The Old Course
The Complete Guide to Old Course at St. Andrews Tee Times
The Old Course at St. Andrews is the crown jewel of golf travel in the British Isles. It also happens to be a truly public course, owned by the local townspeople through a centuries old Act of Parliament. While this means that anyone can play The Old Course at St. Andrews, securing a tee time at The Home of Golf is not as simple as phoning the pro shop.
If you're hoping to play The Old Course, here's your ultimate guide for St. Andrews tee times.
We've also covered the topic in detail on our Golf and the Good Life podcast. Tune-in below or wherever you get your podcasts.
Four Ways to Play The Old Course at St. Andrews
For most traveling golfers, there are four paths to the first tee at The Old Course. Each comes with its own process, timeline, and odds of success. Here's where to start:
Guaranteed Tee Times Through an Authorized Provider
The most direct path to a confirmed tee time, generally as part of a broader travel package.
Direct application with the St. Andrews Links Trust, awarded by lottery each fall.
The 48-hour lottery that fills nearly half the tee sheet.
A final lottery option for individual golfers already in St. Andrews.
Once you understand the four options for an Old Course tee time, here's a breakdown of if you really need a guaranteed tee time, plus everything else worth knowing before your journey to The Home of Golf.
Guaranteed Old Course Tee Times Through an Authorized Provider
Authorized Providers are a select group of golf tour operators appointed by the St Andrews Links Trust to sell guaranteed Old Course tee times, which are generally offered as part of multi-day golf travel packages.
Haversham & Baker has been an Authorized Provider of guaranteed Old Course tee times since the program was announced in 2017.
How Guaranteed Tee Times Work with Haversham & Baker
As an Authorized Provider, H&B receives a limited number of tee times each year directly from the St Andrews Links Trust. These tee times typically become available in the first quarter of the year prior to play and most, if not all, are sold within a matter of days.
Translation: If you hope to secure a guaranteed tee time, you'll want to start working with an H&B Expedition Planning Manager as early as two years prior to your trip.
Two Points of Note:
- Guaranteed Old Course at St. Andrews tee times through Haversham & Baker are only available as part of a complete package with minimum stay and golf requirements.
- We are unable to assist with requests for stand-alone tee times.
A Word About "Guarantees"
Not every operator advertising Old Course packages holds Authorized Provider status.
Some advertised itineraries include a guaranteed tee time through an Authorized Provider, while others simply include entry into the Old Course Ballot.
Those are two very different things.
Before placing a deposit, ask whether your proposal includes a guaranteed Old Course tee time or simply an opportunity to enter the ballot. If the tee time is guaranteed, it should say so.
The Swilcan Package
The St Andrews Links Trust accepts direct tee time applications for what's known as the Swilcan Package in the September prior to the next year's season.
This means golfers looking to play The Old Course at St. Andrews in 2028 would apply in September of 2027. Winners are selected by lottery, and successful applicants are usually notified in October.
If your group is lucky enough to land a spot, we can then assist in building the rest of your Expedition around your Old Course tee time.
A Word on the Swilcan Package
Through the years, countless H&B travelers have landed St. Andrews tee times through the Swilcan Package. One thing to consider, however, is that by the time notifications are sent in October, our allotment of guaranteed tee times is typically 100% sold. This means applicants who are unsuccessful may be left without a path to a guaranteed time.
Even a successful application can cause a planning wrinkle if you've waited to hear from The Old Course before booking your other tee times. By the time you get the good news, most of the marquee courses in St. Andrews and elsewhere in Scotland may be down to limited or no availability for your dates.
Our advice: treat the Swilcan Package as a welcome bonus, not a plan. If your heart is set on crossing the Swilcan Bridge, the surest path is a guaranteed tee time secured well in advance.
And if you strike out on the application, all is not lost...
The Old Course Ballot
Nearly half of all Old Course tee times are awarded by lottery, known officially as the Old Course Ballot.
The Ballot is drawn 48 hours prior to the date of play and must be entered by 2pm each day. For example, a group hoping to play on Wednesday would need to enter the Ballot by 2pm on the Monday before.
Two Points of Note:
- Entries require a minimum of two players and can be made via the St Andrews app, in person at The Old Pavilion, or by telephone.
- Since The Old Course is closed on Sunday, no Ballot is drawn on Friday.
There is No Secret Formula for the Ballot
Our Expedition Planning Managers are often asked if we have any tips for scoring St. Andrews tee times via the Old Course Ballot.
The methodology used in the selection process is a closely guarded state secret. What we do know, however, is that flexibility matters.
If you plan to ballot on just one specific day, your odds of hitting the jackpot are far less than if you enter over multiple days. Our advice is to base yourself in St. Andrews for multiple days, perhaps the entire week, and enter the Ballot every day.
Still, there's no guarantee of success. We've had groups hit on their first try, and even multiple times on the same trip. We've also had groups enter every day for a week and come up empty handed. It truly is luck of the draw.
Tour Operators Can't Guarantee Success on the Ballot
As much as we'd love to claim an inside track to the Ballot, no such thing exists. Cast a skeptical eye toward any tour operator who leads you to believe otherwise.
The Singles Daily Draw
Each day, The Old Course fills a number of open slots via the Singles Daily Draw. This system replaces the in-person Singles Queue, where golfers would line up overnight in hopes of scoring a coveted tee time.
