Playing the Old Course at St Andrews is the ultimate pilgrimage for any golfer. This isn't just a round of golf, it's a walk through history. This guide will give you clear, actionable steps on how to secure a coveted tee time and provide a solid strategic plan for navigating the unique challenges of the world's most famous links.
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Getting Your Tee Time: How to Play the Old Course
First things first, you can't just call up and book a tee time for tomorrow. Access to the Old Course is carefully managed to preserve its condition and tradition. While it can feel complicated, understanding the different methods is the first step to making your dream a reality. Here are the primary ways to get on.
Method 1: The Old Course Ballot
The Ballot is the most common method for visiting golfers. Think of it as a daily lottery for tee times. It's designed for groups of two, three, or four players.
How it Works: You enter the Ballot two days before you wish to play. For example, to play on a Wednesday, you would enter the Ballot anytime on Monday until 4:00 PM (UK time).
How to Enter: You can enter online via the St Andrews Links website, by phone, or in person at one of the clubhouses. You'll need the names, home clubs, and handicap details for all golfers in your group.
The Draw: The results are published online later that same afternoon (around 4:30 PM). If you're successful, congratulations! Your tee time is set.
Reality Check: Success in the Ballot is far from guaranteed, especially during the peak season (May to September). Chances can range from a hopeful 50% in the shoulder seasons to a slim 20-25% in the height of summer. It's a game of luck, so always have a backup plan. Playing one of the other fantastic St Andrews Links courses is never a bad consolation prize!
Method 2: Advance Reservations (The Year Before)
If you're a planner and are organizing a dedicated trip, this is your best bet for a guaranteed time. St Andrews Links releases a number of tee times for advance booking for the following year.
The Process: Applications typically open in late August/early September for the entirety of the next season. You apply with your preferred dates and group details.
What's Required: This isn't just for a single tee time. Generally, you are required to book a package, which often includes a round on another St Andrews Links course like the New Course or Jubilee.
Be Ready: These spots are in incredibly high demand and are often allocated via an application and lottery process. They sell out almost instantly. This is the path for those who plan their golf adventures far in advance.
Method 3: The Single Golfer "Queue"
This is the stuff of legend, a true pilgrimage for the dedicated golfer traveling alone. The Old Course leaves spots open each day to join incomplete groups (two-balls or three-balls) from the ballot. If you're on your own, this is your golden ticket.
The Strategy: There is a physical queue. You show up at the Old Pavilion, right next to the first tee, in the very early hours of the morning. And when I say early, I mean early. In summer, dedicated golfers might arrive at 1:00 AM or even earlier to secure their place.
The Wait: Bring a thermos of coffee, a chair, and a good book. You'll wait in line until the starter arrives (usually around 6:00 AM). He will then take down names in order and slot you into the first available openings throughout the day.
The Promise: While it sounds daunting, this method has a very high success rate. On most days, if you're willing to wait, you will get to play. It’s an unforgettable experience filled with camaraderie between fellow die-hard golfers from around the globe.
Lastly, you can also book through an Authorised Provider or Tour Operator. This is typically the most expensive route but guarantees your tee time as part of a larger travel package. It's a great, stress-free option if it fits your budget.
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You’ve secured your time! The excitement is building. Now is the time to prepare properly so you can relax and truly enjoy the experience on the day.
Check Your Handicap
The Old Course is a championship test and has handicap requirements. You must have an official, current handicap certificate (or equivalent from your national golf union) to present to the starter. The limits are:
Men: 36
Women: 36
They do check, so don't leave your official handicap record at home! A digital version on your phone is usually acceptable.
Hire a St Andrews Caddie
I cannot overstate this: hire a caddie. Do not try to play the Old Course for the first time without one. A St Andrews caddie is not just someone who carries your bag, they are your guide, historian, strategist, and on-course companion. The fairways are littered with hidden bunkers and subtle humps and hollows that are invisible from the tee. Your caddie is the only one who knows the correct aiming lines - “Aim for the 'O' on the hotel sign" or "Just left of the church steeple." They will read the notoriously tricky double greens and, most importantly, manage your expectations, reminding you to savor the moment. This is the single best investment you can make for your round.
