Useful Information

The Old Course & The 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 2008 and 2009 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 (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.

Old Course Tournament dates to avoid during 2008:

May 5th - 8th the Old is hosting the R&A Spring Meeting.

May 30th - 1st June the Curtis Cup is being played over the Old. Practice rounds from Monday 26th May.

June 6th - 8th Links Trophy, annual international men's amateur competition.

June 9th, 10th, the Old hosts the yearly Rotary International golf competition.

September 8th - 19th plays host to the R&A Autumn Meeting

September 29th - 6th October the PGA Dunhill Links Championship comes to the Old Course.

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 usually 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 winter months.

Open Championship

The 2008 Open, the 137th, was contested over Royal Birkdale based in Liverpool, England. It wasa 'back to back' victory for the great Irish golfer Padraig Harrington who now joins an elite of consecutive Open winners...Woods, Watson, Trevino, Palmer...and a few of others from generations past.

The 136th Open Championship of 2007 at Carnoustie was won by the Irishman and Ryder Cup golfer Padraig Harrington. After he had found the infamous Barry Burn at the 18th allowing Spain's Sergio Garcia an 8 foot putt to win but it steadfastly refused to drop, staying top side and forcing a four hole play-off.

Harrington went onto win the play off and this wonderful tournament. A tremendous climax for the worldwide television audience to a great links Championship, on a golf course that has consistently created drama whenever the Open is played there.

The R&A have recently announced that Turnberry will play host to the 138th Open Championship in 2009. Turnberry has been host to the Open Championship on three previous occasions. In 1977, it was the venue for the famous 'Duel in the Sun' between Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus. The Open returned again in 1986, when Greg Norman not only defeated the field, but also the wind and rain. In 1994 Nick Price snatched victory over the last two holes, on this great links, from Jesper Parnevik with help from an enormous putt on the 17th green.

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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. Scotland is following the lead of New York and Dublin in recent years.

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