The Old Course at St. Andrews is considered the Home of Golf and, throughout its history at the base of an incredible Scottish town, has been a public-access layout. But don’t expect to just ring up the pro shop for a tee time at 10 a.m. next Saturday for yourself and seven buddies.
The Old Course – site of this week’s British Open – hosts nearly 50,000 rounds a year, and that’s with the course being closed on Sundays when the hallowed golfing grounds become a public park – take your dog for a stroll to the beach, but don’t plan on sneaking out for a quick nine after a haggis brunch.
With all those rounds played six days a week, there is quite a bottleneck for access for visiting golfers. But tee times aren’t impossible, they just require planning – and maybe a very early morning wake-up call or long night sitting outside.
There are several ways for locals to score tee times – might we suggest signing up for classes at the ancient University of St. Andrews? Short of that, the St. Andrews Links, which manages tee times on the Old, offers access to non-residents via limited advance registrations, authorized providers, the Old Course ballot and singles golfers. Check out the details for each below.
Worth noting, the green fee for 2023 is 270 pounds (roughly 320 U.S. dollars) in the high season of April 18-Oct. 16, then it drops to 190 pounds for the shoulder season of October 17-31, then it falls to 135 pounds for the low season of November 1-March 31. Players tackling the Old in the winter might be required to play all full shots off mats, little strips of artificial turf that must be carried around the course throughout the round. Caddies, of course, cost extra and must be arranged.
And last of all, don’t forget your handicap card. Players must provide proof of having a handicap of 36 or less.
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An aerial view of the courses at St. Andrews, including the Old Course at the center of the peninsula (David Cannon/Getty Images)
Each fall, golfers can apply to the St. Andrews Links for a tee time the following year, with applications due by early September and the lucky winners of the draw announced in October.
- These applications cover up to eight golfers.
- Applicants agree to play another course managed by the St. Andrews Links as part of the deal.
- This method requires the green fee for each player, plus a 20-percent tax surcharge.
- The odds of success are not in your favor of scoring one of these advance registrations. Be prepared to try one of the other methods, as well less than half of applicants are successful.
The famed 17th hole, named the Road Hole, of the Old Course at St. Andrews (David Cannon/Getty Images)
Every day of the week but Friday, the St. Andrews Links accepts ballot entrees for tee times two days later. So enter the ballot on Monday for a Wednesday tee time, for example.
- Ballot entries are open for foursomes. Larger groups must enter separate ballots for each foursome.
- The ballot closes at 2 p.m. each day. Entries can be made online, by phone or in person at the Old Course Pavilion or one of the St. Andrews Links clubhouses.
- There is no ballot on Friday because the Old Course is closed on Sundays.
- Results of each day’s drawing will be announced after 4:30 p.m. Players can check online or call to see if they got lucky.
- Only the players named on the ballot entry can play. Not allowing substitutions prevents fraud in the system.
Nos. 1 and 18, plus No. 17 green, of the Old Course at St. Andrews (David Cannon/R&A via Getty Images)
St. Andrews Links has designated several companies as authorized providers of tee times – basically tour operators.
- This method offers a guaranteed tee time, but it’s also the most expensive. The tour operators are free to include significant upcharges, and tee times can go for well over $1,000.
- These times tend to sell out quickly by the tour operators. Book early, as in a year in advance or more.
- Players are required to play one of the other courses managed by St. Andrews Links, as well.
- Tour operators normally sell their allotted times as part of a longer trip that includes multiple nights of accommodation plus several days’ worth of rounds, at least.
The practice green and the Old Pavilion beside the first tee in front of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club clubhouse on the Old Course at St. Andrews (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)
This option is for adventurous players with possibly a lot of free time on their hands on a vacation, or for those determined to play the Old regardless of lack of sleep.
- Players line up early in the morning – very early – to wait for the starter to arrive at 6 a.m.
- The starter will allocate to the waiting singles any available tee times among twosomes and threesomes who already have tee times arranged.
- A few dozen golfers each day might get lucky with this option, but they might be waiting for hours to start even if they do get lucky. It’s not unheard of for players to wait hours for the starter to arrive, then wait most of the day to tee off.
- There is no guarantee of a starting time, but the earlier you arrive in the waiting line, the better your chances.
- If you’ve ever camped out for concert tickets or to be first to buy a new model of iPhone, this method might be for you.
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