Stretching St Andrews: A Last Stand Against the Long Ball

The Old Course at St Andrews, golf’s most iconic venue, is undergoing a series of subtle but significant changes ahead of the 2027 Open Championship.

The R&A and St Andrews Links Trust have commissioned renowned architects Mackenzie & Ebert to lengthen six holes, reposition bunkers, and restore historic playing routes – all in an effort to combat the ever-increasing distances professional golfers are achieving off the tee.

Among the updates: the par-5 5th will stretch to 605 yards, the famous Eden hole (11th) will be pushed back to 195 yards, and the strategic challenge of the 16th will be revived by reclaiming fairway and adding bunkers where rough once lay.

These tweaks aim to restore balance and strategy to a course that has been increasingly overpowered in recent years.

Golf.com’s Sean Zak recently shared a short video explaining the rationale behind the changes, highlighting how the Old Course has been forced into a defensive crouch as modern equipment and athleticism continue to stretch its limits.

But here’s the twist: the 2027 Open will be the last held before the golf ball rollback takes effect for professional golf in 2028.

The R&A and USGA have confirmed that new testing standards will reduce professional driving distances by up to 13–15 yards, preserving the strategic integrity of classic courses like St Andrews.

Ironically, the Old Course may soon find itself more playable in its original form – just after it’s been lengthened.

The rollback promises to bring shorter, historic layouts back into play and shift the focus from brute force to finesse and course management. For fans of traditional golf, it’s a welcome return to roots.

Clayton on the golf ball rollback: “You’d think the world was going to end”