicking about. St Andrews is the obvious base if you're staying put - the town's walkable and the shop is essentially at its heart. If you're camping nearby at St Andrews Holiday Park or Cairnsmill Caravan Park, you're minutes away on foot. Craigtoun Meadows, just 1.8 miles out, offers a bit more space and still keeps you close enough for a lazy stroll into town. Pop in on a quiet weekday morning if you want to actually talk to staff rather than shoulder your way through crowds of tour groups.