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How did St. Andrews establish the 18-hole golf course?

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Tiger Woods follows through on his golf swing after teeing off, standing in tall grass with spectators watching in the background at St Andrews Golf Links. — golf American golfer Tiger Woods competing at the British Open (Open Championship) at St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland, 2005.

The establishment of the 18-hole golf course at St. Andrews occurred in 1764. Prior to this, the course consisted of 22 holes, which were played in a layout where the holes ran straight out alongside the shore and were then played in reverse for the return journey, totaling 11 holes each way.1

As the popularity of St. Andrews grew and it became the central hub for the sport, golfers decided to consolidate some of the existing holes. By modifying the layout to 18 holes, the club created a standard that remains the benchmark for a round of golf to this day. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, which was founded in 1754, later became the recognized authority for determining the rules of the game, further cementing the 18-hole format's global influence.213