St. Andrews Old Course on Simulators: Complete Course Matrix Guide
By the Course Matrix Writer | July 23, 2026
There is no debate about which golf course belongs at the top of every simulator player’s bucket list. The Old Course at St. Andrews is not just the Home of Golf — it is the most architecturally distinctive, strategically complex, and historically significant course in the world.
And here is the best news for simulator golfers: you can play it tonight.
The Old Course is available on more simulator platforms than almost any other course in the world. GSPro has it. E6 Connect has it. Trackman has it. FSX Play, TGC 2019, Full Swing, and Golfzon all have it. Seven major platforms, and every single one gives you access to the Swilcan Burn, the Hell Bunker, the Road Hole, and the Valley of Sin.
But here is what most guides do not tell you: the Old Course is just the beginning. St. Andrews is a resort with seven courses, and if you know which platform to choose, you can play six of them from your living room.
This is the second installment of our Course Matrix Series, and we are taking on the most important course in the history of golf.
Course Profile: St. Andrews Old Course
| Metric | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland |
| Architect | Nature (1400s), Old Tom Morris (1840s-1900s), James Braid (1920s), Martin Hawtree (2014) |
| Yards | 7,305 (championship) |
| Par | 72 |
| Signature Features | Seven double greens, 112 bunkers, Swilcan Burn, Hell Bunker, Road Hole, Valley of Sin, shared fairways |
| Major Host | The Open Championship — 30 times (most recent: 2022) |
| Simulator Availability | GSPro, E6 Connect, Trackman, FSX Play, TGC 2019, Full Swing, Golfzon |
| Other Courses on Sim | Castle Course (GSPro), Kingsbarns (GSPro), New Course (GSPro), Jubilee Course (GSPro), Eden Course (GSPro) |
What Makes St. Andrews Unique on a Simulator
The Old Course translates to the simulator environment better than any other course in the world. Here is why:
The double greens are a simulator’s dream. The Old Course has seven double greens — single putting surfaces that serve two different holes. The 5th and 13th greens share a massive surface. The 2nd and 16th greens share another. On a simulator, these sprawling greens mean you never face a straightforward putt. The internal contours, the subtle breaks, the three-putt potential from 80 feet — every simulator platform needs to handle these greens properly, and the best ones do.
The bunkers are genuine hazards. The Old Course has 112 bunkers, and many of them are invisible from the tee. The Hell Bunker on the 14th is the most famous — a 10-foot-deep pit that requires a backwards pitch-out if you find it. On a simulator, the bunker penalty is enforced by the lie penalty system, making the Old Course one of the most punitive courses in the game if you miss the fairway.
The wind is always a factor. St. Andrews sits on the Fife coast, exposed to the North Sea. On a simulator, the wind settings transform the Old Course from a manageable 7,305-yard round into a 7,300-yard nightmare. The 17th Road Hole plays entirely differently into a headwind versus a tailwind, and the 18th becomes a completely different hole when the wind is off the right.
The ground game matters. The Old Course was designed to be played along the ground — low-running approaches, bump-and-runs, and stinger drives that use the firm links turf. On a simulator, this means you need to think differently than you would on a parkland course. The most effective simulator players at St. Andrews are the ones who use low-running irons instead of high wedges.
Platform-by-Platform Breakdown
GSPro (Community LiDAR) — Best Overall Choice (6 Courses)
GSPro has the most complete St. Andrews experience by a wide margin. The community LiDAR version of the Old Course captures the double greens, the Swilcan Burn, and the Hell Bunker in the elevation data.
