Golf has been played at St Andrews for many centuries. The narrow strip of common between the sand dunes and the ploughland was perfect for golf. By 1457, the game had become so popular that it was banned by King James II as he feared it was distracting too many young men from archery practice.

In 1764, the Old Course of 22 holes was shortened to 18 holes, thus fixing the regulation length for golf courses the world over.

Today, St Andrews is a place of pilgrimage for golfers, just as it was for theological reasons in centuries past. Besides the Old Course - the scene of so many epic Open Championships and memorable matches - the town has five other courses, and there are over 60 within an hour's drive, including Carnoustie, christened the hardest course in golf after the 1999 Open.

Just a few minutes' drive by car from the Old Course, Woodland Holidays makes an ideal base for a golfing holiday in the Kingdom of Fife.