Useful Information

Old Course Tee Times and Ballot

Advanced bookings for the following year's play should be submitted as soon as possible, certainly before late summer. Caddie Golf Tours relationship with the Old Course Experience, who have exclusive tee time rights to the Old, allows us to apply for Old Course tee times from them on behalf of our clients with the resulting reduced costs passed directly to the golfers.

Submission for play during 2011 are now being accepted, please contact Caddie Golf Tours for advice and organisation of your tour incorporating tee times for the Old Course.

The Ballot

The Ballot (lottery) is held every day for the following day's play with approximately 50% of the tee times available. At least 'two golfers' must enter and entry can be made by Caddie Golf Tours or by filling in a request card at the course before 2.00pm. The St. Andrews Links Trust post the results at 4.00pm on the Web, the Links Clubhouse, the Caddie Pavilion, the Starters' boxes, local golf clubs and various Hotels in St. Andrews.

Further information about the Ballot can be accesed from the St. Andrews Links Trust website.

Old Course Tournament dates to avoid during 2011:

May 2nd - 5th the Old will be hosting the R&A Golf Club's Spring Meeting.

May 27th - 29th annual St. Rule Trophy for the top women amateurs held on the Old & New courses.

June 2nd - 5th prestigious annual Links Trophy for the world's leading amateur golfers.

June 6th - 7th Rotary International annual meeting.

September 12th - 23rd the Old Course plays host to the R&A Golf Club's Autumn Meeting.

September 26th - 4th October European Tour Dunhill Links Championship comes to the Old Course.

October 28th R&A Golf Club Winter Shotgun.

The Scottish Golf Season

This is not an exact science but it is generally accepted that our golf season begins at the start of April and runs through into October. Links courses will remain open for play during all 12 months of the year because of their proximity to the coast, only closing due to adverse weather conditions and safety reasons eg. frost during the mornings of the winter months.

2010 Open Championship

The 150th anniversary and 139th Open Championship was contested over the Old Course at St. Andrews. This was the 28th time that the Old Course has been host to the Open and a new Champion Louis Oosthuizen, from South Africa, winning by seven shots from Lee Westwood.

He prevailed over the four days of competition especially through the second days' gales when he compiled a superb 67 before play was suspended with the wind eventually gusting up to 45mph, causing golf balls to move on the green and the end of Rory McIlroy who made the cut, only just, scoring an 80 after his first round 63

2011 Open Championship

The 140th Open Championship is to be held at Royal St. Georges in Kent, England during July. This will be the 14th time that this great English golf club will have hosted the Open, the first being 1894 when JH Taylor won the first of his five Open victories.

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Handicap Certificates

Please remember to bring a handicap certificate or GHIN card. Most golf courses will require you to have one though only a few may / will inspect them: The Old Course, Royal Troon, Muirfield etc.

Passports

It is certainly worth checking that your passport is valid for the dates you wish to travel. Give yourself plenty of time to update your passport if required, government departments can be notoriously slow.

Luggage

The airline luggage allowance is generally two bags per person, one of which is your golf bag. A specific 'golf club travel case' is recommended to protect your clubs during transit.

Smoking Ban

A reminder that a smoking ban was introduced in Scotland on 26th March 2006. This effectively bans all smoking in pubs, restaurants, hotels & nightclubs.

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