St. Andrews - Old Course during an Open year

[soonernick]

Just got back from a UK golf trip that included the 3 Rota courses near Liverpool and multiple courses in/around St. Andrews... and it was so awesome we're already planning our next trip! Anyway, that leads to my question(s):

Do any of you know off hand, or have any tips, for scheduling the Old Course during a summer when it is hosting the Open? We're looking at going back in 2021, and we're obviously super early, but we plan on taking a couple of guys that haven't been, so I can't imagine someone going for a first time and not playing the Old Course. Basically, would we want to look at this a trying to avoid the Open as much as possible and schedule something closer to April/May or August? This is probably a pipe dream, but is there any potential for watching Tiger win No. 18 on Sunday and then start playing golf on Monday, with the Old Course on one of the days in the week following the Open?

At the end of the day it may be that it's not best to try and schedule something for that summer with the Old Course hosting and we can just shoot for 2022... but I figured you all were the best to start with as you were all so helpful with my planning for the trip last month. Just trying to get a reasonable expectation for whether this is doable before I start getting guys excited and researching packages, etc.

Thanks in advance, appreciate you guys!

[tiderider]

not that i would know, but doubt you could play it till after at least a week or so, and play would be restricted in some way due to the work being done to take everything down ... it would be mats in the fairways leading up to the tournament, and some holes might be restricted in some way due to construction ... carnoustie closed #18, i think, in the month or so before the tournament due to the stands ...

[soonernick]

> @tiderider said:

> not that i would know, but doubt you could play it till after at least a week or so, and play would be restricted in some way due to the work being done to take everything down ... it would be mats in the fairways leading up to the tournament, and some holes might be restricted in some way due to construction ... carnoustie closed #18, i think, in the month or so before the tournament due to the stands ...

I think that's a pretty reasonable assumption, and it's a bit of my concern and why I'm posing the question. I am cautiously optimistic because we played Royal Lytham & St Annes on the 1st of this month... it is hosting the Senior British Open next week, and we didn't have to play on mats like we had feared.

But yes, you're correct, I think the things you're pointing out are highly likely. Really just wondering if we're planning this far out if it would be possible to pull off. I mean, someone is gonna play the Old Course the Wednesday after the Open, right? Why not us? Would be so cool to play Old Course with stadiums still up.

[gueuzengolf]

Following as I’m looking at 2021 as well for a first trip over and can’t imagine playing TOC on mats for my first go around.

[tiderider]

i'd go ahead and call them and ask right now ... they'll know ...

[jvincent]

Are you going to try and get a time via the lottery or book with a tour provider?

 

I would think getting a lottery time is going to be harder than usual because everyone is going to want to play it that year, just like yourself. If you go the tour provider then you'll have a time but I wouldn't be surprised if mats are in play for at least a month before the Open. Assuming you can get a tee time that close.

[Mitch Jordan]

I was at St. Andrews for the Open in 2010. I know the day after it ended the course was closed for some type of corporate outing. We played the New that day. Not sure when normal play resumed.

[Ralphyboy84]

> @tiderider said:

> not that i would know, but doubt you could play it till after at least a week or so, and play would be restricted in some way due to the work being done to take everything down ... it would be mats in the fairways leading up to the tournament, and some holes might be restricted in some way due to construction ... carnoustie closed #18, i think, in the month or so before the tournament due to the stands ...

 

I’m a Carnoustie member and this is incorrect. Carnoustie closed completely 3 weeks before the Open. It was a full course up till then though certain spots on certain fairways you had to use mats.

 

Carnoustie reopened to visitors the Tuesday after the competition to a full course. I’d imagine St. Andrews would be much the same. It is a bit noisier than normal with the guys taking the stands down etc but the course itself plays as normal. Again I’d imagine St. Andrews would be much the same.

 

If possible I’d schedule as near as possible either side of the open so you can play with all the stands and scoreboards up. It is an amazing experience!

 

 

 

[tiderider]

> @Ralphyboy84 said:

> > @tiderider said:

> > not that i would know, but doubt you could play it till after at least a week or so, and play would be restricted in some way due to the work being done to take everything down ... it would be mats in the fairways leading up to the tournament, and some holes might be restricted in some way due to construction ... carnoustie closed #18, i think, in the month or so before the tournament due to the stands ...

>

> I’m a Carnoustie member and this is incorrect. Carnoustie closed completely 3 weeks before the Open. It was a full course up till then though certain spots on certain fairways you had to use mats.

>

> Carnoustie reopened to visitors the Tuesday after the competition to a full course. I’d imagine St. Andrews would be much the same. It is a bit noisier than normal with the guys taking the stands down etc but the course itself plays as normal. Again I’d imagine St. Andrews would be much the same.

>

> If possible I’d schedule as near as possible either side of the open so you can play with all the stands and scoreboards up. It is an amazing experience!

>

>

>

 

k ... sounds like it would be great, indeed ... just thought i remembered looking at the website and seeing something about a portion of the course being closed as the competition neared, but that would be great to play with the stands up ... you have a great course, btw ...