TOC during low season as a single

[Sir Larry Wildman]

All - I'll be in St. Andrews the last week of February. This is what they call the "low season", which mostly means you'll be playing off of mats at all St. Andrews courses, and there are some differences in advance bookings for groups.

 

I've read all about the lines at the Old Course Pavilion during the summer months - that people get there and line up the night before! But what about during the low season? How far in advance do you need to line up?

[Superbrit]

You wont need to queue before 6, i queued at 5.00 in October and still got on.

 

Just look out for frost, if its really frosty and icy most of the courses will be closed until they deem fit for use, which could be some time in the afternoon depending how bad it is

 

I

[Sir Larry Wildman]

Right. I'm there for 3 days with nothing to do. Wife is going on business, so I will be there just to tag along. I've got all the time in the world!

Thanks!

[Quebec Club Ho]

I was there the first week of march 2013. I walked down from the hotel to see if there was a line - nobody. Eventually made it down to the starter at 7am, still not a player in sight. He did tell me there was a twosomes on the tee sheet at 7:30 and I could go off alone after those two and to take my time (as I had to rent clubs) at the pavilion. I came back with my clubs - still no one in sight and he let me go off alone! :D

Granted the weather that day was cold! Just above freezing 0*C and it called for snow (It snowed from the 10th hole to the end). Funny ending as a twosome behind me eventually caught me and when I stopped to let them pass, they asked if they could join me. The two were members of the R & A and after the round, one of the gentlemen invited me into the R & A and gave me a great tour of the R & A.

Things may have changed in 7 years - Hope it works out for you!! :D

[Sir Larry Wildman]

I was able to email someone at St. Andrews and they essentially said the same thing. Should be easy to get out on TOC in the low season; there's almost never a line. The gentleman just suggested showing up before the first tee time and I'd have my pick.

Hoping to get in 36 a day! Old/New, and maybe Old/Old. We'll see!

[Hawkeye77]

Good for you! They are prompt in response to emails and like most courses over there, are happy to answer inquiries by phone. My wife and I were out in Irvine in spring of 2018 and while walking from the short game area back to the range with Monte I had to take a call from Crail, lol. I had left a message while the course was closed and she was kind enough to call me back and answer a could of questions about tee time, etc.

The whole country (okay 95% - not totally perfect but those weren't Scottish people that were the exceptions at a couple of places) IMO, understands tourism and customer service - at least in my experience. Seems to come naturally not by design.

[Zigzog]

You should have no issue, I played the other week - just walked up and got out within 30 mins; the starter even gave me a choice of playing on my own or joining. I joined another couple of guys from Norway.

Some days will be busier than others, we have not had a cold winter here at all, but has been very wet.

Sadly the lack of frost and the pretty warm temps for winter, my grass is still growing a fair but will not get you off mats - is a hard rule which is a bit of a shame as is really not needed when the grass is growing and no frost is about.

[Sir Larry Wildman]

Resurrecting an old thread... 

 

I had absolutely no problem getting on last week of Feb as a single. Showed up around 6, and was the first (and only) person there when the hut opened. Had my pick of the whole day. Could have come back and played another 18 after I was done, but it torrentially downpoured by last 3 holes so I was done!