St. Andrews - Old Course

Sorry for the "St. Andrews Old Course" post #5001. Trying to iron out some details the wife is insisting I get answered instead of "wingin-it"

I am staying in the Macdonald Rusacks Hotel on #18 fairway and I will be there to play on a Thursday May 19th.

Couple Questions:

What time would you recommend to go out there to get in the tee time "queue"? I want to try and be within first 10-15 people out there. Can I go the day/night before to get ahead of everyone else?

How long do rounds usually take to play? (more inquiring for wife, might send her to spa at some point)

Are the rental clubs decent?

If I cant get on the Old Course, which other course would you recommend? New? Castle? I am a single handicapper.

I plan on going to all the shops for gear.

Getting a drink from the Jigger Inn and Dunvegan

Swilken(Swilcan) bridge photo

Restaurant recommendations? I saw someone recommend an Italian place Little Italy, Rascal Bar, St Andrews Brewing Co..

Any Do's and Don'ts?

if you can't get on the old, go to Kingsbarns

should take 4;40 to play based on my 2 rounds

I think you need to be in line for 6am ish, we got in via online lottery

if you can't get on the old, go to Kingsbarns

 

should take 4;40 to play based on my 2 rounds

 

I think you need to be in line for 6am ish, we got in via online lottery

6:00am is a long shot. I think if you want to be top 10, 4:00am is probably the right spot. I've done it a few times, and I usually shoot to be there ~3:30 - and I've NEVER been first.

Don't know about the queue, pace of play should be just about acceptable because they do police it (read just over 4 hours). Rental clubs will be very good, either last season or this seasons Callaway XRs.

The Castle Course should go and die in a fire, play the New/Jubilee/Eden or if you have a car head out to one of Elie/Crail/Lundin (don't expect them to have great rentals though as they are not resort venues) or Kingsbarns (£££)

Food wise it depends what you're after, pretty much anything including Michelin starred food is available.

Sorry for the "St. Andrews Old Course" post #5001. Trying to iron out some details the wife is insisting I get answered instead of "wingin-it"

 

I am staying in the Macdonald Rusacks Hotel on #18 fairway and I will be there to play on a Thursday May 19th.

 

Couple Questions:

What time would you recommend to go out there to get in the tee time "queue"? I want to try and be within first 10-15 people out there. Can I go the day/night before to get ahead of everyone else?

How long do rounds usually take to play? (more inquiring for wife, might send her to spa at some point)

Are the rental clubs decent?

If I cant get on the Old Course, which other course would you recommend? New? Castle? I am a single handicapper.

 

I plan on going to all the shops for gear.

Getting a drink from the Jigger Inn and Dunvegan

Swilken(Swilcan) bridge photo

 

 

Restaurant recommendations? I saw someone recommend an Italian place Little Italy, Rascal Bar, St Andrews Brewing Co..

 

Any Do's and Don'ts?

I can give you my advice from what I experienced. Keep in mind, I went a year ago on Easter weekend and had zero issues getting a tee time. I went to the starter around 10am and he said, "I can get you out now, 11:30, or 1." I took the 1 because I wanted to get lunch at The Jigger and have a beer beforehand. The food there is ok but worth it at least for a drink. We also sat outside at the Jigger after the round and that was cool.

As for the rentals, I rented brand new Titleist AP2's and Titleist driver (last years model), and a Cameron putter. I think they have other options but I picked the Ap2's since I play them at home. My round was a little under 4 hours and my wife actually came along for the walk to take pictures. What is strange (if that is the right word) is that anyone can walk around on the course without a tee time so there were people everywhere; particularly on 1 and 18. My one main piece of advice would be to get a caddie. I didn't and really wish I did. I got paired with another single and a twosome. The single was the only other that had a caddie and in hindsight I wish I had gotten one.

I had about 3 different seasons come in so be prepared for the conditions to change very quickly. It was a great experience and was happy with everything, particularly my luck in getting on the course which is rare exception.

We only stayed one night on the grounds at the hotel and didn't make reservations beforehand. All of the suggested restaurants were booked at the time we wanted to go so we ate in the nice restaurant in the hotel. I would check out the town if I went back as I was told there were some good spots. We were just too tired to get a late dinner reservation. Take a lot of pics and try to get a video hitting over the hotel. The caddie will do that for you. That was fun.

A few other things:

The Jigger was empty at lunch but was very crowded after the round

there are lots of holes that share greens so make sure you are aiming at the right flag.. having a caddy will help make this a non issue

there was only one chance to get food, snacks, drinks, and that is either after 9 or 10 so bring something with you or stock up at the turn

the wind was blowing into us on the front except for the par 3 and downwind on the back except on 10 or 11 (I think that is common)

be prepared to buy a lot of cool stuff at the pro shop/gift shop

Sorry for the "St. Andrews Old Course" post #5001. Trying to iron out some details the wife is insisting I get answered instead of "wingin-it"

 

I am staying in the Macdonald Rusacks Hotel on #18 fairway and I will be there to play on a Thursday May 19th.

 

Couple Questions:

What time would you recommend to go out there to get in the tee time "queue"? I want to try and be within first 10-15 people out there. Can I go the day/night before to get ahead of everyone else?

How long do rounds usually take to play? (more inquiring for wife, might send her to spa at some point)

Are the rental clubs decent?

If I cant get on the Old Course, which other course would you recommend? New? Castle? I am a single handicapper.

 

I plan on going to all the shops for gear.

Getting a drink from the Jigger Inn and Dunvegan

Swilken(Swilcan) bridge photo

 

 

Restaurant recommendations? I saw someone recommend an Italian place Little Italy, Rascal Bar, St Andrews Brewing Co..

 

Any Do's and Don'ts?

I'd have guessed 4 to 5 AM would be a reasonable time to get to the starter, I think raynorfan suggested the same. I've had reserved times through the Advance Reservation System when I've played

I've played in just about 4 hours both times I've been there. The caddies are particularly insistent that each group keep up with the preceding group.

If you can't get on the Old, walk down to the Links Clubhouse and play either the New or the Jubilee. Both are excellent, and run on the same basic ground as the Old. The Links Clubhouse is where you'll need to pick up your hire clubs, unless you get them from another shop in town, such as Auchterlonies.

To get away from American tourists that fill up the Dunvegan, go down Market Street to the Cross Keys or the Criterion, or just outside the old city gate on South Street to the Whey Pat. I know I was an American tourist too, but I preferred the pubs with a few real Scots in them. I've heard that the Jigger Innis nice, but I gave Herb Kohler enough of my money when I was in Kohler WI.

A couple more restaurants I enjoyed, the Russell Hotel for good Scottish fare, including a couple of game dishes (I had a great venison dish with black pudding), and Jahingar, in South Street, for Indian food.

Every morning I took a walk around town, and stopped into Munch in South Street for a bacon roll, which I took on the course for lunch. At the time (2012), the bacon roll and a cup of coffee was 1 pound 80, for what they advertise as "Probably the best bacon roll in the world".

Near sundown, have a drink in the front bar at your hotel. The view across the 18th fairway as the last golfers are walking up is absolutely amazing!

DO take a caddie on the Old, or even on the New or Jubilee. If Willie Stewart is still working, he'll do a great job for you.

DO try some food you're not super-familiar with, like Haggis (just OK for me), black pudding (some is really tasty), and smoked kippers for breakfast (delicious).