St. Andrews Old Course on Simulators: Guide
St. Andrews (The Old Course) on Simulators: Complete Course Matrix Guide
By the Course Matrix Writer | July 16, 2026
There is golf, and then there is the Old Course at St. Andrews. The Home of Golf. Since the 15th century, golfers have walked the same fairways where legends like Old Tom Morris, Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods have hoisted the Claret Jug. It is the most hallowed ground in the sport — and for most of us, the closest we will ever get is a simulator.
Fortunately, the Old Course is one of the most widely available and best-recreated courses on simulator platforms. Whether you have a $600 Garmin R10 in your garage or a $35,000 Trackman 4 in a dedicated studio, you can play St. Andrews. The question is: which version should you play?
Welcome to the second installment of our Course Matrix Series. Today we break down the Old Course — and the other St. Andrews Links courses — across every major simulator platform.
St. Andrews Old Course: Simulator Platform Availability at a Glance
| Platform | Old Course Available? | How to Access | Quality Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| GSPro | ✅ Yes | Community course (LiDAR, multiple versions) | ★★★★☆ Excellent |
| E6 Connect / E6 Apex | ✅ Yes | Officially licensed | ★★★★★ Premium |
| Trackman Virtual Golf | ✅ Yes | Officially licensed | ★★★★★ Premium |
| FSX Play (Foresight) | ✅ Yes | Officially licensed | ★★★★★ Premium |
| TGC 2019 | ✅ Yes | Community course | ★★★★☆ Very Good |
| Full Swing Simulator | ✅ Yes | Officially licensed | ★★★★☆ Very Good |
| Golfzon TwoVision | ✅ Yes | Officially licensed | ★★★★★ Premium |
| Garmin Home Tee Hero | ❌ No | Not available natively | — |
| Rapsodo Course Play | ❌ No | Not available natively | — |
| Awesome Golf | ❌ No | Not available natively | — |
Deep Dive: St. Andrews on Each Platform
GSPro (Best Value)
GSPro has multiple community-created versions of the Old Course, and they are outstanding. Built using LiDAR data combined with high-resolution satellite imagery, these courses capture the unique topography that defines St. Andrews — the massive double greens (the 5th and 13th greens alone cover over 25,000 square feet each), the hidden swales and hollows, and the famous sightlines from the 1st tee through the town skyline.
Cost: $250/year subscription (includes 500+ courses, Old Course included free) Compatible launch monitors: Uneekor, Foresight, Trackman, Bushnell, SkyTrak+, Garmin R10 (via connector), Rapsodo MLM2 Pro (via connector), almost everything Quality notes: The LiDAR version handles St. Andrews’ famous blind shots well — particularly the tee shot on 11 (when the flag is hidden behind the “Eden” bunker complex) and the approach into 17 over the Old Course Hotel. Green undulation is faithfully reproduced. Some users report the greens play slightly slower than reality. Best for: Sim golfers who want a massive course library and don’t need official licensing
Pro tip: Look for the “St. Andrews Old Course (LiDAR)” version in GSPro’s course manager. There are multiple community uploads; the highest-rated one (typically with 4.5+ stars) is the one to download.
E6 Connect / E6 Apex (Officially Licensed)
E6 Golf holds the official license for the Old Course, which means real branding, correct T-markers, and course-specific details that community versions cannot legally include. The E6 version is especially strong on the visual presentation — the approach into 18 with the R&A Clubhouse in the background is frame-worthy.
Cost: $30/month or $300/year (E6 Connect); included with E6 Apex hardware Compatible launch monitors: TruGolf, Uneekor, Foresight, SkyTrak, Trackman, Full Swing, and most major units Quality notes: The E6 version excels at the “feel” of links golf. The wind audio, the firm ground conditions, and the roll-out on fairways all contribute to an authentic experience. The Road Hole bunker on 17 is appropriately punishing. Best for: Commercial venues, serious sim golfers who want official quality and consistency
Trackman Virtual Golf (Premium)
If you want to know what it actually feels like to play St. Andrews in a 20 mph wind — from a ball-flight physics standpoint — Trackman Virtual Golf is the answer. Trackman’s radar-based tracking captures spin, launch angle, and descent angle with PGA Tour-level precision, which matters enormously on a links course.
