Kristy Dorsey
| Special for Golfweek/Newsquest
The retail arm of St. Andrews Links Trust, the charity in charge of the Old Course, saw an increase in turnover and profit last year, driven by an increase in footfall to its facilities.
The Home of Golf Ltd, previously known as St. Andrews Links Golf Shops, generated sales of 13.9 million Euros in 2024, up from 12.4 million Euros previously. Profits were 12% higher at £4.7m.
The trust is in charge of seven courses around St. Andrews, making it the largest public golf complex in Europe. Three of its retail outlets are located within the Links, Eden, and Castle Course clubhouses, the newest being the Eden Clubhouse shop, which opened in August of last year.
Its other two retail outlets – the Old Course Shop and St. Andrews Links by TravisMathew – sit opposite the road from the 18th green of the Old Course. There were a total of 149,203 customers across all of the shops last year, up from 138,881 in 2023.
Profits made within the Home of Golf Ltd. are gifted back to St. Andrews Links Trust, with surpluses set aside for future capital investment. This will include the expansion and refurbishment of the 30-year-old Links Clubhouse located next to West Sands.
Full planning permission for the extension was submitted in October 2024 and subsequently granted, with work expected to begin after the 2027 Open in St. Andrews.
“In line with our vision to invest our surplus into infrastructure, and recognising the size of some of the infrastructure challenges and opportunities that face us we have built up a surplus, some of which is earmarked to be invested in refurbishing the Links Clubhouse,” directors said in the accounts filed at Companies House.
12 holes of ‘magic’ as Shiskine celebrates 130 years of golf
They added: “Whilst this expansion will increase the retail offering in the facility it will also look to expand the food and beverage service which will be recognized in the Home of Golf Ltd from 2025. From the 1st January, as part of a group internal structure change, food and beverage, as well as commercial revenue, will be recognized within the Home of Golf Ltd along with group-wide central service costs, and golf support costs.”
During 2024, the charity’s third-party photography service was moved into the Home of Golf Ltd, having previously been recognised within St Andrews Links Trust.
The photography service takes pictures of visiting golfers at the 1st, 2nd, 17th and 18th holes of the Old Course. Players can purchase these images in digital format, through to the production of bespoke coffee table books as mementos of their time on the course.
Profit margins on photography are slightly lower than those of retail sales, which partially accounted for a decline in overall profit margin to 57% from 59%. The previous year comparison also included additional revenue from merchandise services to third parties that were terminated at the end of 2023.
In separate news revealed earlier this week, St Andrews Links Trust has submitted a planning application to transform a historic property on Market Street into a new visitor and community hub.
Constructed in 1860 and listed by Historic Environment Scotland, the building at 70 Market Street was once home to the long-running Fairfield Stores drapery business and more recently served as a VisitScotland information centre before closing earlier this year.
The trust plans to breathe new life into the site by creating a multifunctional space offering visitor information, community engagement, and golfing services.
Discussions are also continuing on the trust’s acquisition of the championship Duke’s golf course from U.S.-based Kohler, the owner of the Old Course Hotel Golf Resort & Spa.
The deal would help alleviate some of the pressure from high demand, with Links Trust chief executive Neil Coulson declaring earlier this year that “we can’t get more people into St Andrews” to play golf. The two sides are hoping to reach an agreement to transfer over the long-term lease on the Duke’s by the end of this year.
