The opening hole at St. Andrews is a short par 4 with no rough, no bunkers and one of the widest fairways in golf. But the thin, twisting snake of the Swilken Burn -- an eight-foot wide ribbon of water that runs across the face of the green -- stops this from being a push-over birdie chance. Most often players will lay up with whatever club leaves them a full approach, ignoring front pin positions close to the water and flying the ball over the flag.

By Keith Mackie, golf historian and writer from a well-established golfing family in St. Andrews.

• About the Course
• Hole by Hole

The Old Course at St Andrews
St Andrews, Scotland
7,279 yards / Par 72