Cost: ~$1,500+ per year subscription (requires Trackman 4 or Trackman iO hardware, $20K-$35K) Compatible launch monitors: Trackman 4, Trackman iO only Quality notes: The wind model in Trackman’s software is the most sophisticated of any simulator platform. On the Old Course, where the wind direction changes how every hole plays, this matters. The approach into the 11th hole (the “High Hole In”) in a crosswind is a genuinely different challenge than in calm conditions. Best for: High-end home studios, coaching facilities, serious links golf enthusiasts
FSX Play (Foresight Sports)
FSX Play’s Old Course is a showcase for the Unity engine that powers the platform. The course looks stunning in 4K — the stone bridges, the town backdrop, the gorse bushes along the fairways. Foresight’s camera-based tracking provides excellent putting data, which is critical on the Old Course’s enormous greens.
Cost: Free with Foresight launch monitor purchase; ongoing subscription for course access varies Compatible launch monitors: Foresight GC3, GCQuad, GCHawk, and Bushnell Launch Pro Quality notes: FSX Play’s lighting engine captures the unique quality of Scottish light — low sun angles, soft shadows — beautifully. The putting is the most realistic of any platform, and you will three-putt from 60 feet just like you would in real life. Best for: Foresight GC3/GCHawk owners who want the best graphics possible
TGC 2019 (The Golf Club)
TGC 2019 has a well-regarded community version of the Old Course. The graphics engine is older (circa 2018), but the course design community on TGC built an excellent version that captures the routing and key features of the course. It is not as detailed as GSPro’s LiDAR build, but it is more than serviceable.
Cost: ~$100 one-time purchase (often on sale) Compatible launch monitors: Uneekor, Foresight, SkyTrak, Garmin R10 (via connector), many others Quality notes: The greens play noticeably differently from the LiDAR version — less undulation, more forgiving. A good option if you want a one-time purchase instead of a subscription. Best for: Budget-focused sim builders who own TGC 2019
Full Swing Simulator
Full Swing’s course library includes the Old Course as part of its officially licensed collection. Full Swing’s camera-and-radar hybrid tracking system produces good ball-flight data, and the course presentation is polished. The version plays well on Full Swing’s large-format screens, which are common in commercial venues.
Cost: Included with Full Swing Pro Series or KIT launch monitor Compatible launch monitors: Full Swing Pro / KIT only Quality notes: Good, solid presentation. Not the highest-fidelity version, but a reliable option if Full Swing is your platform of choice. The fairway roll-out physics are better than average, which matters for links-style golf. Best for: Full Swing owners, Back Nine facility members
Golfzon TwoVision
Golfzon’s TwoVision platform includes the Old Course with full 4K resolution and Golfzon’s signature high-speed camera tracking. The screen-based putting system takes some adjustment, but the course itself is beautifully rendered with meticulous attention to the St. Andrews town backdrop and coastal environment.
Cost: Commercial pricing varies; hardware typically $25K-$60K per bay Compatible launch monitors: Golfzon proprietary (high-speed camera, ceiling-mounted) Quality notes: Golfzon’s version is visually stunning, with particularly good treatment of the narrow 17th fairway along the Old Course Hotel and the approach to the 18th green. The course benefits from Golfzon’s large-format screen display. Best for: Commercial venues, Golfzon owners, Asian-market sim golfers
What About the Other St. Andrews Links Courses?
The St. Andrews Links Trust operates seven courses on the property. Here is the simulator availability for the most popular ones beyond the Old Course:
| Course | GSPro | E6 | Trackman | FSX Play | TGC 2019 | Full Swing | Golfzon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Course | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Castle Course | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Kingsbarns | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Jubilee Course | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| New Course | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
Notes on the Other Links Courses
The Castle Course (2008, David McLay Kidd design) is a modern links perched on a cliff overlooking St. Andrews. It is available on GSPro via a community LiDAR build and is well worth playing — the elevation changes and North Sea views are spectacular on a simulator.
