Opened in 1895 and laid out by Tom Morris, the St Andrews New Course is considered by many as one of the best courses on the links. The course was the second course to be built in St Andrews, in response to increasing demand for golf from locals and from the visitors who were flocking to the town in increasing numbers on the recently constructed railway.

The construction of the New Course was paid for by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club as part of an arrangement under which the club was allocated the right to certain starting times on the Old Course. These arrangements were enshrined in the first Act of Parliament concerning the Links which was passed in 1894 and was the forerunner of the current Act of 1974 which specifies how the links are to be run.

The New Course is a classic links course which uses the natural features of the land to create a great golfing challenge. It also has, in the great St Andrews tradition, shared fairways and even a double green at the 3rd and 15th holes.

Located as it is in the shadow of its illustrious neighbour, the New Course can be considered one of St Andrews' best kept secrets.