The historic home of golf saw 283,082 rounds played, an 11% increase on the previous record set in 2019. Course occupancy reached a record high of 78%.

Demand was mirrored across all facilities, with 7.6 million balls hit at the St Andrews Links Golf Academy, two million more than the previous record number. Retail and food and beverage operations reported 20% and 29% year-on-year increases in customer numbers, respectively.

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.

This year’s financial results are up from revenue of £34m and a profit of £3.7m in 2022. This performance has restored the financial reserves of the trust following two years of significant losses in 2020 and 2021.

As a charitable trust, all profits are reinvested into the operation, maintenance and preservation of the links at St Andrews and the trust has also announced an ambitious 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 award-winning existing activity including the largest and longest-running dune restoration project in Scotland.

Neil Coulson, chief executive of St Andrews Links Trust, 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.”