Open venues — and the ballot · Which to play
Carnoustie Championship Course vs St Andrews Old Course
Can't land an Old Course tee time? Carnoustie is the Open venue you can actually book.
| Carnoustie Championship Course | St Andrews Old Course | |
|---|---|---|
| Green fee (2026) | £249–£360 | £340–£355 |
| Location | Carnoustie, Angus | St Andrews, Fife |
| Region | Angus | Fife |
| Type | Links | Links |
| Holes / par | 18 · par 72 | 18 · par 72 |
| Designer | Tom Morris; James Braid extended 1926 | Evolved from medieval links; Old Tom Morris 19th century |
The verdict
Which should you play?
The St Andrews Old Course is the home of golf and the round every visitor wants — but the daily ballot is a lottery and the guaranteed tee times sell out roughly a year ahead. Carnoustie's Championship links, a short drive across the Tay, is the answer nobody talks about enough: a genuine Open rota venue, widely rated the hardest of the lot, that you can actually reserve.
The Old Course wins on history, atmosphere and the walk up the 18th past the R&A — nothing replaces it. But as a round of golf, Carnoustie is the tougher and arguably finer championship test, and it's the one you can build a trip around without leaving it to chance. Smart planners book Carnoustie as the certainty and enter the Old Course ballot as the bonus.
Pick this one if…
Carnoustie Championship Course
You want a guaranteed Open-venue round and the sternest links test in the country.
Pick this one if…
St Andrews Old Course
You want the home of golf itself and you'll take your chances in the ballot for it.
Green fees are the clubs' published 2026 visitor rates, shown as a range from the cheapest to the dearest tee time. They change; always confirm on the course profile before you book. We don't take a cut of your green fee — the verdict above is ours, not the pro shop's.
More: which should you play?