how to book at tee time at st andrews old course

Here’s your complete guide to booking a tee time at the birthplace of golf. Start the process by applying directly to the St. Andrews Links Trust. Contact them by phone (011-44-1334-466718) or e-mail ([email protected]) during a two- to three-week window that begins each year in late August and ends in mid-September.

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How do I book a tee time at St Andrews?

Here’s your complete guide to booking a tee time at the birthplace of golf. Start the process by applying directly to the St. Andrews Links Trust. Contact them by phone (011-44-1334-466718) or e-mail ([email protected]) during a two- to three-week window that begins each year in late August and ends in mid-September.

Can anyone play the Old Course at St Andrews?

It also happens to be a truly public course, owned by the local townspeople through a centuries old Act of Parliament. While this means that anyone can play The Old Course at St. Andrews, securing a tee time at The Home of Golf is not as simple as phoning the pro shop. Here’s what every golfer needs to know when planning a golf trip to St. Andrews.

How do I get a St Andrews golf membership?

Start the process by applying directly to the St. Andrews Links Trust. Contact them by phone (011-44-1334-466718) or e-mail ([email protected]) during a two- to three-week window that begins each year in late August and ends in mid-September. The tee times are allocated lottery-style, and winners are notified in early to mid-October.

How long have we been selling golf vacations to St Andrews?

We have been selling golf vacations to St Andrews for almost 40 years and are delighted to be able to assist you with your dream trip. 2022 Old Course Tee Times are sold on a first come basis. What does “Authorised Providers of Old Course Tee Times” mean?

How do I get a guaranteed tee time at St Andrews?

How does it work?You should make your online application to St Andrews Links Trust (SALT) on play.standrews.com. ... You have to be organised and ready to submit your application before early-September in the year prior to when you wish to play; so, for example, by 1st September 2021 for play in May 2022.More items...•

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.

How long before a tee time should you arrive?

Give yourself plenty of time to get ready for your round. It's best to arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled tee time. When you get there, check in with the starter -- either in the golf shop or near the first tee -- to let him or her know you're there.

Can you play a round of golf at St Andrews?

The Old Course at St Andrews Links is where the game was first played 600 years ago, but it's easier to obtain a tee time than many might think. There are a number of ways to do so if you have a suitable handicap (maximum of 36 for men and women) and this page explains each of them in detail.

How much does it cost to play St Andrews Old Course?

about $250For a round, it costs about the same as your normal PGA Tour venue open to the public. Depending on the exchange rate, the 2018 green fee to play the Old Course is 180 pounds, which is about $250.

How much do you tip a Caddie at St Andrews?

Andrews. Caddies there – as they are at most courses – are independent contractors, earning their standard fee of 55 pounds ($69) plus gratuity, usually another 20 to 25 pounds ($25-$30). That's roughly $100 for a four-hour round, or $25 an hour.

Should you hit balls before a round?

Hitting balls before you play is a warm up. Nothing more, nothing less. It's an opportunity to get loose, reaffirm a feel and prepare both physically and mentally for the round. I prefer three to five balls with a wedge, short-iron, mid-iron, hybrid and driver.

How do you make a golf reservation?

2:2912:40How to Make a Tee Time Reservation - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe first step is to make a reservation is to select the player slot. If you want to add multipleMoreThe first step is to make a reservation is to select the player slot. If you want to add multiple players to the same reservation highlight the number of empty. White player spots as required.

What happens if you miss tee time?

Regardless of the reason why a player might miss their tee time, the USGA and the Rules of Golf are crystal clear about the penalty for missing a tee time. If a golfer misses their tee time at the US Open or any other tournament, they're disqualified. That's it.

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.

Who can play the Old Course at St Andrews?

The good news is anyone with a suitable handicap of 36 or below for both men and women can technically play The Old Course as it is open to the public. The Old Course is one of seven public courses in St Andrews which is managed by the charitable St Andrews Links Trust, one of the largest employers in St Andrews.

What is the best time of year to play St Andrews?

Spring and autumn are great shoulder seasons to visit St. Andrews, and also very similar to each other here. The best part about visiting in spring is the relatively fewer chances of rainfall as compared to the rest of the year; April is the driest month of the year.

What is the handicap limit for 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. Also, there are no pre-bookable tee times for Saturdays and the Old Course is closed on Sundays.

Can you play the old course at St Andrews?

Yes, all Old Course tee times that are booked in advance are sold as part of a two course package. Along with the tee time on the Old Course, golfers also have to take up the option to play another of the St Andrews Links Courses. This option will be the New Course, the Jubilee Course, the Eden Course or the Castle Course.

When do links tee times become available?

These tee times typically become available in April the year prior to play and are usually completely sold within a matter of days. Translation: Plan early. Direct Application – The Links Trust accepts applications for tee times in the September prior to the next year’s season.

How many players are needed to play St Andrews?

Entries can be made via the St. Andrews app or by phone and require a minimum of two players. Singles Queue – Each day, The Old Course fills a number of open slots via the Singles Queue. These spots are filled by the Starter when The Old Pavilion opens at 6am, and are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

How early can you enter the old course ballot?

Ballot – Nearly half of all Old Course tee times are awarded by lottery, known officially as the Old Course Ballot. The ballot is drawn 48 hours prior to the date of play, and must be entered by 2pm each day. So, for example, a group hoping to play on Wednesday would need to enter the ballot by 2pm on the Monday before.

