Old Course Ballot System

For many the idea of playing the Old Course at St Andrews is merely a dream. However this is far from true as the most famous golf course in the world is not only accessible but is also extremely affordable.

The Old Course works on a Ballot (lottery) system whereby 50 per cent of all starting times over the year are put into a daily ballot which is drawn every day for the next day’s play. The Saturday draw is for Monday’s play as the course is closed on a Sunday.

At Intelligent Golf Tours we have a 90% success rate of getting clients on to the Old Course at the first time of trying. If we cannot get you onto the course the same day as your itinerary suggests we will at your consent reorganise tee times in order to maximise your chances of success for the following day.
We try to organise your itinerary with flexibility in mind in order to give you the best chance of playing.

The Old Course does require a handicap of 25 or less for men and 36 for ladies.

Three Intelligent Tips to Old Course Success

1. Your name is entered into the Ballot before 2pm on the day prior to play. The days play for Monday is drawn on Saturday. Thursdays and Saturdays are good days to play as there are more tee times allocated for Ballot entries.
2. The Ballot is drawn and the results posted on the web and around the course at 4pm. We try to be flexible with your itinary to make sure you are in or around St Andrews for more than one day in case of failure on the first day. In this event we recommend you play nearby Kingsbarn, Crail or the Devlin which are all sympathetic to late changes.
3. It is also worth noting that the course is closed at certain periods throughout the year for R&A tournaments and obviously the Open Championship in 2010. Traditionally the months of August and September are the busiest times of the year and thus hardest to secure tee times.