St Andrews golf worth £300 million to Scottish economy

This is the first such study looking solely at the impact of golf in St Andrews on the town and the wider Scottish economy.

It clearly shows the massive impact on the town and that our visitors are delivering a boost to communities across Scotland each and every year. This impact has probably been undervalued in the past.

The unique place that St Andrews holds as the lifeblood and source of the sport means that both golfers and non-golfers want to come here and experience this place for themselves. But this only works if we continue to invest in our facilities and in ensuring we strive for excellence in customer experience. The combination is what makes St Andrews Links stand out.

Scotland has a proud reputation as the birthplace of the game and St Andrews is home to many links courses, not least the Old Course, which are the envy of the world.

This report hits home the scale of the benefits we all reap from the Trust’s courses, alongside the broader impact of golf tourism, which boosts the economy by £300 million every year and supports around 5,000 jobs.

I commend the Trust for all it does to sustain and grow the game and I'm looking forward to the return of The Open to St Andrews in 2027, which, backed by Scottish Government funding, will further increase our standing as a first-class host of major events.

This comprehensive study showcases the important role golf plays in Scotland’s visitor economy, with St Andrews standing at the heart of this as a globally recognised asset.

Scotland continues to be the destination of choice for golfers worldwide, and beyond the course, our renowned hospitality, culture, and heritage offer a truly distinctive and enriching experience for all who visit. We welcome this research, which reinforces Scotland’s reputation as a world-leading tourism and events destination.

Economic impact studies tend to look at the effects of one-off major sport events. For St Andrews Links Trust we have had the opportunity to investigate the economic impact of a permanent year-round golf business. Using gold standard methods to interview over 2,400 golfers, our research reveals a significant asset to the Scottish economy, which has arguably not been fully appreciated.

St Andrews Links Trust is not only a thriving business in its own right, it is also a catalyst for considerable tourism and employment benefits. That the annual economic impact of St Andrews Links Trust is the equivalent of hosting The Open three times a year in Scotland, is a truly remarkable finding.