Booking & Access
How to Book a Tee Time at Scotland's Most Famous Courses
The ballot, the advance booking window, the hotel backdoor, and the stand-by queue. A working manual for getting on the Old Course, Muirfield, Turnberry and the rest — without paying an agent.
Scope
This manual covers the twelve Scottish courses most often searched for by international visitors. For each: when the booking window opens, what it costs, what you need, and the stand-by route if the primary method fails. Fees and timings are current for the 2026 season. Verify on the course website before travelling.
Courses covered, in order below: St Andrews Old Course · St Andrews New / Jubilee / Castle · Muirfield · Royal Troon · Prestwick · Turnberry (Ailsa) · Carnoustie Championship · Kingsbarns · The Machrie, Islay · Royal Dornoch · Castle Stuart · The Renaissance Club.
St Andrews Old Course
Fee: £295 (2026). Caddie £85–£100 plus tip. Buggy not permitted except on medical grounds.
Primary route — the Advance Daily Ballot:
- Enter the day before you want to play, between 08:00 and 14:00, via standrews.com.
- Specify your group (1–4 players). Single players must accept pairing.
- Results posted 16:00 the same day.
- Acceptance must be confirmed by 19:00.
Success rate: Variable by season. Approximately 25% in peak July, 50% in April and October, 70%+ in late autumn.
Alternative — the Advance Booking:
- Small number of tee times released 12 months ahead, via the Reservation Form at standrews.com. Sold out within 48 hours of release in peak season.
- No payment until confirmed.
Stand-by route:
- Single golfers can queue at the Starter's Box from 06:00 to be paired into no-show slots. Nothing guaranteed. First-come basis. Most useful on weekdays in shoulder season.
Documents required: Handicap certificate (28 for men, 36 for women). An attested official handicap from your home club is sufficient.
St Andrews New, Jubilee, Castle
Fee: £115 (New), £95 (Jubilee), £120 (Castle). Caddies optional.
Primary route:
- Direct booking at standrews.com up to 12 months ahead.
- No ballot required.
Best practice: Book the Old Course round last (via ballot). Book the New, Jubilee or Castle as your confirmed anchor round on the same trip.
Muirfield (The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers)
Fee: £325 (2026). Two rounds in a day with lunch £395.
Primary route:
- Visitor tee times available Tuesdays and Thursdays only.
- Apply via muirfield.org.uk, typically 12 months ahead. Some slots release closer to date.
- Handicap certificate required. Men: 18. Women: 24.
- Dress: jacket and tie in the clubhouse for the lunch option. Yes, still.
Alternative: Some Scottish golf tour operators hold blocks of Muirfield tee times. Expect a 20–40% markup.
Royal Troon
Fee: £280 Championship; £130 Portland. Open Championship venue.
Primary route:
- Online via royaltroon.co.uk, up to 12 months ahead.
- Visitors: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. No weekends.
- Handicap certificate required. Men: 20. Women: 30.
Combination day: Championship and Portland in one day (£350) is the best-value route. Morning Championship, lunch, afternoon Portland.
Prestwick
Fee: £225. Caddie £60 plus tip, strongly advised.
Primary route:
- Online via prestwickgc.co.uk.
- Visitors: Monday to Friday, limited Saturdays. No Sundays.
- Handicap certificate required. Men: 24. Women: 30.
Note: The starter is strict on dress code. Collared shirt, tailored trousers, no cargo pockets.
Turnberry (Ailsa)
Fee: £550 peak (2026). Resort-guest rate £450 (requires overnight stay).
Primary route:
- Online via trumpgolfscotland.com or via the resort's reservations team.
- No ballot. Tee times available up to 12 months ahead.
- Resort-guest rate applies if staying at the hotel, Dornoch House, or the lighthouse suites.
Stand-by route:
- The King Robert the Bruce course (second course at the resort) is £275 and typically available short notice. Frequently used as a filler round by groups whose Ailsa date is far ahead.
