- Can visitors play the Old Course at St Andrews?
- Yes. The Old Course is a public course owned by the St Andrews Links Trust, and any golfer with a valid handicap can play. Tee times are allocated by Advance Reservation (booked up to a year ahead), the Daily Ballot (entered two days in advance), or as a single golfer paired into a vacant slot. The course is closed to public play on Sundays.
- How does the Old Course Daily Ballot work?
- Enter the ballot before 2pm two days before you want to play. Submit your group of 1–4 players via the St Andrews Links website. Successful entries are confirmed by 4pm and you pay on arrival. Around 50% of ballot entries are successful in shoulder season; under 30% in peak summer. Pairs and individuals fare better than fourballs.
- How early should I book the Advance Reservation?
- 365 days ahead is the cleanest answer. Advance Reservation opens on the equivalent date a year before your intended round. Peak summer (July, August) sells out in the first 24 hours; spring and autumn are easier. The Trust requires a non-refundable deposit at booking.
- What is the green fee for the Old Course?
- £340–£355 in 2026 for the standard summer rate. Winter rates (November to March) are considerably lower, with the course playing on temporary greens during frost periods. The Old Course Experience packages (which bundle Advance Reservation, hotel and concierge) cost far more and are the easiest way for visitors to secure peak-season tee times.
- Is there a dress code on the Old Course?
- Smart golf attire is required — collared shirt, tailored trousers or proper golf shorts, golf shoes (soft spikes only). No T-shirts, denim, cargo shorts or athletic shorts. Jacket and tie is not required for the round itself but is expected at the Old Course Hotel and the Royal & Ancient clubhouse for non-members.
- Should I take a caddie at St Andrews?
- Strongly recommended for first-time visitors. The lines off the tee on the Old Course are not obvious — fairways are shared with parallel holes, and the famous bunkers (Hell, the Principal's Nose, the Road Hole bunker) are largely invisible from the tee. £80 per round plus a customary £20 tip in 2026. Book through the St Andrews Links caddie office at the same time as the tee time.
- When is the Old Course closed?
- Sundays year-round (the course is open to the public for walking only, a tradition the Trust has maintained for 150+ years). The Old Course also closes for Open Championship preparation, the annual Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in October, and short maintenance windows in winter. Check the Trust calendar on standrews.com before booking.
- How much does it cost to play at St Andrews Old Course?
- A visitor round costs £340–£355, checked against the club's published rates on 28 June 2026.
- Can visitors play at weekends?
- Visitors are welcome but mid-week is markedly easier and quieter. Confirm a weekend tee time as far ahead as you can — popular Saturdays book up first.
- How early can I book a tee time?
- Visitor bookings open 365 days ahead via the club's online system. Group bookings of 8+ can usually be arranged further ahead.
- Is there a dress code?
- Smart golf attire; no scruffy or torn clothing. Soft only.
- Are buggies allowed?
- Buggies are not generally available — the course is walked. Hire a trolley at the pro shop if you'd rather not carry.
- What's the best time of year to play?
- May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep for full conditions. Late May and early Sep are quietest with fair value. Year-round, best Apr–Oct.