Strengths:
- The LiDAR data captures the exact terrain contours of the double greens — the 5th/13th green, the 2nd/16th green, and the notorious 17th Road Hole green are all faithfully modeled
- The Swilcan Burn is accurately modeled as a water hazard crossing the 1st and 18th fairways
- Hell Bunker on the 14th is correctly rendered as a 10-foot-deep pit with a steep face
- The Road Hole bunker on the 17th is positioned at the correct angle to catch pulled drives
- Multiple tee options allow you to play from the 2022 Open setup or the everyday tees
- Free with GSPro subscription ($249/year or $499 lifetime)
The real differentiator is everything else: GSPro also has the Castle Course (David McLay Kidd design), Kingsbarns (Kyle Phillips design), the New Course (Old Tom Morris, 1895), the Jubilee Course, and the Eden Course. GSPro turns your simulator into the entire St. Andrews Links Trust.
Best for: Players who want the most complete St. Andrews resort experience — the Old Course plus five additional courses.
E6 Connect (Officially Licensed) — Best Visual Presentation
The Old Course is one of E6 Connect’s premium licensed courses, and the visual presentation is outstanding.
Strengths:
- Official St. Andrews Links Trust branding with accurate club logo, scorecard, and tee markers
- Hole flyovers that showcase the Old Course’s rolling links terrain and the St. Andrews skyline
- Accurate green contour modeling — the double greens are properly rendered with their internal breaks
- The Road Hole (17th) is exceptionally well-rendered, with the hotel out-of-bounds, the Road Hole bunker, and the iconic green
- E6’s subscription model ($299/year for Apex) gives you access to the Old Course alongside hundreds of other courses
Weaknesses:
- The Old Course is the only St. Andrews Links course available on E6 — you do not get the Castle Course, Kingsbarns, or the New Course
- E6 Connect requires a higher-end PC for the best visual experience (recommended: RTX 3060 or better)
- The putting physics on E6 can feel slightly fast compared to the real Old Course’s slow-running links greens
Best for: Players who want the most polished visual experience and official St. Andrews Links Trust presentation.
Trackman Virtual Golf (Officially Licensed) — Best for Wind Simulation
Trackman Virtual Golf includes the Old Course in its premium course library, and Trackman’s wind modeling makes it the best platform for experiencing the Old Course’s links conditions.
Strengths:
- Trackman’s wind modeling is the best in the industry — the Old Course’s exposed coastal holes play authentically with wind settings enabled
- The ball-flight physics on approach shots are first-rate, making the Road Hole’s second shot into the narrow green one of the most challenging simulator shots in the game
- Trackman’s data analytics make the Old Course an excellent platform for practice sessions — you can measure your stinger shots, your running approaches, and your bunker escape consistency
- Accurate green contour data for the double greens
Weaknesses:
- Trackman hardware is expensive ($19,995 for Trackman 4, $10,000+ for Trackman iO)
- The software is primarily designed for commercial venues and serious teaching professionals
- Not available for home users on a budget
Best for: Commercial venues, teaching professionals, and serious home users with Trackman hardware.
FSX Play (Foresight Sports) — Officially Licensed
Foresight Sports’ FSX Play platform includes the Old Course in its premium course library.
Strengths:
- Excellent visual quality with UE5-level graphics and realistic lighting that captures the St. Andrews coastal setting
- Accurate water hazard modeling for the Swilcan Burn
- Works with all Foresight Sports launch monitors (GC3, GCQuad, GC2, Bushnell Launch Pro)
- Putting physics are well-tuned for the Old Course’s slower links greens
- Tournament setup configurations based on The Open Championship conditions
Weaknesses:
- Requires a high-end PC (RTX 3070 or better recommended)
- The FSX Play subscription model ($199/year for Silver, $499/year for Gold) adds to the cost
- The Old Course is the only St. Andrews Links course available
Best for: Foresight Sports hardware owners who want a premium visual experience.
TGC 2019 (Officially Licensed) — Best Budget Entry
TGC 2019 includes the Old Course in its course library, and it offers the most affordable way to play the Home of Golf on a simulator.
