Staying for three days in Edinburgh. Really want to visit St. Andrews. Not to play golf, but view the course and whatever is available. How much can an individual see on a visit?

There are several courses at St Andrews, including those that are maintained by St Andrews Links Trust. If you are thinking of the Old Course, the best day to go is a Sunday, when the course is closed and you are allowed to walk on fairways and take pictures (there will be rangers out there to stop people walking on greens or entering bunkers). On other days, you can only look at the course from the outside, i.e. outside the course boundaries, plus any public footpaths that cross it. You can certainly visit the golf museum (recommended) and buy exclusive souvenirs at a shop run by Links Trust near the 18th green, beside the R&A clubhouse. There are also the ruins of the castle and the cathedral a short walk away.

You can buy a ticket at Waverley or Haymarket train stations to St Andrews which will cover the cost of the train journey to Leuchars & the bus ride to St Andrews from there.

"<i>How much can an individual see on a visit? </i>"

Lots -- the Old Course, the R&A, the museum, West Sands, the castle, Cathedral and more are all w/i walking distance of each other.

The last time we were at the Old Course, there were nine of us with only eight tee times. I volunteered to not play as I had played the course before.

You can see quite a bit of the course unfortunately. I watched my pals play on several holes.

The mediaeval university, the West beach, the Castle with its bottle dungeon, the cathedral, the Royal & Ancient, the Sea Life Centre, Janetta's ice cream shop.

There are piles of guided walks- it's a very walkable town- and nice restaurants. Don't miss it