how do i play st andrews old course

by Oral Parker DVM 6 min read

The best and most assured way to play The Old Course is to purchase one of our guaranteed tee times with three fellow golfers. These are available in the high season, packaged with local accommodation and green fees at other St Andrews golf courses. Other options are: Enter the daily ballot. A lottery system that is drawn 48 hours in advance.

Full Answer

How to book a round at St. Andrews Old Course?

Offers & Packages

  • Unlimited Golf. The 3 Day and 7 Day tickets offer fantastic value with unlimited golf per day on all six St Andrews Links courses excluding the Old Course.
  • Group Package: The Castle Course. ...
  • Group Package: Jubilee Course. ...
  • The Castle Course: Second Round Rate. ...
  • Scottish Golf Rate: The Castle Course. ...
  • Winter Package. ...

What is the Old Course at St Andrews?

I took a few photos around the 3 most popular tourist spots, St Andrews Old Course, St Andrews Castle and also St Andrews Cathedral. I hope you like my offerings and if you have visited St Andrews i hope these images stir your memories of that visit.

Can I play golf at St Andrews?

Likewise, people ask,Can I play golf at St Andrews? Although it may sound sacrilegious, it is still possible to play golf in St Andrews without a round at the Old Course and still enjoy one of the best golf trips in Scotland. The town is filled with excellent courses and the Old Course is just one of them.

How much to play St Andrews?

Travel to and from St Andrews is permitted from across the UK. Groups can consist of up to 4 golfers with no restrictions on number of households. How much does it cost to golf at a golf course? According to a Golf Channel survey, the median cost for an 18-hole round at a public golf course is $36 including cart.

Can the public play St Andrews Old Course?

The Old Course at St Andrews may be one of the most important courses in golf history, but it is also a public course and remains open to all.

Do you need a handicap to play Old Course St Andrews?

You will need a handicap certificate to play the Old Course. So be sure to register for one with the USGA or your local club in advance of your trip. Maximum allowed handicaps are 24 for men and 36 for women.

How hard is the Old Course at St Andrews?

The 17th on the Old Course is considered to be one of the most difficult holes in all of golf. On a course labelled the “Home of Golf” there are always going to be tests that push your golfing ability to the limit. The Road Hole is for sure the toughest test.

Can you play the Old Course without a handicap?

ARE THERE ANY RESTRICTIONS REGARDING PLAY ON THE OLD COURSE? There are strict handicap restrictions for golfers wishing to play the Old Course. The handicap limit is 36 for both men and ladies. All golfers must provide a current handicap card or certificate at the time of play.

Do you have to have a caddie at St Andrews?

The St Andrews Old course has restrictions on use of trolleys (pull carts) - they are only permitted after 12 noon between April and October. A caddie is therefore essential for many golfers who would not wish to carry their own clubs.

Can I use a trolley on the Old Course?

There are currently no restrictions on the use of trolleys for the Old Course.

Which is the hardest course at St Andrews?

The Jubilee CourseThe Jubilee Course is considered by most locals to be the most difficult course at St Andrews. It is the closest course to West Sands Beach and is therefore the most exposed to the elements. The course has gorse lined, narrow, fairways and tough sloping greens.

Which is the best course to play at St Andrews?

After initially getting your bearings, play the St Andrews New or Jubilee courses. Both of these links courses are underrated and don't get the credit they deserve because they live under the shadow of the Old Course. The greens on the New and Jubilee are typically faster than the Old Course.

Why is the Old Course so good?

Strategic options are endless on the Old. The fairways are hundreds of yards wide in places and many of the double greens are over 25,000 square feet. That combination leads to a huge variety of angles and pin placements that, in combination with the wind, mean no two rounds are ever alike.

What does your handicap have to be to play at St Andrews?

36 or belowWhy You Need a Handicap. Some of the marquee courses across the pond will not only ask to verify your handicap credentials before playing, but it will also need to fall below a set maximum. The Old Course at St. Andrews requires all golfers to have a handicap of 36 or below.

