Possible golf trip to Scotland-basic questions

[exgolfpro]

It seems that a friend and I may take the trip of a lifetime next summer. Possibly going to Scotland in July. Simple question....how do we make tee times on these famous courses? The Old Course? Troon? Carnostie? Not that we will play all of these, but is there a normal process for booking times?

[thecraw]

Most take online bookings.

[67VIP]

[quote name='exgolfpro' timestamp='1375130645' post='7563258']
It seems that a friend and I may take the trip of a lifetime next summer. Possibly going to Scotland in July. Simple question....how do we make tee times on these famous courses? The Old Course? Troon? Carnostie? Not that we will play all of these, but is there a normal process for booking times?
[/quote]

For the Old Course you can register for the daily ballot 48 hrs in advance. The other courses at St Andrews you can either walk up and work your way on, or buy the three day advance ticket which gives you unlimited golf for three days on all courses except the Old Course, and you can make one tee time a day...all for 205 pounds. The Castle Course is 120 and the New course is 75 I think, those two alone make it a great deal (play the Eden course too...great warm up for links golf!). Carnoustie is 45 mins from St Andrews and you can book in advance, but I would just walk up the day you want to play...there isn't a whole lotta people who want to pay 147 pounds to be miserable for four hours. Plus if something happens, or you get a better opportunity...you aren't already obligated to play that course. Gleneagles is also only 45 mins away and you would definitely want to play the Kings course...forget the Centennial PGA (site of Ryder Cup--it's too Americanized). Download the St Andrews Links Trust app for your iphone/android...gives you a great overview and and some awesome photos.

[Guardian5]

[quote name='67VIP' timestamp='1375177767' post='7567062']
[quote name='exgolfpro' timestamp='1375130645' post='7563258']
It seems that a friend and I may take the trip of a lifetime next summer. Possibly going to Scotland in July. Simple question....how do we make tee times on these famous courses? The Old Course? Troon? Carnostie? Not that we will play all of these, but is there a normal process for booking times?
[/quote]

For the Old Course you can register for the daily ballot 48 hrs in advance. The other courses at St Andrews you can either walk up and work your way on, or buy the three day advance ticket which gives you unlimited golf for three days on all courses except the Old Course, and you can make one tee time a day...all for 205 pounds. The Castle Course is 120 and the New course is 75 I think, those two alone make it a great deal (play the Eden course too...great warm up for links golf!). Carnoustie is 45 mins from St Andrews and you can book in advance, but I would just walk up the day you want to play...there isn't a whole lotta people who want to pay 147 pounds to be miserable for four hours. Plus if something happens, or you get a better opportunity...you aren't already obligated to play that course. Gleneagles is also only 45 mins away and you would definitely want to play the Kings course...forget the Centennial PGA (site of Ryder Cup--it's too Americanized). Download the St Andrews Links Trust app for your iphone/android...gives you a great overview and and some awesome photos.
[/quote] I second the comment regarding Gleneagles. The Kings course is a masterpiece, I put it on a par with any inland course in the world except Pine Valley.

[Cfd74]

My wife and I go to the UK every year for a couple weeks at a time. I make all of the arrangements myself. I have included a link to my web site that has my blogs and lots of great photos from all of the courses I have had to good fortune to frequent over the years. As a member of St Andrews Golf Club, there is no place I would rather be the Scotland playing golf. Take a look at the site and maybe it will give you some ideas. Let me know if I can be of any help.

[Shemp]

First time over? I'd recommend using a trip coordinator. They know the lay of the land, can book great hotels, arrange transportation and get you tee times at all the prime courses, including the Old Course and Muirfield.

[Fourmyle of Ceres]

I'm not totally disagreeing with Shemp's advice as that is definitely the safest and least confusing way to go on your first trip. But with the sole exception of the Old Course, nowadays any place you're likely to be able to play at all can be contacted by E-mail or at the very most a phone call during regular business hours (taking into account the time zone). The Old Course is a whole 'nothing deal although your options are laid out on the St. Andews Links Trust web site.

On my UK trips I've done a hotel twice and B&B's the rest of the times. Most areas it's easy to go online and find locations and contact details for numerous B&B establishments. Then again, an E-mail or at most a phone call will hook you up for like 25, 30, 32 pounds per night in a lot of areas and almost never more than 45 or so (including breakfast). In my limited experience, most of the hotels I'd care to stay in are going to cost easily twice that much, often much more.

So if you're willing to trade off a higher budget for the reassurance of having someone book hotels and tee times on your behalf, a trip coordinator is a good option. But it is not at all difficult or stressful (IMHO) to just call several courses and a couple B&B's and set things up yourself.

The thing that people tend not to realize is just how a) open to visitors and b) easy to contact most of these private clubs are. That isn't to say they won't be expensive (unless you're the guest of a member they're ridiculously pricey) or that you'll be able to get the days and times you'd most prefer. For instance weekends are typically right out. That's one big hint right there. Avoid flying in for a week-long trip on a Wednesday. You'll typically have a very much restricted choice of courses to play on the Saturday and Sunday. Use one or the other of those as a travel day.

[gken74]

Applications for advanced bookings for the Old Course are being taken at the moment but be quick.

The 3 day pass if the best value you'll get if you want to stay in St Andrews and play the courses. If you want to play courses on the west course like Royal Troon you'll need to bare in mind that from St Andres to Royal Troon is almost a 3 hour drive one way and you'll also have to consider the time you travel as to avoid the rush our traffic as you'll be taking all the main motorways.

All the other courses you can contact directly and book in advance so no issues there.

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'The application forms for making Advanced Reservations for 2014 on the Old Course, The Castle Course and the other St Andrews Links courses are now available to download. Details of how to enter, busy dates for 2014 and a comprehensive green fees list can also be found at www.standrews.org.uk. The Advanced Reservations process opens from 2pm BST on Wednesday, September 4 when the forms should be emailed to [email protected] Applications will not be accepted prior to that time.'