The tee on Burn sits adjacent to the R&A Club of St. Andrews. The drive plays out over Grannie Clark's Wynd, a public road that crosses the first and eighteenth fairways, to the Swilcan Burn. The fairway narrows at the burn, and there is a significant amount of the landing area with the curve of the burn on all sides.
The approach plays over the burn to a small green, just on the other side. This is one of the four greens on the course that are not shared with other holes. The green has significant slope in the back, but is mostly flat in the front.
There used to be a bunker, called Halket’s Bunker, about 200 yards from the tee on the left side. It was removed in 1842.
There is no relief granted for balls ending up on Grannie Clark's Wynd, and balls must be played as they lie.
"The fairway is necessarily wide for the most intimidating opening drive in golf. More horrific attempts to move a golf ball forward have occurred on the first tee than any other patch of turf in the world. The Swilcan Burn makes the approach shot fascinating. Many, many golfers unaccustomed to the full effects of the wind (and playing without a caddy) watch with great intent as their well struck approach shot ends up 1. not only short of the hole, 2. but short of the green, and 3. short of the Burn by some ten yards."