St Andrews Links Trust has reported a record £44 million in operating revenue for 2023 and an £11.5 million operating profit, building on revenue of £34 million and a profit of £3.7 million in 2022.

The Home of Golf reported unprecedented demand and revenue across its golf courses and facilities, with 283,082 rounds played at the venue.

“This performance has restored the financial reserves of the Trust following two years of significant losses in 2020 and 2021 …” said the Trust.

“Demand was replicated across all facilities with 7.6m balls hit at the St Andrews Links Golf Academy, two million more than the previous record number.

“Additionally, both retail and F&B operations reported 20% and 29% increases in customer numbers year on year, underlining the growing esteem of the Home of Golf.

“Increased custom is linked to the global growth in the popularity of golf and a pent-up demand for experiential travel as well as an enhanced appetite for play from local ticketholders following two years of Covid restrictions.”

As a charitable trust, all profits of the St Andrews Links Trust are reinvested into the operation, maintenance and preservation of the links at St Andrews — and the Trust has also announced an investment strategy to upgrade ageing infrastructure.

Key projects include a multi-year upgrade of irrigation systems across all courses, extensions and upgrades to the Links Clubhouse and the Golf Academy and a plan to renovate the Castle Course to open all year round.

In addition, the Trust also plans to continue to invest in and seek funding for sustainability and coastal management measures to protect its coastline from erosion and climate-induced flood risk.

This builds on existing activity including the largest and longest-running dune restoration project in Scotland.

St Andrews Links Trust CEO Neil Coulson said: “These unprecedented results for 2023 underline the renown in which the Home of Golf is held both here in St Andrews and around the world.

“The demand, not just on our golf courses but across all facilities, has been incredible and has significantly accelerated our recovery from a difficult period in 2020 and 2021.

“The recovery of our balance sheet and reserves allows us to revisit a strategy to invest in our physical and digital infrastructure to further enhance the experience of golfers in St Andrews and to continue to protect the links for future generations.”