Carnoustie Championship
Fee: £265 (2026). Buggy available.
Primary route:
- Online via carnoustiegolflinks.com.
- No ballot.
- Handicap certificate required. 28 men, 36 women.
Stand-by route:
- Burnside Course (£75) and Buddon Course (£55) available at the same booking system for days when the Championship is full.
Kingsbarns
Fee: £295 (2026). Caddie £60 plus tip.
Primary route:
- Online via kingsbarns.com, up to 12 months ahead.
- No ballot.
- Handicap not required but the starter will pair slow players behind faster groups.
Note: Often quieter than the Old Course on a given morning. A sensible anchor round for a Fife trip.
The Machrie, Islay
Fee: £195 peak.
Primary route:
- Online via themachrie.com.
- No ballot.
Travel note: Access is the complication, not the booking. Ferry from Kennacraig (2h 20m) or flight from Glasgow (45 min). Book the Machrie first, then plan the ferry.
Royal Dornoch Championship
Fee: £255 peak. Members' club.
Primary route:
- Online via royaldornoch.com, up to 12 months ahead.
- Visitors welcome most days; handicap cert required (24 men, 36 women).
Stand-by route:
- The Struie (£95) is the second course. Available same-day almost always. Worth playing in its own right.
Castle Stuart
Fee: £255 (2026).
Primary route:
- Online via castlestuartgolf.com.
- No ballot. Limited winter opening.
Combination day: Often paired with Nairn (£185) or Royal Dornoch (£255) for a Highland round trip. Both within an hour by road.
The Renaissance Club
Fee: £400 (2026). Private club; very limited visitor access.
Primary route:
- Through a member only. No public booking system.
- Some Scottish Open corporate packages offer rounds.
If you cannot get on: Play Muirfield, North Berwick, or Archerfield instead. All within three miles, all open to visitors with proper access.
General practical notes
Handicap certificates
An official handicap index from your home club's system (WHS, USGA GHIN, GolfLink, Handicap Europe) is universally accepted. Print a copy and bring it. Some clubs want a letter from your head professional confirming your handicap. If in doubt, email the club two weeks before.
Booking windows
| Window | Courses | |---|---| | 12 months ahead | Old Course Advance, New, Jubilee, Castle, Kingsbarns, Royal Dornoch, Carnoustie, Castle Stuart, Turnberry, Royal Troon | | Ballot 1 day ahead | Old Course | | Members only / very limited | Muirfield, Renaissance Club |
Caddie etiquette
- Caddie fee goes to the caddie, not the club. Tip 20–30% on top.
- Caddies at the famous Scottish clubs are professional. Listen to them. They read the course better than any guidebook.
- Request a specific caddie at the time of booking if they have been recommended.
Dress code summary
Collared shirts, tailored trousers, proper golf shoes. No denim, no cargo pockets, no football shirts. Muirfield: jacket and tie for clubhouse meals. The rest: smart casual after the round.
Cancellation windows
| Course | Cancellation deadline | Penalty | |---|---|---| | Old Course (Advance) | 30 days | 50% | | Muirfield | 48 hours | 100% | | Royal Troon | 7 days | 25% | | Kingsbarns | 14 days | 25% | | Most others | 48 hours | Partial to full |
Do not use
Unsolicited emails from third-party agents promising guaranteed Old Course tee times in peak season for £800+. They are almost always inflated resales of advance-booking slots you could have obtained yourself by applying 12 months in advance. The exceptions are a handful of reputable Scottish tour operators with genuine course relationships (listed on the clubs' own sites). If in doubt, email the club first.
What to carry
- Printed confirmation of the tee time.
- Handicap certificate.
- Photo ID.
- Cash or card for caddie tips.
- A pen. Starters still hand out paper cards.
If a course is missing from this list or a booking rule has changed, tell us and we'll update the page.