Kingsbarns Golf Links is technically not a St. Andrews Links Trust course (it is a separate private course adjacent to the property), but it is frequently grouped with St. Andrews in simulator libraries. GSPro’s community version is excellent, capturing the dramatic coastal holes that make Kingsbarns one of the most photogenic courses in Scotland.
The Jubilee Course (originally a women’s course, now a championship links in its own right) and The New Course (actually the second oldest at St. Andrews, opened in 1895) are both available on GSPro and TGC 2019 via community versions.
How to Play the Old Course on a Budget Simulator
The Old Course is actually more accessible to budget sim golfers than many other premium courses. Here is why:
Option 1: Garmin R10 + GSPro ($850 total)
- Garmin R10 launch monitor: ~$600
- GSPro annual subscription: $250/year
- Connector software: Free (community built)
- Total first-year cost: $850
That is less than the cost of one round at the Old Course in peak season (£195-£295 in 2026, approximately $250-$375 at current exchange rates). With GSPro, you get the LiDAR version of the Old Course plus 500+ other courses.
Option 2: SkyTrak+ (or SkyTrak) + GSPro (~$3,000 total)
- SkyTrak+ launch monitor: ~$2,700
- GSPro annual subscription: $250/year
- Total first-year cost: ~$2,950
This setup gives you better ball-flight data (SkyTrak+ uses photometric camera tracking that is more accurate than radar for spin measurement) and the same access to GSPro’s Old Course.
Option 3: TGC 2019 one-time purchase (~$100)
If you already own a compatible launch monitor (Uneekor, SkyTrak, Foresight), you can buy TGC 2019 outright for about $100 (often on sale) and get its community Old Course version with no ongoing subscription.
Which Version Should You Play?
Your choice depends on your hardware, budget, and what matters most to you in the experience:
Choose Trackman Virtual Golf if: You own a Trackman and want the most authentic links golf experience. The wind physics alone make this the version that plays closest to real St. Andrews golf.
Choose FSX Play if: You own a Foresight launch monitor and care about graphics. FSX Play’s Old Course is a visual masterpiece, and the putting physics will humble you on those massive double greens.
Choose E6 Connect if: You want the officially licensed version but don’t own Foresight or Trackman hardware. E6 works with almost everything and delivers a polished, consistent presentation that is perfect for commercial venues.
Choose GSPro if: You want the best value and the largest course library. GSPro’s LiDAR Old Course is 90-95% as good as the premium versions at a fraction of the cost. It is the most-played simulator course for a reason.
Choose TGC 2019 if: You already own it and want to avoid a subscription. It is a solid, playable version that holds up well despite the older engine.
The Bottom Line
The Old Course at St. Andrews is the most universally available premium course across golf simulator platforms. Every major platform has it — and most have it in high-quality form. Only the budget-native software platforms (Home Tee Hero, Rapsodo Course Play, Awesome Golf) lack it, and even then, you can work around the limitation by connecting your hardware to GSPro.
For most home sim golfers, the GSPro community LiDAR version is the sweet spot — excellent quality, massive value, and compatibility with virtually every launch monitor on the market. For commercial operators and Trackman/Foresight owners, the officially licensed versions from E6 Connect, Trackman Virtual Golf, and FSX Play each bring unique strengths to the table.
One thing is universal: whether you are playing the community version or the officially licensed one, the feeling of standing on the 1st tee at St. Andrews — even a digital one — never gets old.
Next in our Course Matrix Series: Augusta National Golf Club — the most requested course in simulator golf. Availability is more limited than you might think, and we will explain why.
Play well, and mind the Road Hole bunker.
Course availability is current as of July 2026. Platform libraries change regularly. We aim to keep this guide updated but recommend checking your platform’s official course list before purchasing hardware. All platform names and course trademarks are property of their respective owners.
Previously in this series: Pebble Beach Golf Links on Simulators: Complete Course Matrix Guide
For platform-specific guides, see St Andrews on GSPro and St Andrews on Trackman.