The visitor & non-member's guide
How to enter open golf competitions in Scotland
Opens are the cheapest, most competitive way to play great Scottish courses — and you don't need to be a member of anywhere. Here's how to find them, enter them, and what handicap you'll play off.
Typical entry fee
£10–40
often incl. catering
What you need
WHS handicap
member or not
Individual allowance
95%
85% for fourballs
Open season
Apr–Oct
peak May–September
What an ‘open’ actually is
An open competition is exactly what it sounds like: a club opens one of its competitions to golfers from outside its own membership. You enter, pay a modest fee, and play the course in a proper competition off your handicap — usually with catering, sometimes a prize table, and the same starter's welcome a member gets.
You do not need to be a member of anywhere to enter most opens. The one thing you do need is an active WHS handicap. For a visitor or an independent local, entering an open is often the cheapest way onto a course that would otherwise charge a hefty visitor green fee — and the most fun, because you're playing for something.
Step by step
How to enter an open
- 01
Find an open
Most Scottish clubs publish their open calendar on their own website, bookable through platforms like BRS Golf, intelligentgolf or V1. Aggregators such as golfopens.co.uk and your county golf union's fixtures list pull hundreds together; for team events, look up the AmAm Scotland circuit.
- 02
Check the entry terms
Each open states its format, entry fee, date, and any handicap limit (many cap entries at 24 for men / 36 for women, but plenty are open to all). Some events are for affiliated-club members only — most aren't.
- 03
Enter and pay
Book your tee time and pay the entry fee online or by phone — typically £10–£40, often including catering or a halfway-house roll. Popular opens at good courses fill weeks ahead, so book early.
- 04
Have your handicap ready
You'll need an active WHS handicap index. If you're not a club member, OpenPlay is the route to one. Bring evidence of your index — the club enters it to calculate your playing handicap off the relevant allowance.
- 05
Turn up, in order
Arrive in good time in smart golf attire (collared shirt, tailored trousers or shorts, golf shoes). Mark a playing partner's card, play to pace, sign and return your card to the scorers. Then check the board — and the prize table.
The handicap you'll play off
You play off your Course Handicap adjusted by the format's allowance. The club does the sum when you enter — but it helps to know roughly where you'll stand. These are the GB&I allowances; Scottish clubs are now allowed to vary them by competition, so check the entry terms.
| Format | Allowance | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Individual stroke play | 95% | Medal / strokeplay opens |
| Individual Stableford / bogey | 95% | The most common open format |
| Fourball better-ball (Stableford or stroke play) | 85% | Team of two, best score counts |
| Fourball better-ball match play | 90% | Lowest plays off scratch |
| Foursomes (alternate shot) | 50% combined | Of the pair's combined handicap difference |
The kinds of open you'll find
From single-handicap medals to four-person scrambles — pick the format that suits your game and your group.
Individual medal & Stableford
The classic open — you against the field off your own handicap. The bread and butter of the Scottish open calendar.
AmAm / team scrambles
Teams of three or four play a scramble or best-ball. Sociable, forgiving, and the format behind the popular AmAm Scotland circuit.
Seniors' opens
Age-restricted (usually 55+ or 60+). Quieter fields, gentle pace, and some of the best value golf of the season.
Ladies' & juniors' opens
Dedicated events with their own handicap categories and, often, a far warmer welcome than the headline opens.
Charity & society opens
Run for a cause or by a society — usually team formats, a meal included, and a relaxed dress code. A good first open.
Frequently asked questions
Can non-members enter golf opens in Scotland?
Yes — that's the whole point of an 'open'. A club opens the competition to golfers from outside its membership. Most Scottish opens welcome any golfer with an active WHS handicap, member or not. A minority are restricted to members of affiliated clubs, which the entry terms will say.
Do I need a handicap to enter an open?
Almost always, yes — an active World Handicap System index. If you're not a club member, you can get one through OpenPlay, Scottish Golf's scheme for independent golfers (£5.99/month). A handful of casual or charity scrambles will take you without one, but for a proper open, you need a handicap.
What handicap do I play off in an open?
You play off your Course Handicap adjusted by the format's allowance: 95% for individual stroke play and Stableford, 85% for fourball better-ball, 90% for fourball match play. The club applies this automatically when you enter — you don't need to do the maths. (Scotland can vary these allowances by competition, so check the entry terms.)
How much does it cost to enter a golf open?
Typically £10–£40 per player, depending on the course and whether catering or a prize fund is included. It's usually far less than the club's standard visitor green fee — entering an open is often the cheapest way to play a sought-after course.
What is an AmAm in golf?
An AmAm is a team event for amateurs — usually threes or fours playing a scramble or best-ball format, with the team's best scores counting. It's sociable and forgiving, which is why circuits like AmAm Scotland are so popular with visiting groups and societies.
How do I find golf opens near me in Scotland?
Check individual club websites (most list their season's opens and take entries online), the aggregator golfopens.co.uk, and your county golf union's fixture calendar. For team events, the AmAm Scotland circuit publishes a full schedule. Opens run roughly April to October.
Handicap allowances per the World Handicap System (GB&I). Scotland, Ireland and Wales may vary playing-handicap allowances by competition — always check each open's entry terms. Entry fees and formats are typical figures and vary by club.