Pack for All Four Seasons
The weather in Scotland is famously unpredictable. It's entirely possible to experience sunshine, wind, rain, and a chill all within the same round. Layers are your best friend. A comfortable base layer, a polo, a sweater, and high-quality waterproofs (both jacket and trousers) are non-negotiable. Wear comfortable, waterproof golf shoes, as you'll be doing a lot of walking.
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On-Course Strategy: A Coach's Guide to Playing the Links
Okay, you're on the first tee. The R&,A Clubhouse is staring back at you. Your hands are shaking. Let's talk strategy. Forget about shooting the round of your life. The goal is to play smart, have fun, and embrace the unique challenge.
Core Principles of Old Course Strategy
1. When in Doubt, Aim Left
For most of the outward nine (and many inward holes), you'll notice that severe trouble - gorse, out of bounds - is on the right. The course was designed for play to loop out, away from the town, and then back in towards it. The fairways look massive because many of them are shared with other holes. The safe play is almost always to favor the left side of the fairway. It might feel like you're aiming at an adjacent hole - and sometimes you are - but this will keep you in play and away from the round-wrecking hazards on the right. Your caddie’s first instruction will likely be, "don't go right." Listen to them.
2. Avoid the Pot Bunkers at All Costs
The bunkers at the Old Course are not like the ones at your home club. They are true hazards. With their steep, revetted faces, many of them are impossible to advance the ball from towards the green. Bunkers like the "Strath" on the 11th or "Hell" on the 14th are deep pits from which making bogey is a victory. The strategy isn't to try and carry them, it's to play around them. If you do find yourself in one, take your medicine. Your only play will often be to go sideways or even backward just to get out. Do not try to be a hero.
3. Master the Lag Putt
The Old Course features seven massive double greens. It's not uncommon to hit the green in regulation and face a 150-foot putt. Your new priority skill is lag putting. Your focus shouldn't be on making the putt, but on getting your first putt to within a "tap-in" circle of 3-4 feet. This is how you avoid three-putts (or four-putts). Spend time on the practice green - called The Himalayas, the world's most famous putting green - before your round, just hitting 60 to 100-foot putts to get a feel for the speed.
Navigating the Key Holes
Hole 1 (Burn) &, Hole 18 (Tom Morris)
The opening and closing holes share the widest fairway in golf. The biggest challenge here is nerve management. On the 1st tee, with people watching from all around, a simple swing is all you need. The only real trouble is out of bounds on the road to the right. Once you're on the fairway, breathe. The approach to 18 is all about avoiding the "Valley of Sin," a deep swale short and left of the green. A putt from the Valley is one of golf's most iconic shots, but avoiding it in the first place is the smarter play.
Hole 17 (The Road Hole)
Arguably the most famous hole in golf. Amateurs should treat this beast as a three-shot Par 5. The tee shot is blind, played over a corner of the Old Course Hotel (replicas of the old railway sheds). Your caddie will give you the line. From there, the approach is guarded by the cavernous Road Hole Bunker on the left and a stone wall and road - which is in play - on the right. The smart shot is a layup short of the green, leaving a simple pitch. Making a 5 here feels like a birdie.
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Playing the Old Course is a bucket-list accomplishment that's about so much more than your score. By understanding the booking process, preparing properly, and embracing a smart, conservative strategy, you can fully appreciate a walk that golfers have taken for over 600 years. For every other round you play when you're not at St Andrews, knowing the right strategy is just as important for lowering scores and having more fun. A huge part of making smarter decisions on the course is removing the guesswork. This is why we created Caddie AI. It gives you instant access to on-course strategy, club recommendations, and even help from tough lies, acting as your personal golf coach right in your pocket. Having that confidence and clarity, whether you're at St Andrews or your local club, lets you focus on one thing: hitting a great golf shot.
Spencer has been playing golf since he was a kid and has spent a lifetime chasing improvement. With over a decade of experience building successful tech products, he combined his love for golf and startups to create Caddie AI - the world's best AI golf app. Giving everyone an expert level coach in your pocket, available 24/7. Caddie's mission is simple: make world-class golf advice accessible to everyone, anytime.
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