how to play st. andrews okd course

How to Play The Old Course at St Andrews

• The Ballot. Famously, nearly half of tee times each year are drawn from a daily ballot in the most democratic of fashions.
• 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.
• Singles List. ...
• Winter Packages. ...
• Authorised Provider Times. ...

Full Answer

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

To enter there must be a minimum of two and a maximum of four players. Single Golfers. Single golfers with suitable handicaps who wish to play the Old Course without an existing tee time should check in at the Old Pavilion on the day of play and the staff will do their best to join them with a two or three-ball group.

What is the Old Course at St Andrews?

The St Andrews Links Clubhouse is the clubhouse for the Old, New and Jubilee Courses. You can use parking and locker facilities here. A buggy can then take you to the Old Pavilion for check-in. It is located adjacent to the first tee and offers golfers somewhere to wait in comfort with access to toilets and refreshments.

Can I play golf at St Andrews?

The St. Andrews Links Trust opens the private application for advance reservations for the Old Course in August each year for a two-week period. In October, players who are accepted through the private application receive their tee time. While this method is not guaranteed, it is generally the most successful way to get to play The Old Course.

How much to play St Andrews?

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. To enter there must be a minimum of two …

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 walk the Old Course at St. Andrews?

Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 1 h 32 min to complete. This trail is great for trail running and walking. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Old Course at St Andrews is the ruling house of golf worldwide.

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.

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.

Is St Andrews difficult?

The hallowed Old Course lies on public ground, but there's no other place a golfer feels more privileged to play. The course isn't the most technically challenging, but teeing off in front of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club is as nerve-racking as it gets. Read “The Investment of St. Andrews.”

Do you need a Caddie at St Andrews?

The majority of Scottish courses do not offer caddies, but many of the mid and top tier courses most played by visitors will arrange caddies. Of those that do almost none, bar sometimes at the St Andrews Old course, will have caddies available for request on the day, without prior notice.

Can you just visit St Andrews golf course?

Not many of us will have the chance to play a round at St. Andrews, but you can tour part of the course and clubhouse. You are able to see the 1st tee and the 18th hole on the tour and of course get your picture taken on "the bridge".

Can you play St Andrews on a Sunday?

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — For those who arrive at the birthplace of golf on a sunny Sunday morning, the rules of play are simple. You can pretty much do anything you want on the historic grounds of the Old Course, as long as it does not involve actually hitting a drive or rapping a putt. Frisbees are fine.

How much do you tip a caddie at St. Andrews?

20 poundsThe minimum pay for a St. Andrews caddie is 45 pounds plus tip. The tip for a good caddie is at least 20 pounds—65 total. They give 5 pounds back to the Links Trust.

Can you wear shorts on St. Andrews Old Course?

Slacks or shorts (no more than four (4) inches above the knee), collared shirts or turtlenecks (including mock turtlenecks) and golf shoes are required on the Course. Shirts must be tucked in at all times. In general, everyone on the Course is expected to dress in a neat and appropriate manner.

Can I use a trolley on the Old Course?

Following the resumption of play on our courses after the Covid-19 lockdown, the restriction on trolleys on the Old Course has been relaxed. This will remain in place until the end of October 2021.

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.

Where is the old pavilion at the golf course?

You can use parking and locker facilities here. A buggy can then take you to the Old Pavilion for check-in. It is located adjacent to the first tee and offers golfers somewhere to wait in comfort with access to toilets and refreshments. You'll need to be at the tee at least twenty minutes before your tee-time.

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.

What is the Old Course at St Andrews?

How to Get to Play The Old Course at St. Andrews. The Old Course at St. Andrews is arguably the most popular bucket-list course on any golfer’s list of must-play links. This is not only because of its famed difficulty, or the long list of incredible players and stars who have crossed the Swilcan Bridge, or the list of important tournaments ...

Can you play the old course in Scotland?

Getting to play The Old Course is a special treat, especially for anyone making a point of traveling to Scotland to play. But booking a round isn’t as straightforward as it is at many clubs throughout the world. There are several ways to get to play the Old Course, although few are guaranteed.

Can you walk on the old course?

Walking On to The Old Course. As a final way to get on to the Old Course, it’s possible to walk on the day of golf as a single golfer. To do so, check in at the Old Pavilion the day you wish to play, and the staff may be able to add you onto a threesome or twosome.

When are St Andrews Links tee times?

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. This is the most economical way to guarantee a tee-time for the Old Course*.

How many spaces are there on the old course?

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.

What happens if you are successful in the Scottish golf ballot?

If you are successful through the ballot, our Scottish office will take care of contacting and rearranging the golf course you were scheduled to play to another available day. You will be entered for the ballot each day you are in St. Andrews.

Does SGH have tee time?

This means SGH Golf receive an allocation of “ Guaranteed Tee-Times” for the Old Course, St Andrews to be included in a custom, fully managed golf trip with golf tee-times, accommodation bookings and luxury ground transportation. With our local St Andrews PGA Professional on hand to look after your every need, SGH Golf are your perfect travel company. Start planning your 2022 St Andrews Old Course golf trip today.

Does St Andrews Links Trust offer golf?

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.

Is it easier to walk in the footsteps of greatness?

If you wish to walk in the footsteps of that greatness, it's an easier process than you may think, with several attractive options available to help you experience the round of a lifetime.

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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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 handicaps are allowed on 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.

Is the golf course open in the winter?

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.

Can you play the lottery in St Andrews?

So if you stay three or four days in St. Andrews, plan on entering the lottery for every day you are there , but book some "safety" tee times at nearby courses. These clubs know about the Old's ballot policy, and just about all of them are happy to give you a rain check should you earn a ballot spot the day you're supposed to play their course (just mention your plans to do so when booking with the course). Many clubs now offer online tee times as well so you can make last-minute arrangements.

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.

Is St Andrews open to the public?

While it's true that green fees at St. Andrews -- and all of Scotland -- have skyrocketed over the past 30 years, the Old Course is open to the public on most days. 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, ...

Is St Andrews a good golf course?

It sounds sacrilegious to say it, but your group could play a week of golf around St. Andrews without playing the Old Course and it would still be arguably one of the best itineraries in Scotland. 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 the name of the bridge on the old golf course?

From the iconic Swilcan Bridge on the Old Course to Tom Morris's masterful architecture on the New Course, this is one of the most renowned golfing locations in the world.

Where was the first golf game played?

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.

When does the ballot close for the Old Course?

Entries are accepted on the day the ballot is drawn or on the day before, once that day's ballot has closed (approx 2.15pm). As the Old Course is closed on Sundays there is no Friday ballot.

Does Old Course have a ballot?

Ballot. Despite its overwhelming popularity, the Old Course still upholds the tradition of a ballot (lottery) drawn two days ahead of play (except for Sundays and tournament days). This enables golfers who are in the area to still have the opportunity to play the Old Course during their visit.

Is the Old Course closed on Sundays?

As the Old Course is closed on Sundays there is no Friday ballot.

Can you play the old course at the old pavilion?

If you are unsuccessful you may wish to check in at the Old Pavilion on the day of play and the staff will do their best to join you with a two or three-ball group playing the Old Course. With patience this can be successful but we cannot give any guarantees.