The answer to this question “how do I get on the Old Course?” is complex one, and certainly could be answered including all manner of nuance in a long essay recounting the history of the course, the R&A and more.

To put it in simple terms, here are the four ways to get onto one of the most significant golf courses in the world, two of which can be done ahead of your trip, while the other two will need to be done while on your trip. 

1. A Guaranteed Advanced Tee Time

Each year, St. Andrews Links offers a set of Old Course tee times to Authorized Providers, who are then able to sell them to visiting golfers, or otherwise use however they’d like. 

The most simple, and only way to guarantee an opportunity to play the Old Course (other than winning one in an application) is to purchase what Authorized Providers call a Guaranteed Advanced Tee Time. We work with multiple Authorized Providers looking out for the best option for you. The cost of these tee times varies, and is based on supply and demand, but it always the most expensive way to play the Old Course. 

2. The Application

The more economical way to secure an advanced tee time to the Old Course is through the advanced tee time ballot application. Each year, starting the last week of August, St. Andrews Links opens a ballot that can be entered online for a period of about two weeks, ending in early September. 

The application process is relatively simple. You enter the names and handicaps of your group, and provide a range of dates that you hope to play. We can guide you in the process but it needs to be submitted under your name.

Once the application is entered, your next step is to wait. By the end of October, once all of the tee times are drawn, the Old Course will get in touch with successful applicants to award them a tee time for the following year. 

3. The Daily Ballot

Golfers hoping to play the Old Course are able to enter enter a ballot draw two days before the desired day of play, so long as it’s entered by 2PM local time. 

If it comes to this, we’d be happy to help you enter the ballot while you’re on trip. 

4. (Early) Morning at the Starters Hut

Your application process was unsuccessful. It was too late for a Guaranteed Advanced Tee Time. You put all of eggs in the Daily Ballot basket, and lost. 

Don’t fret, as there is a last ditch opportunity for you to play the famed Old Course. 

Each morning, golfers line up near the first tee of the course, awaiting the starters arrival at around 6:30am. On arrival, the starter distributes that final tee time slots, placing single players or twosomes with the twosomes and threesomes already scheduled to play that day. 

Sounds simple, right? It is! The only tradeoff? Sleep. If you’re attempting this is the summer, we wouldn’t recommend arriving at the starters hut later than 3:30AM. 

To learn more about getting to St Andrews and getting on the Old Course, see our St Andrews Trips page, or get in touch with us.