Old Course Ballot Odds: What Are Your Real Chances?

Your chances of getting on the Old Course through the ballot are roughly 10–25%. The exact rate varies by season, the number of tee times available, and how many other players entered the same ballot. In peak summer, the odds fall toward the lower end. In April, October, or November, they improve considerably.

How the ballot works

The Old Course ballot is free to enter and opens the evening before play (from 2 pm). Entrants submit their group size, preferred tee time range, and handicap (men ≤ 24, women ≤ 36). Results are announced by 4 pm on the day the ballot was entered — so you know by 4 pm on Monday whether you'll play on Tuesday.

The system allocates tee times to successful ballot entrants first. Walk-up single players can also queue at the starter's hut from around 5:30 am, and any unsold tee times are filled from this queue.

The odds in practice

Season	Approximate success rate
Peak (June–August)	8–15%
Shoulder (May, September)	12–20%
Off-peak (October–April)	20–30%+
Midweek vs weekend	Weekdays slightly better

These are estimates based on player reports, Links Trust statements, and travel operator data from 2022–2025. The Links Trust does not publish official success rate statistics, so these figures are derived from the community.

Group size matters. A single player has better odds than a group of four, because single players can be slotted into available gaps in the ballot. Many successful ballot entries are solos paired with other singles on the day.

Multiple entries don't help. You can only enter the ballot once per day per party. Re-entering with a different name or email is against the rules.

Why the odds are low

The Old Course has 18 holes and runs tee times from around 7 am to 3 pm — roughly 80–90 tee times per day, accommodating around 320–360 players on standard round sizes. In peak season, a typical ballot receives 4,000–6,000+ individual entrants. Even allowing for groups of four, the maths produce a single-digit percentage success rate at the busiest times.

Additionally, some tee times are pre-booked months in advance through the Links Trust's advance booking window (which opens at different points for different categories of player). Ballot allocation works from what remains after advance bookings are filled.

Walk-up singles

The walk-up system has a genuine — if unpredictable — success rate. Players who arrive at the caddie pavilion before dawn and queue have a chance of getting a tee time from the walk-up allocation. This is harder in peak season and easier in the shoulder months, but it's not impossible at any time of year.

The legendary 4 am queues in December exist. They often don't result in a game. They sometimes do.

What to do if you don't get the ballot

See our guide to Old Course alternatives in St Andrews — the other five Links Trust courses and the private clubs nearby offer excellent golf at a fraction of the stress. Kingsbarns, Carnoustie, and Royal Dornoch are all within driving distance and individually outstanding.

The Old Course is worth the effort. But it's worth putting the effort into the ballot with realistic expectations, not with the assumption you'll get on every time you enter.