how to get a tee time at a public golf course

How to Get a Tee Time Visit the website of the golf course you wish to play. It might offer the ability to reserve a tee time online. If it doesn't, it will likely provide information on how to get a tee time, which, if online reservations are unavailable, will probably involve calling the course.

Full Answer

Can I book a tee time on the Old Course?

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.

Is there a two course policy for the Old Course?

I HEARD THAT THERE IS A TWO COURSE POLICY REGARDING THE OLD COURSE, IS THIS TRUE? 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.

Is the old course open to the public year round?

The golf course is open year-round (weather permitting), but golf in the winter months requires the use of mats in the fairways in order to protect the turf. While the Old Course Hotel comes into play on the famous Road Hole, it's not the "official" hotel of the Old Course and its access to tee times isn't much better than any other hotel in town.

What is the private advanced tee time ballot?

This tee time method, called the Private Advanced Tee Time ballot, has returned starting with the 2023 golf season after a two-year hiatus. But you don't have to plan well in advance -- or shell out more money as part of a golf package -- if you're willing to gamble a little.

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How much does it cost to play Ocean Course?

What is the slope rating of Ocean Course?

Can you play at the ocean course?

Who is Zephyr Melton?

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About this website

Can you just show up to a golf course?

You Show Up Without a Tee Time As noted, some golf courses don't require tee times, others don't even accept them. So there are plenty of golf courses where if you show up without a tee time, you'll probably be able to play golf anyway. But not always! Again, check in advance for tee time policies.

Where should beginners tee off?

For the typical beginner, either the 5,000 or 5,500-yard tees are best. Not only will the holes be shorter, the tees will usually be placed where there's little or no trouble directly between you and the fairway or green.

How early should you get to a tee time?

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. You'll also get an idea if things are running on time. Use the time before your tee time wisely.

How does golf tee time work?

A tee time is basically a reservation. Much like you need a reservation to secure a room in a 5 star hotel or a table in a fine dining restaurant. That said, a tee time is the time you want to play at a given golf course. If you want to play from 10am to 11am, then make that your tee time when you go reserve for one.

What color tee should I play from?

Any golfer, regardless of gender or age, whose playing ability best matches the length of the golf course from the white tees should play those tees, whether they are in their traditional middle location or not.

Do you tee off at each hole?

At the start of each hole, a golfer will use a tee. The tee is the small pin that sticks into the ground to keep the ball at a certain height without motion. It cannot be used anywhere else, but only upon the teeing ground of each respective hole.

How many balls should I hit before a round of golf?

How Many Balls To Hit At The Range Before A Round. The ideal number of golf balls to hit at the driving range before your round is 30 balls. This allows you to warm up the body by hitting each club twice, but won't be enough to tire yourself out before you tee-off.

What do you say when you call for a tee time?

Step 2. Call the golf course at which you plan to play and request that you wish to set a tee time. The attendant will ask you questions such as the date of the game, your preferred starting time, the number of golfers in your group, whether you want to play nine or 18 holes and if you are a course member.

How long do tee times last?

How Long Is A Tee Time? Tee time will usually last about five to eight minutes. If your tee time is 10:00, it is expected that by about 10:05 or so, your group is on their way to their next shot. This allows the tee sheet to stay clear and on time for the rest of the day.

How do you say good luck in golf?

Good Luck. This is the most straightforward and easy way of saying you hope a golfer plays well since you are simply saying good luck. ... Hit 'Em Long And Straight. ... May The Fores Be With You. ... Play Well. ... Swing Easy. ... Only Birdies. ... Have A Great Round. ... Stay Out Of The Bunkers.More items...•

How long does a tee time take?

Most golf courses have tee time intervals between eight and twelve minutes apart. Contrary to what it might seem, pace of play tends to be quicker when you tee off twelve minutes apart compared to eight minute intervals. Teeing off eight minutes after the foursome in front of you means regularly waiting on shots.

What is golf dress code?

Most courses require men to wear trousers when playing. Knee-length shorts are generally allowed as well. However, jeans shirts, jeans or cargo shorts are not permitted. Players should not wear any type of workout or fitness clothing.

How do I figure out which tees to use?

Take your average 5-iron distance (be honest!), multiply by 36, and choose the tees that most closely match that yardage. Example: You hit your 5-iron 150 yards. So 150 times 36 equals 5,400. Choose the tees closest to 5,400 yards in length.

When should you move from white to blue tees?

A good rule of thumb to use is if you cannot reach the green on a par three in one shot because of distance, it is a good sign that you should move up a tee. Also, the lower your handicap is, the further back you should be playing.

Should I play from white or blue tees?

White Tees: Men's tees, middle to high handicap, typically the middle option of all the tee boxes, and used by most men. Blue Tees: Men's tees, mostly used for championship or tournament play, and for low handicap male golfers.

How do you properly tee off?

1:252:31Justin's Guide to Golf: How to tee off with a driver - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo I'm going to make sure my body is aiming and the same line is the club head effectively. And theMoreSo I'm going to make sure my body is aiming and the same line is the club head effectively. And the ball position needs to be left half of my stance. Just inside the left here ideally.

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How much does it cost to play Ocean Course?

If you want to play the course during the summer, the rates can be as high as $463 for a round.

What is the slope rating of Ocean Course?

Just because everyone can play the Ocean Course doesn’t mean everyone should. The course boasts a slope rating of 155 — the highest a course can be assigned — and can give even the best players in the world fits.

Can you play at the ocean course?

If you want to play at the Ocean Course though, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. Here’s our handy guide. 1. It’s relatively simple. Some popular public courses make booking a tee time a hassle, but that’s not the case at the Ocean Course.

