Golf in St Andrews
The Old Course
Golf has been played on the Old Course at St Andrew's for 600 years. It is universally recognized as "The Home of Golf". All the greatest players to have ever played the game have played here and this sense of history can be felt in every fiber or a golfer's being when teeing off the first on the Old Course. It is an experience high on demand for golfers from all around the globe. The tee times at St Andrews are managed by the St Andrews Links Trust - formed by an Act of Parliament in 1974 to be responsible for the management and maintenance of the historic Links at St Andrews. The Trust is a registered charity.
As implied above there is phenomenal demand from golfers around the globe to play golf at St Andrews, and in particular the Old Course. The St Andrews Links Trust ensures that access to the Old Course is not completely dictated by the size of one's wallet. There are a variety of way to access Old Course Tee Times:
- Guaranteed Tee Times. The Trust releases a limited number of tee times every year to authorized providers for advance purchase. These "Guaranteed Tee Times" come at a premium due to their limited supply and are generally sold by Hotels and Tour Operators as part of a minimum stay hotel package.
- Enter the daily ballot. A lottery system that is drawn 48 hours in advance. Golfers apply by phone or in person at one of the Links Trust clubhouses before 2 pm, 48 hours before the intended day of play. Lyons Links will be on hand every step of the way to assist with this.
- Single Golfer Walk-up. The daily ballot is not open to single golfers, they need to check-in at the starter’s hut positioned next to the first tee of the Old Course then wait to be paired with a two-ball or three-ball.
- Fall Lottery. The St Andrews Links Trust has in the past run a "Fall lottery" for Old Course tee times for subsequent years. No tee-times were released however for the 2022 season due to the rescheduling of 2020 and 2021 tee times
- Winter Package. In previous seasons offered between November and March, Old Course Tee Times can be purchased as part of a three-round package with two other St Andrews Links courses. Bookings for the 2022/23 Winter season are expected to Open in June.
Other St Andrews Links Courses
While there is no doubt the Old Course is the big draw for most golfers, there are 7 courses under the auspices of the St Andrews Links Trust. The New Course is considered "the oldest new course in the World" designed by Old Tom Morris and opened for play in 1895. The Jubilee (1897) and The Eden Course (1914) occupy links land adjacent to the Old Course and all represent the most authentic example of the origins of the game. A personal favorite of the team at Lyons Links is the Castle Course, located just outside the town of St Andrews with spectacular views back across the Eden estuary and the town itself. The Castle Course however is more difficult in playability and more challenging to walk and tends to appeal to accomplished golfers.
There are many other courses within commuting distance of St Andrews that will complement any golf trip to the home of golf. We will be happy to provide you with an array of options when assisting with your inquiry.
Saint Andrews is not just a bucket list trip for golfers around the world, it is also a must-visit for history and culture buffs
While we golfers look at St Andrew's like our own special place and playground, there is so much to see and do here for the non-golfers. History buffs and culture vultures love to visit this most beautiful of Scottish towns. Below is a sample itinerary that mixes both that bucket list round of golf at the Old Course, but is also interspersed with some superb local sightseeing. Places worth visiting include:
- Visit St Andrews Cathedral
- Visit St Andrews Castle
- Take a St Andrews Ghost Tour
- Take a Guided Walking Tour of The Old Course
- Visit Eden Mill
- Visit Kingsbarns Distillery
- Visit St Andrews University
- Visit The British Golf Museum
