Most of you got it right! Holes 1, 9, 17 & 18 are single greens. There are seven double greens: 2 thru 8 double with 10 thru 16, each with the corresponding number that adds up to 18! Total greens: 11.
Some of the greens at The Old Course are absolutely huge. I played the course a few years ago and had the two putt of my life. I was about 120 feet from the hole and managed to lag it to about 3 feet and sunk it for par.
I remember the caddie going "aye, that must be the 2 putt of yur life!"
Prior to 1870 there was one more with #17 also being #1. Tom Morris built today's #1 to eliminate the crossing of #18 fairway. Prior to 1857 the standard was one hole on these doubles serving both going out and coming in. Also, the ball was teed within one club length of the hole, modified to 4-6 club lengths and then to separate teeing areas.
At one time St. Andrews played to a right and left circuit. Today's routing is the right circuit. The hole for the Charles Lee's painting, The Golfers, has been described as #15, Ginger Beer, which is the name of today's #4.
At one time St. Andrews played to a right and left circuit. Today's routing is the right circuit. The hole for the Charles Lee's painting, The Golfers, has been described as #15, Ginger Beer, which is the name of today's #4.
DRW
I think the Mens club at St. Andrews plays a tournament every year playing the course using the "left circuit" as you termed it.