Designers: Receding waters of the North Sea 12,000 years ago, with help from wind, rain, small grazing animals and birds. Old Tom Morris lent a hand in the late 1800s.

Date opened: Pick a number. Golf was reputed to be popular in St Andrews when the university was founded in 1413.

Significant modifications: Original 22 holes reduced to 18 in 1764. The out-and-back course was played in reverse order - from the present first tee to the 17th green. This clockwise or left-hand course prevailed until the 1860s, then alternated on a weekly basis between clockwise and anti-clockwise. Gradually, the present anti-clockwise, right-hand route was preferred. As late as the 1980s, the left-hand course has been played for a few weeks in winter. Old Tom Morris appointed Custodian of the Links in 1865 and was responsible for widening fairways and building the present first and 18th greens. He was equipped with the latest greenkeeping hardware - spade, bucket and wheelbarrow. Six new championship tees, created in 1997 at the instigation of the R and A, the governing body responsible for the Open, added 182 yards.

Par: 72 New yardage: 7,115.

Course record: At previous length of 6,933 yards - 62 by Curtis Strange,1989. From new championship tees - 65 by Jesper Parnevik and Justin Leonard, 1997, Carlos Franco, 1999.

Hosted: Open Championship - 1873, 1876, 1879, 1882, 1885, 1888, 1891, 1895, 1900, 1905, 1910, 1921, 1927, 1933, 1939, 1946, 1955, 1957, 1960, 1964, 1970, 1978, 1984, 1990, 1995. Amateur Championship - 15 times between 1886 and 1981. Walker Cup 1923, 1926, 1934, 1938, 1947, 1955, 1971, 1975. Alfred Dunhill Cup - every year since 1985.