The R&A and St Andrews Links Trust commissioned renowned architects Mackenzie & Ebert to extend six holes, reposition bunkers and restore historic playing routes – all in an effort to address the increasing distances professional golfers travel from the tee.
Among the updates: the par-5 5th will extend to 605 yards, the famed Eden hole (11th) will be reduced to 195 yards, and the strategic challenge of the 16th will be revived by reclaiming the fairway and adding bunkers where rough once lay.
These adjustments are intended to restore balance and strategy in a course that has been increasingly overpowered in recent years.
Golf.com’s Sean Zak recently shared a short video explaining the reasons behind the changes, highlighting how the Old Course has been forced into a defensive posture as modern equipment and athleticism continue to push its limits.
But here’s the twist: the 2027 Open will be the last one before the roll back golf ball will come into 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 to 15 metres, preserving the strategic integrity of classic courses such as St Andrews.
Ironically, the Old Course will soon be more playable in its original form – just after it is extended.
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 the roots.
Clayton on rolling back the golf ball: “You’d think the world would end”
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