The decision was made after they found they were spending more than £1,500 each week on replacing slates which had been damaged by stray shots.

Every year, golfers who go to play the world-famous course fire shots that miss the fairway on the 17th hole, known as the “Road Hole”, and strike the roof of the popular hotel.

The five-star resort, world-famous for its golf course, has hired Canadian company Euroshield Roofing to fit a new rubber roof to the top of the building, The Herald reported.

Work on the roof will begin next month to replace the 7,000-square metre 28-year-old roof and is expected to be completed by the start of the golf season in April.

Euroshield owner Henry Kamphuis told The Herald: “I was stunned when we got the call because it was St Andrews. I was up on the hotel and the gutters are just full of golf balls. It’s very easy to hit the hotel. It’s right in the middle of the fairway.”

Netting will be put up to protect the roofers from any misplaced shots during the work.