Old Course Lottery

[gregkeller]

I'm going to Scotland the summer of 2020, probably end of July, beginning of August. Little bit of leeway at this point. I'll lock down dates soon. I'm going to be going Thursday (red-eye from NJ) and returning on a tuesday (early AM flight out of Edinburgh). I'm going to stick to St. Andrews area. My question is about the lottery. Is there a way a single (i'm going solo most likely) can enter the lottery? Can I enter names of three buddies who "might" be going and if they bail on me, drop them from my list? try and find people on a website to join my foursome and just change names? I am basically going to have two possible days to play the old course during my trip, Saturday and Monday. I'm willing to line up in the singles line the morning of but If I do it the first day, that is gonna be two days with little to no sleep, and if I do it monday I am risking not getting out and that would make me sad.

[jonnymc44]

> @gregkeller said:

> I'm going to Scotland the summer of 2020, probably end of July, beginning of August. Little bit of leeway at this point. I'll lock down dates soon. I'm going to be going Thursday (red-eye from NJ) and returning on a tuesday (early AM flight out of Edinburgh). I'm going to stick to St. Andrews area. My question is about the lottery. Is there a way a single (i'm going solo most likely) can enter the lottery? Can I enter names of three buddies who "might" be going and if they bail on me, drop them from my list? try and find people on a website to join my foursome and just change names? I am basically going to have two possible days to play the old course during my trip, Saturday and Monday. I'm willing to line up in the singles line the morning of but If I do it the first day, that is gonna be two days with little to no sleep, and if I do it monday I am risking not getting out and that would make me sad.

 

I live only a few hours from St Andrews but had never played the Old Course until last year. I was heading up for my brother-in-law's wedding last year and was a single golfer. The best way to get on as a single was queue at the starter's hut from as early as you can risk it. I turned up at 12.30am and slept on the benches.

 

I'm not sure how strict the Old Course would be regarding putting names down that you ultimately change. You're not guaranteed even entering 4 names via the lottery, but thought the way I did the single golfer thing was a great way of getting on, and an incredible experience. You can see the draw for the following 2 days so you can gauge what time to turn up. When I camped out, there was about 20 of us in total, all got a round that same day.

 

I wrote some of my experiences a few weeks ago, see here...

[https://forums.golfwrx.com/discussion/1754406/to-what-lengths-have-you-gone-to-play-a-certain-course ](https://forums.golfwrx.com/discussion/1754406/to-what-lengths-have-you-gone-to-play-a-certain-course "https://forums.golfwrx.com/discussion/1754406/to-what-lengths-have-you-gone-to-play-a-certain-course ")

[gregkeller]

Yeah, I feel like it might be a little shady and might just not be allowed, but I do have other guys who are potentially gonna join me, but none of them are willing to confirm that they are going 11 months ahead of time. If I made a reservation for a 4-some and they bailed I wonder what my options would be (drop down to a single or try to find others who wanted to play with me on some kind of forum)

[tiderider]

you can enter the lottery as a single ... you are restricted to one name change in your group, i believe ... you cannot drop names from the list and pay for only a single if your group wins a tee time ... you have to pay for the entire group ... you cannot "shop" your tee times (even if you're not "shopping" the tee times, that's essentially what they are trying to prevent ) ... their website is crystal clear on just about every question a golf has for obtaining a tee time ... read their FAQ/website details ...

[gregkeller]

I just saw that, guess I need to make sure my people let me know if they are in or out.

One thing I didn't see is that I know I need to pair the round up with another course (castle if applying as a single), I had planned on getting the three day ticket for all my other rounds I wanted to play at St. Andrews. I was wondering if I could substitute my castle round for that 3 day ticket and still meet their requirement. Oh well, details i've got 15 months to figure out.

[jonnymc44]

Monday is a popular day with the course being closed on a Sunday. And don't forget members' competitions on Saturdays. The people in the office are very helpful by phone or email. I've had a response within the hour.

I'd tell the guys to start saving and not miss the trip of a lifetime!

[El Gringo]

> @gregkeller said:

> I'm going to Scotland the summer of 2020, probably end of July, beginning of August. Little bit of leeway at this point. I'll lock down dates soon. I'm going to be going Thursday (red-eye from NJ) and returning on a tuesday (early AM flight out of Edinburgh). I'm going to stick to St. Andrews area. My question is about the lottery. Is there a way a single (i'm going solo most likely) can enter the lottery? Can I enter names of three buddies who "might" be going and if they bail on me, drop them from my list? try and find people on a website to join my foursome and just change names? I am basically going to have two possible days to play the old course during my trip, Saturday and Monday. I'm willing to line up in the singles line the morning of but If I do it the first day, that is gonna be two days with little to no sleep, and if I do it monday I am risking not getting out and that would make me sad.