Will the 150th Open be played in 2022?

In addition, the postponement of the 150th Open Championship means there will also be fewer tee times available for The Old Course in 2022. At risk of sounding like a broken record, any golfer hoping to play The Old Course over the next two years needs to plan early.

Can you play the old course at St Andrews?

While this means that anyone can play The Old Course at St. Andrews, securing a tee time at The Home of Golf is not as simple as phoning the pro shop. Here’s what every golfer needs to know when planning a golf trip to St. Andrews. If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device.

Will there be fewer tee times at St Andrews in 2021?

The full effect on guaranteed tee times is still being measured, but thanks to thousands of postponed St. Andrews golf trips, there’s certain to be fewer times to go around in 2021 and 2022. In addition, the postponement of the 150th Open Championship means there will also be fewer tee times available for The Old Course in 2022. At risk of sounding like a broken record, any golfer hoping to play The Old Course over the next two years needs to plan early.

How many foursomes can you play at St Andrews?

You can book up to two foursomes, or as few as two players. There are limited advanced times for single players as well. Prepare to give the Links Trust the other names in your group, their handicaps and home clubs as well as a second course to play at St. Andrews.

How early can you play golf in summer?

Arrive as early as 5:30 a.m. in summer’s high season, provide proof that you’re a max handicap of 24 for men and 36 for women, then wait your turn to be paired with a two-ball or three-ball game. Some days you’ll be paired within an hour. You might also check in all day, all week, and never tee it up.

How many nights does the OCE package include?

But if you can handle the tariffs, this route could be for you. The OCE features three-, four- and five-night packages that include luxury lodging (Old Course Hotel, Fairmont St. Andrews, Macdonald Rusacks), clubhouse lunches, course transfers and guaranteed Old Course access for one round.

When does the Standrews lottery end?

Contact them by phone (011-44-1334-466718) or e-mail ([email protected]) during a two- to three-week window that begins each year in late August and ends in mid-September. The tee times are allocated lottery-style, and winners are notified in early to mid-October.

Does Links Trust have old course tee times?

The Links Trust also allocates a limited number of Old Course tee times to local hotels and guest houses in St. Andrews (stayinstandrews.com). Occasionally, these properties will farm out their tee times to tour operators that bring them business, but most of the time this is a perfectly legitimate option for folks seeking an Old Course time.

The 5 Ways to Book a Tee Time at St Andrews Old Course

There are 5 different ways to play the old course and the one you choose will likely be dependent on the stage in which you are planning your trip. Even if you are trying to plan a last-minute trip, there are still options available that will almost guarantee you are able to play this bucket-list track.

Advanced Reservations

For those of you planning your trip well in advance, your first step should be to apply for an advanced tee time via the St Andrews Links website.

Tour Operators

If you are unsuccessful in obtaining an advanced tee-time reservation, another option is to use one of the many tour operators who offer packages that include one round on the Old Course. Unless you have money just burning holes in your pocket, this is not an option that I would recommend.

Local Hotels & Guest Houses

To help support the local hotels and guest houses, the St Andrews Links Trust allocates a limited number of tee times to local hotels and guest houses. The number of rounds allocated to each property is based on the number of rooms, but just because a property has been allocated tee times does not mean that they will be publicly available.

Daily Ballot

For those of you who are not able to plan ahead, your next-best option is the daily ballot, which allocates tee-times to applicants in a lottery-based system.

The Singles Queue

The last way to get a tee-time on the Old Course at St Andrews is by utilizing what is known as the singles queue. While this is not limited to just singles, if you join the queue in a group there is a good chance you will not all be able to play together at the same tee time.

Other Things to Consider

There are a few things that you need to be aware of before you make the trip to St Andrews. While there are tons of other great golf courses in the area, most trips to the Fife region in Scotland include the need to play the Old Course.

The Four Ways of Securing a Tee Time

1. “Advance Reservations” (other names: Private or Direct Application Process, Advanced Application)

So now that you know the four ways of getting on the Old Course, the following explains the two strategies you can select from when booking your trip

Essentially, there are two paths for securing a tee time at The Old Course. The end result of “The Guaranteed Route” is that you will end up with a tee time that is absolutely guaranteed. If booking before September 7 of the year prior to play, the graphic below illustrates that a guaranteed time at the hefty premium is reserved for you.

When is the best time to go?

There are several factors involved that impact the odds of getting a tee time through the Advanced Application, Daily Ballot or Standby Line. The odds depend heavily on things such as the group size, the month of travel and the number of days a group spends in St. Andrews.

How to Play the St Andrews Old Course in 2022

This brief outline will help explain all the different methods that can be used to obtain a tee time on the Old Course at St Andrews.

Advanced Application Process

Each year, St Andrews Links has an allocation of tee-times that are sold directly to clients. Applications are accepted for these tee-times during a two-week period in August and these are drawn randomly by a computer. We can assist you in the application process but you must submit the forms directly.

The "Ballot" (Lottery)

Nearly half of Old Course tee times each year are allocated to the Ballot to give people who have been unable to book a chance of playing. It is drawn 48 hours in advance of play and golfers should provide their names, home club and handicaps two days before the day they wish to play.

The Lineup (Standing-By)

There are normally between 10 and 20 spaces on the Old Course each day that the starter will fill in with golfers that are registered on the stand-by list. Any golfer wanting to walk on will need to report to the Old Course Pavillion on the day they wish to play.