Strengths:
- TGC 2019’s one-time purchase model ($899) avoids subscription costs — pay once, play the Old Course forever
- Active community with online tournaments and leaderboards featuring the Old Course
- The course is well-rendered with accurate routing and bunker placement
- Excellent course management training tool for learning the Old Course’s strategic nuances
Weaknesses:
- Graphics are dated compared to GSPro and FSX Play
- The double greens are less detailed than newer platforms
- Water hazard modeling for the Swilcan Burn is less precise
- No additional St. Andrews Links courses available
Best for: Budget-conscious players who want a one-time purchase and do not need cutting-edge graphics.
Full Swing (Officially Licensed)
Full Swing’s simulator software includes the Old Course in its premium course library.
Strengths:
- Full Swing’s Pro Series launch monitors offer excellent accuracy and data capture
- The course is available with official St. Andrews Links Trust branding
- Full Swing’s Skill Strike platform adds real-money gaming opportunities on the Old Course
- The 17th and 18th holes are particularly well-suited to Full Swing’s hazard modeling
Weaknesses:
- Full Swing hardware is expensive ($11,995 for the Pro Series)
- The software library is smaller than GSPro and E6 Connect
- Less community support for custom configurations
Best for: Full Swing hardware owners and commercial venues using the Full Swing ecosystem.
Golfzon TwoVision (Officially Licensed)
Golfzon’s TwoVision platform includes the Old Course in its premium course library, focused on the Korean and Asian market.
Strengths:
- Golfzon’s full-motion simulator experience (moving platform, auto-teeing) is unmatched for immersion
- The course is rendered with exceptional visual quality
- Golfzon’s screen golf tournaments often feature the Old Course as a championship venue
- The 2022 Open Championship configuration is available as a tournament setup
Weaknesses:
- Golfzon hardware is expensive and primarily available in commercial venues
- Limited availability for home users outside of Asia
- Golfzon’s subscription model adds to the cost of ownership
Best for: Commercial venues with Golfzon hardware and sim golfers in Asia.
The St. Andrews Links: More Than Just the Old Course
One of the most overlooked advantages of GSPro is the sheer number of St. Andrews Links courses available. Here is the complete breakdown:
| Course | Architect | GSPro | E6 | Trackman | FSX Play |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Course | Old Tom Morris | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Castle Course | David McLay Kidd | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Kingsbarns | Kyle Phillips | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| New Course | Old Tom Morris | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Jubilee Course | Links Trust | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Eden Course | Harry Colt | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
If you want to play the full St. Andrews experience from your simulator, GSPro is the only choice. The Castle Course alone is worth the price of admission — a David McLay Kidd design that rivals the Old Course in dramatic setting and shot-making demand.
Budget Build for St. Andrews Old Course
You do not need a $10,000 setup to play the Home of Golf. Since the Old Course is available on GSPro:
| Component | Option | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Launch Monitor | Garmin R10 | $599 |
| Sim Software | GSPro annual | $249 |
| Net | GoSports 7x7 | $199 |
| Mat | Basic 5x4 | $79 |
| Total | ~$1,126 |
For better short-game accuracy, step up to the Square Golf Launch Monitor ($1,699) or Rapsodo MLM2 Pro ($699). The key is GSPro — the annual subscription gives you not just the Old Course, but the entire St. Andrews Links collection.
The Bottom Line
St. Andrews Old Course is the most accessible iconic course in the simulator world — seven major platforms have it. But the platform you choose determines how much of St. Andrews you get to experience.
Choose GSPro for the full St. Andrews Links resort experience (the Old Course, Castle Course, Kingsbarns, New Course, Jubilee Course, and Eden Course). Choose E6 Connect for the best officially licensed visual presentation of the Old Course itself. Choose Trackman for the most authentic wind and ball-flight physics. Choose TGC 2019 for a budget-friendly one-time purchase.
The Old Course has been the stage for golf’s greatest moments for over 600 years. The double greens, the Swilcan Burn, the Hell Bunker, the Road Hole, the Valley of Sin — these are not just features of a golf course. They are the landmarks of the game itself.
And on a simulator, they are yours to play tonight.