It all started around 1400AD and six centuries later the Old Course will host its 27th Open (not the British Open as BskyB would have it) - it’s THE Open, in 2005. You’ll need a handicap certificate (max 24 for men, 36 for women), £110 (£50 in winter) and a bit of luck to be successful in the daily ballot. If the owner is free he can also enter the local ballot to improve your chances but you’d have to play with him.

It’s new but only in comparison to the Old as it was laid out in 1895. Owing to its undulating terrain it’s generally regarded as a tougher challenge than the Old. Green fee £55.

Two years younger than the New, the Jubilee, opened in honour of Queen Victoria’s Silver Jubilee in 1897, is right next to the sea and, being partly laid out on the sand dunes, is the roughest of the 3 championship courses Hosts the amateur Championship in 2004. Green fee £50

The Torrance is a championship links course while the Devlin is built on top of cliffs. Both were co-designed by the late Gene Sarazen and the dramatic terrain makes them probably the most visually stunning courses in this part of the world. Green fees are £70 for the Torrance and £80 for the Devlin. They also offer a great fourball deal (£99) until the end of March.
 
 
 
 
 

The upper image is of the Devlin, the lower image is of the Torrance.

The championship course opened in 2000 and is similar in style and challenge to the European in Ireland. Scene of my personal Waterloo when on my first outing with St Andrews GC I amassed a grand total 13 Stableford points. Green fee about £135

Designed by 5 times Open Champion, Peter Thomson and run by the Old Course Hotel Golf Resort, the Duke’s championship course is set on a hill above the town, enjoying panoramic views of the town , the bay and the Angus coastline up to Carnoustie and Arbroath. Green fee £30 (fairway mats) until the end of March, rising to £75 in high season.

The 7th oldest golf club in the world has two courses; the Balcomie laid out in 1895 by Old Tom Morris and incorporating the original 8 holes laid out in 1786; and the newer Craighead with USGA spec greens. Fabulous location at Fife Ness with seaviews at every hole and serious risk of OB into the sea at several. Green fee from £35. (winter rate £20 until 31st March).

Privately owned pay and play parkland course with great views over the firth.. Popular with tourists and golfing societies. Green fee from about £25.

Fun 9 hole course running along the sea between Anstruther and Pittenweem. Green fee for 9/18 holes £10/£14 weekday and £12/£16 at weekends.

Sounds like something from the Grauniad but that’s what it’s called. Ancient course laid out in the 16th century but they didn’t get round to forming a club until the 1870s. Green fee £40, £50 at weekends. Incredible views.

The most southerly of the East Neuk courses. Voted one of the top UK links courses by Golf Monthly and used as a qualifier for the Open. Green fee £15 until mid March (fairway mats)High season rate expected to be £40 weekdays and £50 weekends

Designed by the legendary Harry S Colt and opened at the start of the Great War, the Eden has the most testing undulating greens of all the links courses. Green fee £30

It opened in 1993 and although it’s built on sand, it’s essentially a fairly featureless parkland course. Green fee £20