Booking & Access
Old Course Alternatives: What to Play When the Ballot Doesn't Break Your Way
The Old Course is one of seven St Andrews Links courses, with Kingsbarns and Carnoustie close by and Royal Dornoch worth the drive north. Missing the ballot doesn't mean settling. It means choosing.
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The Old Course gets the headlines. It also gets a ballot that the one published count puts at about 10.5% of visitor entries succeeding on an average day (April–October 2024; the Links Trust publishes no rates), which means most visitors to St Andrews will, at some point, not play it. This is not a disaster. It's an opportunity to play some of the best golf in Scotland — golf that gets overlooked because it sits in the shadow of the most famous course in the world.
The other St Andrews Links courses
The Links Trust operates seven courses at St Andrews. The Old Course is one of them. The others are booked in advance with guaranteed tee times — no ballot required.
New Course
18 holes, par 71, 6,604 yards. Plays adjacent to the Old Course and shares its clubhouse. The comparison is instructive: the New is narrower, tighter off the tee, arguably more demanding for a scratch player. The rough is punishing in summer. Green fee £45–£155 depending on season (2026). Verdict: outstanding, and almost always available.
Jubilee Course
18 holes, par 72, 6,805 yards. One of the most traditional in layout — an out-and-back links with full exposure to the sea wind. Green fee £75–£150 by season (2026). Verdict: the best alternative for players who want a serious links test.
Eden Course
18 holes, par 70. A shorter, more forgiving layout — ideal if you're playing multiple rounds in a day, or if the group includes mixed abilities. Green fee £28–£80 by season. Verdict: enjoyable, not demanding, often underbooked.
Strathtyrum Course
18 holes, par 69. A parkland-style course — unusually sheltered for St Andrews. Good for beginners or an easy round at the end of a long golf trip. Green fee £28–£55 by season. Verdict: fine, not what you came to St Andrews for, but a round is a round.
Balgove Course
9 holes, par 30, open to all, no handicap required. Ideal for beginners, children, or a late-evening half-round, at £15–£20. Verdict: charming, not serious golf.
Castle Course
The clifftop course east of the town, closed in winter. Green fee £120–£180 by season (2026).
Book them all at standrews.com — no ballot, standard advance booking.
Within 30 minutes of St Andrews
Kingsbarns Golf Links — 7 miles south
The newest great links in Scotland, opened 2000. Built from scratch on farmland between Crail and St Andrews, designed to feel ancient. Genuinely one of the finest courses in the world — most players who've played both rate Kingsbarns their favourite round in Scotland. Fully visitor-accessible (no ballot), green fee £399–£486. Book 3–6 months ahead in peak season.
Crail Golfing Society — 9 miles south
Two courses at Crail: Balcomie Links (1895, par 69, one of Scotland's oldest) and Craighead Links (modern, longer, more demanding). Green fees £70–£170 at Balcomie and £70–£125 at Craighead, by season. Visitor access straightforward. The Balcomie is one of the most characterful short links in Fife.
Elie Golf Club — 12 miles south
Famous for the periscope on the 1st tee (used to check whether the previous group is clear — the 1st fairway shares a blind landing area with incoming traffic from the 7th hole). Proper golf, proper club, proper welcome. Green fee £60–£200 by season.
Lundin Golf Club — 15 miles west
Underrated links with three ancient standing stones in the middle of the course. Check the club's visitor days when you book. Green fee £60–£175 by season.
Worth the drive
Carnoustie (north across the Tay Road Bridge): The hardest and most unforgiving of the Open venues. Bleak, brilliant, brutal in a wind. Green fee £249–£360 for the Championship course in 2026. No ballot.
Royal Dornoch (far north, in Sutherland): Many course architects' choice for the finest course in the world. A long drive from St Andrews — plan it as its own leg of the trip. Green fee £200–£360 (2026/27). No ballot, standard advance booking. Worth the drive.
Dundonald Links (Ayrshire, on the west coast): Modern links, fully visitor-accessible, excellent condition. Green fee £95–£195 by season.
The take
If the ballot breaks badly for an entire trip, you haven't missed Scottish golf. You've played the New Course, the Jubilee, Kingsbarns, Crail, and maybe driven to Carnoustie. That's one of the best weeks of golf available on earth.
The Old Course is the Old Course. It's worth the effort. But Scotland's golf doesn't start and end on one course's 18 holes.
Stays Nearby
Where to stay near St Andrews
Hotels, B&Bs and self-catering within easy reach of St Andrews. Tap any property to check rates.
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About the author
The Birdie Brae editor
Editor and founder of Birdie Brae. Based in Glasgow, 12.7 handicap, playing since late 2021. Has played 20+ Scottish courses and started this site because most Scottish golf content is written by people trying to sell you a package holiday.
More about the editor →Also in the Almanac
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