To enter the Daily Draw, stop by The Old Pavilion or Links Clubhouse between 9am and 5pm the day before your desired date of play and complete the form using the assigned tablet. After 5pm, you'll be notified of the results via text message.
Although we regret the loss of one of the great traditions in golf with the Singles Queue, the Daily Draw provides a welcome final opportunity for H&B travelers. Those who might strike out with the Ballot can now make a last-ditch effort to play The Old Course without sleeping on the putting green.
Two Points of Note:
- Entries must be made in person, and a photograph will be taken to confirm the identity of each player on arrival.
- If you don't secure a place, all may not be lost. Unsuccessful entries are placed on a waitlist that usually ticks down throughout the day. You might find your number still comes up.
Do I Really Need a Guaranteed Old Course Tee Time?
For most first-time visitors, yes. But it truly depends on your group. If The Old Course is the reason for your trip, or you’d be disappointed to leave St. Andrews without a round, a guaranteed tee time through an Authorized Provider is the only way to be certain.
The Ballot, the Swilcan Package, and the Singles Daily Draw cost less and work for many golfers, but none of them can promise you a spot on the tee sheet.
When a Guaranteed Tee Time Makes Sense
- The trip is built around The Old Course. A milestone birthday, a retirement, or a group that’s been talking about this round for years.
- It’s your first visit to St. Andrews, and there's a chance you may only make this trip once.
- You’re traveling June through August. These are the busiest months and the hardest for Ballot entries.
- You’ll only be in town for a night or two. The Ballot is drawn 48 hours ahead and favors golfers who can enter several days in a row.
When You Can Leave It to Chance
- You’ve played it before. A second round is a bonus rather than the point of the trip.
- You’re staying in St. Andrews for several nights. More days of Ballot entries means better odds.
- Your dates are flexible. April, May, and October are generally more forgiving.
- You’re happy for The Old Course to be a pleasant surprise. Plan the week around rounds at Kingsbarns, Carnoustie, and the New Course, and treat a Ballot win as a bonus.
What to Know Before You Decide
- It comes as part of a package. Guaranteed times are sold only within multi-day packages with minimum stay and golf requirements.
- It’s a meaningful investment. Expect the guaranteed Old Course round to add at least $2,000 per person to your overall cost.
- The decision comes early. Most, if not all, of our annual allocation is sold in the first quarter of the year before play. Planning should start as early as two years before your trip.
The Question to Ask Your Group
Our advice usually comes down to one question: how would you feel leaving St. Andrews without having played it? If the success of your trip depends on playing The Old Course, a guaranteed tee time is probably worth the investment.
As the old American Express line goes, don’t leave home without it.
“Were we disappointed that we did not play The Old Course? (via the Ballot) Yes. But after playing Kingsbarns I don’t think we missed out too much. Just leaves us something to look forward to the next time we visit Scotland.”
Mac McConville – The Legend Clubs
More to Know for Playing The Old Course
Plan Early. Plan Early. Plan Early.
We really can't stress this point enough. Demand for Old Course tee times outstrips supply every season, and there's no sign of that changing.
To illustrate: for each of the past several seasons, most, if not all, of our guaranteed tee times have been 100% sold the moment they arrived from the Links Trust.
Current Availability: Our guaranteed Old Course tee times for 2027 are down to very limited availability. We are accepting inquiries to play The Old Course in 2028 and beyond.
If you’re looking ahead, our guide to 2028 golf trips to Scotland, Ireland, and England will help point the way.
The 2027 Open Will Further Limit Supply
The 2027 Open Championship at St Andrews will fuel a huge spike in demand for Old Course tee times.
When The Open was last held at The Old Course in 2022, we received roughly 4 to 5 months' worth of inquiries in the two weeks around the tournament. Additionally, The Old Course will close for play for roughly a month ahead of The Open, further limiting the supply of already scarce tee times.
In short, if you have your eye on playing The Old Course in 2027, the time to begin planning arrived long ago. In fact, many have already started planning for St. Andrews in 2028 and beyond.
The Flexible Golfer Gets the Tee Time
In addition to planning early, flexibility on dates of travel is key to guaranteed Old Course tee times.
Landing a tee time during a specific date range can be a challenge, especially in the peak months of June through August, when demand always outstrips supply. Those willing to travel in the shoulder months of April, May, and October will often increase their chances of securing that coveted tee time.
Do You Need a Handicap to Play The Old Course?
Yes. The Old Course requires every player to hold a certified handicap of 36 or better. You will be asked to present handicap verification upon checking in for your round.
If you have a tee time for The Old Course and do not hold a handicap, speak to your PGA Professional or join an allied golf association to establish one well before departure.
The Old Course is Closed on Sundays
In keeping with tradition, The Old Course is closed on Sundays. On most Sundays the course opens as a public park, and there are few better ways to spend a morning in St. Andrews than walking the fairways, snapping a photo on the Swilcan Bridge, and soaking in the Home of Golf without a tee time at all.
Consider it the finest Good Life experience in town, and it's entirely free.
The magnetic pull of St. Andrews will continue to draw golfers from around the globe in search of a coveted tee time on The Old Course. We hope that this guide has provided a little insight ahead of your journey.
If you’d like to learn more about guaranteed St. Andrews tee times through Haversham & Baker, visit our Yardage Book where you’ll find answers to many of our most frequently asked questions.
If at that time you feel H&B is the right choice, then there’s only one thing left to do…
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