In short
For a St Andrews golf trip, stay in the town centre or by the Links, so you can walk to the 1st tee of the Old Course and enter the daily ballot or singles draw in person. Old Course tee times come through a yearly advance package lottery, the ballot two days ahead, the Singles Daily Draw the day before, or a guaranteed package from an authorised provider. The Old Course peak season runs from late April to mid October. Plan around The 155th Open in mid July 2027, and check closure dates, which were not published when this page was last checked.
Where to stay in St Andrews
Pick an area to see hotels and rentals there at live prices.
ACourse to play
Live map · St Andrews town centreHotels and rentals at live prices, Mon, Jun 7 to Fri, Jun 11
Open the live map for St Andrews town centre ↗
Prices and availability come from booking sites through Stay22. Change the dates on the map to match your trip.
Courses you can play in St Andrews
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Open to the public
Old Course
The most famous course in golf and host of The 155th Open in July 2027. Visitors get on through the advance package lottery, the daily ballot, the singles draw or an authorised package.
Four routes: (1) advance times for the following year, applied for once a year in late summer through the Swilcan Package lottery (Old Course plus one other Links Trust course on consecutive days, up to four golfers per application); (2) the daily ballot for groups of 2 to 4, entered by 14:00 two days before play, results the same afternoon; (3) the Singles Daily Draw, entered in person 09:00 to 17:00 the day before at the Old Pavilion or the Links Clubhouse, drawn at 17:00; (4) packages with guaranteed times from authorised tour operators and accommodation providers. Closed on Sundays, so there is no ballot on Fridays. Handicap of 36 or lower, with a certificate shown to the starter.
Green fee: £355 (2026) · Course site ↗
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Open to the public
New Course
An Old Tom Morris links from 1895 next to the Old Course, a proper test and easier to book.
Book online or by phone with St Andrews Links. How far ahead visitor times open was not confirmed.
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Open to the public
Jubilee Course
A tough links along the beach side of the Links, expanded to 18 holes in 1905.
Book online or by phone with St Andrews Links. How far ahead visitor times open was not confirmed.
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Open to the public
Castle Course
David McLay Kidd's 2008 clifftop course east of town, with sea views on almost every hole.
Book online or by phone with St Andrews Links. How far ahead visitor times open was not confirmed.
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Open to the public
Eden Course
A friendlier Harry Colt design from 1914, a good warm up round on the Links.
Book online or by phone with St Andrews Links. How far ahead visitor times open was not confirmed.
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Open to the public
Craigtoun Course
The former Duke's, a 1995 Peter Thomson course on high ground south west of town, run by St Andrews Links since January 2026.
Run by St Andrews Links since 5 January 2026 and booked the same way as its other courses. How far ahead visitor times open was not confirmed.
Green fee: £155 (2026) · Course site ↗
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Open to the public
Kingsbarns Golf Links
A modern seaside links from 2000, about seven miles south east of St Andrews (about 20 minutes' drive), and one of the most sought after rounds in Scotland.
Tee times for the following year open on 1 June, booked through the reservations page or by phone. Online booking is only for last minute times, a few days ahead, at the full rate. The 2027 season runs from 27 March; the course closes for the winter in November.
Green fee: £524 (2027) · Course site ↗
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Open to the public
Carnoustie Championship Course
A famously hard Open venue across the Tay in Angus, hosting The Open eight times.
Book online through the Carnoustie booking site or by phone. How far ahead times open was not stated.
Green fee: £450 (2027) · Course site ↗
How tee times work
The Old Course has four ways in: the yearly advance package lottery for the following year, the daily ballot for groups of 2 to 4 (enter by 14:00 two days before), the Singles Daily Draw (enter in person the day before), and guaranteed packages from authorised tour operators. It is closed on Sundays and asks for a handicap of 36 or lower. The other Links courses, Kingsbarns and Carnoustie can be booked directly, and Kingsbarns opens the following year's tee times on 1 June.
A sensible plan
Four nights from Monday works well: arrive Monday, enter the ballot for Wednesday by 14:00 and play the Eden or Jubilee in the afternoon. Play Kingsbarns on Tuesday (if you missed out for Wednesday, enter again by 14:00 for Thursday), the Old Course on Wednesday if drawn or the New Course if not, and Carnoustie on Thursday, moving it to Friday if you land a Thursday Old Course time, otherwise finish with the Castle or Craigtoun on Friday morning. Solo golfers can enter the singles draw every day of the stay.
Getting there
Edinburgh (EDI) is about 50 miles away, roughly 75 minutes by car, and Glasgow (GLA) about 2 hours. Dundee Airport has had no scheduled flights since Loganair left on 23 October 2026. The nearest railway station is Leuchars, about 6 miles away, with buses into town.
When to book
- NowBook a room with free cancellation as close to the course as you can.
- Your cancellation dateKeep or cancel before it passes.
- June 7 to 11, 2027Your trip.
Free guide
The Unofficial St Andrews Golf Trip Guide
Every area, every course, how tee times work and the booking dates in one place, updated every year.
St Andrews golf trip questions
How do I get a tee time on the Old Course?
Apply for the yearly advance package lottery, enter the daily ballot two days ahead with 2 to 4 players, enter the Singles Daily Draw the day before if you are on your own, or buy a package with a guaranteed time from an authorised provider.
How much does it cost to play the Old Course?
The 2026 peak green fee (21 April to 18 October) was 355 GBP, with lower rates in spring, late October and winter. The 2027 rate had not been found when this page was last checked.
How does the Old Course ballot work?
Groups of 2 to 4 enter by 14:00 two days before the day they want to play, with each player's handicap and home club, and results come out that afternoon. The course is closed on Sundays, so there is no ballot on Fridays.
Can a single golfer play the Old Course?
Yes. Enter the Singles Daily Draw in person at the Old Pavilion or the Links Clubhouse between 09:00 and 17:00 the day before, and if drawn you join a group of two or three.
What handicap do I need for the Old Course?
Guides say 36 or lower, and you should bring a handicap certificate to show the starter. Carnoustie asks for 28 for men and 36 for women, and Kingsbarns needs no certificate.
Where should I stay for a golf trip to St Andrews?
The town centre and the Links road by the 18th are best, because you can walk to the 1st tee and enter the singles draw in person. The Old Course Hotel sits beside the course, Fairmont St Andrews and the East Neuk are 10 to 20 minutes away, and Dundee is the value base about 30 minutes away.
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