Is there a handicap limit at St Andrews?

Make sure you bring your handicap certificate to the first tee and present it to the Starter. It's your passport to the oldest course in the world. The maximum handicap is 36 for men and ladies. Join more than 600 years of history at the Home of Golf and enjoy the round of a lifetime.

Is St Andrews easy?

It will amaze many, but with a bit of planning and a bit of luck playing St Andrews is actually very easy. You just need to be organised. Have a good a look at the website as pretty much all the information is well laid out there. The easiest way to book is by application.

The Ballot

Famously, nearly half of tee times each year are drawn from a daily ballot in the most democratic of fashions. Golfers have to enter as a two, three or four ball, 48 hours before they wish to play, with that random draw being made two days ahead of the round.

Advanced Reservations

Due to the 150th Open, this option isn't available for 2022, but in normal years, golfers can apply in the autumn to play the next summer. Applicants will choose dates to play and will be drawn from the pack to best fit that requirement to ensure their tee time months in advance. Certainly the best option for those coming from overseas.

Singles List

The COVID-19 pandemic has complicated this process, but it's hoped that the singles list will return in the future. Golfers who have been unsuccessful in the ballot can literally queue - often overnight - and be paired up with any group that has a free spot during the day.

Winter Packages

Each winter, the St Andrews Links Trust offers packages to golfers that include a guaranteed time on the Old Course. Golfers will also have the chance to play two additional rounds on a choice of the other layouts on the peninsula. Fairway mats will be in operation, but the package offers excellent value for money on those crisp winter days.

Authorised Provider Times

For those who want to have their tee time secured well in advance, there are several Golf Tour Operators and Local Accommodation Providers, such as Golfbreaks, offering packages that feature guaranteed Old Course rounds. These are limited and usually come at a premium cost - but it's a way to ensure your date with destiny.

What is the golf academy?

The Golf Academy is the warm up area for the Old Course and a free shuttle service will take you round to the Links Clubhouse and first tee during high season.

How long do you have to wait at the tee?

You'll need to be at the tee at least twenty minutes before your tee-time. If you've entered via the ballot, payment of your green fee will be made to the Starter on the day.

How many handicaps are allowed on the first tee?

It's your passport to the oldest course in the world. The maximum handicap is 36 for men and ladies.

Tips and tricks on how to play the Old Course at St Andrews

The Old Course at St Andrews is one of the most iconic in all of golf, earning it the nickname “The Home of Golf” and for good reason too! St Andrews last held The Open in 2015. These tips and tricks can help get you through in one piece or at least without losing an entire bag full of balls.

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St Andrews at Christmas is truly magical...yes we may be slightly biased, but we're certain that visitors and locals will agree! Find out what you can get up to in St Andrews at Christmas time in our latest blog piece.

What is the least expensive way to play?

Daily Ballot. ‘The Ballot’ is the least expensive way of playing and unlike the other methods, doesn’t come with any strings at all. It’s a straight-up standard green fee only. You can enter by phone or on-line, or simply ask Faraway Fairways to do it on your behalf.

Is St Andrews Old Course guaranteed times?

There are numerous different ways in which you might secure a round on the St Andrews Old Course. As a general rule though it comes down to cost versus certainty. ‘Guaranteed times’ are never sold in isolation. They will always come with ‘strings attached’.

Is St Andrews a small town?

The Old Course Itself. St Andrews is a small town, but a combination of golfers and a thirsty student population means it punches well above its weight! discover.

Tips and tricks on how to play the Old Course at St Andrews

The Old Course at St Andrews is one of the most iconic in all of golf, earning it the nickname “The Home of Golf” and for good reason too! St Andrews last held The Open in 2015. These tips and tricks can help get you through in one piece or at least without losing an entire bag full of balls.

RECENT POSTS

St Andrews at Christmas is truly magical...yes we may be slightly biased, but we're certain that visitors and locals will agree! Find out what you can get up to in St Andrews at Christmas time in our latest blog piece.

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