Who is Zephyr Melton?

Zephyr Melton is an assistant editor for GOLF.com where he spends his days blogging, producing and editing. Prior to joining the team at GOLF.com, he attended the University of Texas followed by stops with Team USA, the Green Bay Packers and the PGA Tour.

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.

How to get a guaranteed tee time?

The smarter way to get a guaranteed tee time at the posted green fee rate for that season is to write or email the St. Andrews Links Trust ( www.StAndrews.org.uk ). Each fall, the Trust holds an open period to accept group-booking requests. The more golfers you have in your group, the tougher it will be to accommodate everyone, but this is a surefire way for smaller groups that can commit to a date well in advance. Tour operators can help you submit these requests if you'd like to use one for your trip.

What is the easiest way to book a golf package?

The easiest option -- and most expensive -- is to book a golf package with a guaranteed tee time. While the packages used to be almost solely provided by the Old Course Experience, the Links Trust has since spread out the times to about 90 local providers, from golf packagers to local hotels and B&Bs. One new nugget for 2018, the Links Trust has partnered with ReCounter, a photography service that will photograph groups on a guaranteed time on the 1st, 17th and 18th holes and provide those groups with a code to view, share and download their images.

How many days before the old course is open to play?

The Old Course holds a tee-sheet ballot every day the course is open to the public, and golfers (minimum of two) can enter the drawing, which is announced two days prior to play (so Wednesday tee times are announced Monday afternoon).

How many golf courses has Tucker played?

To date, his golf travels have taken him to over two dozen countries and nearly 600 golf courses worldwide. While he's played some of the most prestigious courses in the world, Tucker's favorite way to play the game is on a great muni in under three hours.

How much does it cost to play St Andrews?

For 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.

What is the maximum handicap for Dunhill Links?

Maximum allowed handicaps are 24 for men and 36 for women. The Old Course closes for golf and turns into a public park every Sunday with the exception of days it hosts a tournament like the Dunhill Links or Open Championship.

Where is Kingsbarns Golf Links?

Seven miles east of town, the spectacular and modern Kingsbarns Golf Links is a top-10 course worldwide. There are five other courses in the town operated by the Links Trust besides the Old Course, the best being the New Course and Jubilee Course, both true links playing on the same soil as the Old.

What is Eligo membership?

Their concept is to offer regional memberships that give private club access through events and tee time requests. For the golfer, this means the ability to play many private courses without becoming a member. The club gains additional revenue without fully opening to the public. Eligo currently only has regional memberships in New York and Philadelphia for the US presently, with more options in Europe where the business started. This model does seem to be a bit more common on the other side of the pond, with services like PlayMoreGolf offering flexible golf memberships at over 260 clubs across the UK.

How to get a tee time on a private golf course?

If the private course you’ve been dreaming of is in your local area , a possible resource for scoring a tee time might be the pro at your home course. Golf pros work within a pretty small community, and most tend to know the pro at other courses. A conversation with your home course pro could lead to a call over to the private course to get a tee time. At the very least, they’ll be able to tell better how likely (or not) it would be to get on the private course. Remember that the key to this strategy will be the relationship you have with your home course pro. If this is the first time you’ve ever said more than a word or two to them, then the likelihood of them doing you a favor is going to be a lot less.

What is a Thousand Greens membership?

If you have a current private membership, check out Thousand Greens. It’s a no-cost network of members from golf clubs around the world who reciprocate with one another.

What is the best thing about golf?

One of the best things about golf is competitive tournaments for players of any skill level. These tournaments can also offer a chance to play courses that would otherwise be private. Searching your local golf association site will likely turn up a list of official events. For example, the Southern California Golf Association has both USGA-sanctioned events and One-Day Series tournaments at a mix of public and private courses in the region. Some of these tournaments are regional club competitions, so participating in your home club can definitely help open these up to you.

Can you call over to a private golf course?

A conversation with your home course pro could lead to a call over to the private course to get a tee time. At the very least, they’ll be able to tell better how likely (or not) it would be to get on the private course. Remember that the key to this strategy will be the relationship you have with your home course pro.

Can a muni pro get you out on Augusta National?

Additionally, you’re going to have to be reasonable with your expectations. Your local muni pro isn’t likely able to get you out on Augusta National. Asking for an 8 am Sunday tee off (or any specific time for that matter) also probably won’t happen.

Does Firestone Country Club have a stay and play package?

For example, the famous Firestone Country Club provides limited Stay & Play packages to the general public. Several clubs with attached or affiliated lodgings have begun doing the same. Last, several clubs have also started opening up the tee sheets during the off-season or non-peak days. Such availability may be advertised on the club’s website, but the best bet is to call and ask. Even if this strategy isn’t likely to succeed at the most exclusive clubs, it still is worth the phone call since the worst thing that’ll happen is a “no.”

How to close a modal window?

This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.

How much does it cost to play Ocean Course?

If you want to play the course during the summer, the rates can be as high as $463 for a round.

What is the slope rating of Ocean Course?

Just because everyone can play the Ocean Course doesn’t mean everyone should. The course boasts a slope rating of 155 — the highest a course can be assigned — and can give even the best players in the world fits.

Can you play at the ocean course?

If you want to play at the Ocean Course though, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. Here’s our handy guide. 1. It’s relatively simple. Some popular public courses make booking a tee time a hassle, but that’s not the case at the Ocean Course.

Who is Zephyr Melton?

Zephyr Melton is an assistant editor for GOLF.com where he spends his days blogging, producing and editing. Prior to joining the team at GOLF.com, he attended the University of Texas followed by stops with Team USA, the Green Bay Packers and the PGA Tour.