The Jubilee Course---St. Andrews, Scotland
Rankings as of 5/15/2011
-92nd best international golf course (Golf Digest)
In St. Andrews, The Old Course is King; and deservedly so. But I’ll tell you this, The Jubilee Course was a real
treat to play. Does it have a few issues? Yes. But, nevertheless, it was/is better than many other golf courses I’ve
played and I’d play it again in heartbeat.
For starters, it was the most penal of all the Scottish courses I’ve played. And, despite the bad press that penal
architecture gets…it has its place. In fact, I think I kind of like it and expect it. During my 2011 Scotland trip, I hit
quite a few wayward shots and a variety of courses…but I walked away with decent scores (in light of my current
8.5 USGA handicap index). At Muirfield, I struck the ball like garbage on the front nine but walked away with an
85. At Renaissance, just like Muirfield, I hit the ball terribly on the front nine and carded an 84. I played better at
North Berwick, but I had quite a few wayward tee shots and approach and put up an 84 yet again. At the Jubilee,
like on many American golf courses, you don’t get away with wayward shots. I hit it pretty well there after the first
three holes and scored an 88. It felt more “real” to me than those other scores. In fact, I think I would have hit
92ish at St. Ives with the level of my play at the previous courses mentioned. You see, the key to St. Ives is driving
the ball accurately. Not on links courses, however. In fact, Patric Dickinson in his wonderful book “A Round of Golf
Courses” has this to say about Scottish courses,
"With all humility, I do suggest the Scots have taken the rough with the smooth far too literally...one gets away with
the indifferent stroke far too easily."
Frankly, I get it and agree with him…at least from what I’ve seen. However, Jubilee is not that way. You need to be
striking the ball well or you will pay the price. I’d call this a more “fair” “Championship” style of a golf course. If that
makes any sense?
Rankings as of 5/15/2011
-92nd best international golf course (Golf Digest)
In St. Andrews, The Old Course is King; and deservedly so. But I’ll tell you this, The Jubilee Course was a real
treat to play. Does it have a few issues? Yes. But, nevertheless, it was/is better than many other golf courses I’ve
played and I’d play it again in heartbeat.
For starters, it was the most penal of all the Scottish courses I’ve played. And, despite the bad press that penal
architecture gets…it has its place. In fact, I think I kind of like it and expect it. During my 2011 Scotland trip, I hit
quite a few wayward shots and a variety of courses…but I walked away with decent scores (in light of my current
8.5 USGA handicap index). At Muirfield, I struck the ball like garbage on the front nine but walked away with an
85. At Renaissance, just like Muirfield, I hit the ball terribly on the front nine and carded an 84. I played better at
North Berwick, but I had quite a few wayward tee shots and approach and put up an 84 yet again. At the Jubilee,
like on many American golf courses, you don’t get away with wayward shots. I hit it pretty well there after the first
three holes and scored an 88. It felt more “real” to me than those other scores. In fact, I think I would have hit
92ish at St. Ives with the level of my play at the previous courses mentioned. You see, the key to St. Ives is driving
the ball accurately. Not on links courses, however. In fact, Patric Dickinson in his wonderful book “A Round of Golf
Courses” has this to say about Scottish courses,
"With all humility, I do suggest the Scots have taken the rough with the smooth far too literally...one gets away with
the indifferent stroke far too easily."
Frankly, I get it and agree with him…at least from what I’ve seen. However, Jubilee is not that way. You need to be
striking the ball well or you will pay the price. I’d call this a more “fair” “Championship” style of a golf course. If that
makes any sense?