 

I am slightly confused. The ballot is open two days prior to the day one wishes to play. Singles cannot enter the ballot. Advanced reservation applications opens in August and last for a few weeks. Successful applicants are notified in October.

Ciao

[gregkeller]

Yeah, I'm probably using the wrong terminology. If I end up being a single I can either enter the "advanced reservations" or line up day of. I cannot enter the "ballot" unless I have at least a second player. I was just trying to maximize my chances of getting out AND getting sleep during the 4 days I'm there :smile:

[jonnymc44]

If you get out at 6.30am like I did you can be finished by 10.30am. Sleep can wait until the afternoon! And it'd be 100% worth it.

[Hawkeye77]

All the rules re the advance reservations are very well spelled out on the site, but they are very good at answering emails and phone inquiries. Check the busy dates for 2020 when they are eventually posted and sometimes they follow a pattern but you may not know for sure if you are setting things up this far out if the course will be unavailable for all or part of those two days.

[Schley]

You can guarantee you get out as a single as long as you get there early enough. Like Midnight early. I got out on back to back days in June last year as a single.

[gregkeller]

Yeah, I'm confident that I could get out as a single just showing up really early. I was just trying to avoid that if possible. If I was going to be there for a week, or 10 days or something, I'd do it no problem. I'm only going to have 4 days to play golf and I'm taking a red-eye over so I think I'm going to be behind the 8 ball as far as sleep goes to start. Giving up another night of sleep in a short trip is not ideal for me. I think I'm going to put in for the advance booking, cross my fingers. If I don't get in, then I'll do the ballot and if that doesn't work I'll deal with a lack of sleep.

[fredstar]

I have lined up several times at around 3-330am in jul/aug and always got on.

Seriously, how much sleep do you need?! It's The Old Course!!

 

[jonnymc44]

> @gregkeller said:

> Yeah, I'm confident that I could get out as a single just showing up really early. I was just trying to avoid that if possible. If I was going to be there for a week, or 10 days or something, I'd do it no problem. I'm only going to have 4 days to play golf and I'm taking a red-eye over so I think I'm going to be behind the 8 ball as far as sleep goes to start. Giving up another night of sleep in a short trip is not ideal for me. I think I'm going to put in for the advance booking, cross my fingers. If I don't get in, then I'll do the ballot and if that doesn't work I'll deal with a lack of sleep.

There's also the option of booking in a hotel that has guaranteed Old Course tee times.

 

> @fredstar said:

> I have lined up several times at around 3-330am in jul/aug and always got on.

> Seriously, how much sleep do you need?! It's The Old Course!!

>

I only had 45mins when I played, on the tarmac...!

 

[tiderider]

i'm unaware of any hotel that has playing privileges on TOC ...

 

edit: stand corrected ... TOC hotel has a 4 night minimum with tee times at TOC ... not sure of the available dates on that

 

 

 

 

[Schley]

> @gregkeller said:

> Yeah, I'm confident that I could get out as a single just showing up really early. I was just trying to avoid that if possible. If I was going to be there for a week, or 10 days or something, I'd do it no problem. I'm only going to have 4 days to play golf and I'm taking a red-eye over so I think I'm going to be behind the 8 ball as far as sleep goes to start. Giving up another night of sleep in a short trip is not ideal for me. I think I'm going to put in for the advance booking, cross my fingers. If I don't get in, then I'll do the ballot and if that doesn't work I'll deal with a lack of sleep.

 

You are going to be jetlagged to begin with. I have endured jetlag living in the ME for 11 years now and traveling East is always the toughest for you can't get to sleep until 4-6 AM. Thus, I always stay up the first night all night which is pretty easy and then go to bed after work the next day. This jump starts the transition for me and many others here. When you are talking ideal, there is no ideal, there is only sticking to priorities and sleep usually isn't one of them. If you want to sleep in till 11 am everyday and have a afternoon tee time, fine but you won't get on TOC that way. You won't remember the sleep deprivation only the experience of playing the courses.

[Chimz]

Question for anyone who has done the 48 hr lottery? I assume you’re at the mercy of the lottery in that if you are successful it could be at any time of the day ? Asking because I’ll be a 4 hr drive away from St Andrews for the first time we enter the lottery so need to plan accordingly

[duffer987]

^Correct, you may want to stay closer or be prepared to get up very very early.