I'm going to london in july for a funeral and really want to go to scottland to play the old course. I'm probly going as a single. any tips or ideas to help me get on? thanks

I have never been but want to badly. Do yourself a favor and get the book "Two Years in St Andrews" by George Peper. One of my all time favorite reads. Lots of good info also.

I highly recommend a book called Golf in Scotland by Allan McAllister Ferguson. It answers all your questions. I believe he lists about six different ways to get on the Old Course.

You should be able to get on as a single. You just may have to wait around for a while, but it's worth it. Also, if you can afford it, make sure to get a caddie. Most have a lot of great stories, and will save you 6 shots. After your done, walk a couple hundred yards to the pub that all the caddies hang out in. The name escapes me right now. The owners are great people and there's some real characters in there. If you have a hat from you're local course, bring it along to domate to the pub and they'll treat you like royalty. My buddie did it, and the lady gave him a new Jack Nicklaus 20 pound note!

This book is a MUST - especially the section on St. Andrews - it saved us a bundle! Go to Amazon right now and order it.

Go to the starters hut just off the first tee in front of the R&A. Get your name in early on the morning you want to play.
75% chance of getting paired with a group - but they have to give the okay.

If you get there the day before, you can enter the ballot before 2PM for the next day. Online or go to the hut. If you happen to know
someone in St. Andrews, your chances are better because they set aside tee times every day for the town residents.

http://www.linksnet.co.uk/barononline/ballot.aspx

Bring your handicap card - you will need to show it to the starter to prove you are at least a 24 - that's the max handicap for men
on the Old.


Good luck - I will tell you this - no matter what you have to do, it will have been WORTH IT!

Ben

They have the lottery system there which you can enter the day before or two days before (check the St. Andrew's Links Trust web site for exact timing) and they publish it around 3 pm local time the day before so you know if you have a time. Also, if not on that, since you cannot get on the ballot as a single, if I remember correctly, check out the next day's ballot on the web site anyway and you will see if there are any opening. That will give you a sense of what is available if you were to show up. Of course, if there are any no shows, you could still get on but could wait a long time for that.

I had no problem whatsoever getting on earlier this year but first time was Feb and next time was early May. I was a single both times. Feb, I basically walked on as soon as I arrived and the next time, the Old Course Hotel pro put me on the ballot with a couple other singles so we could all at elast be in the running for a time but as it turned out, there were huge open spots in the tee sheet anyway so would not have needed the ballot. All depends on the day. Just remember, there is no play on the Old Course on Sundays. The other Links Trust courses still have play but just not the Old Course. Day is reserved for people wandering around the course.

If you are staying at the Old Course Hotel, you do get certain privileges and ask the golf pro (at the hotel pro shop) to help you out. They are great people. Also, just staying at that hotel is an amazing experience. Expensive but amazing.

I did not get a caddy but both times I played, someone in the group had one so I still got all the stories and alignment tips (for best line off tee). They give you a yardage book at the starters box and those are immensely useful on this course for all the bumps and humps.

Even if you cannot get on the Old Course, you can probably get on the New Course (amazing) or the Jubilee (not as nice but still decent). Just to be in St. Andrew's, walking around, seeing the town and seaside, is stunning and as a golfer, my jaw was just hanging open most of the time.

thanks for all the tips and books to read. I'm staying just outside london but It sounds like its worth all the b.s. to fly there early rent a car and wait.