4 WAYS TO GET A 2018 GUARANTEED ST ANDREWS OLD COURSE TEE TIME

Transcription

1 4 WAYS TO GET A 2018 GUARANTEED ST ANDREWS OLD COURSE TEE TIME By Chris Toll, Ginger Beer Golf Travel SECURING A ST ANDREWS OLD COURSE TEE TIME IN 2018 CAN BE A COMPLICATED AND CONFUSING PROCESS. SADLY, IT REQUIRES MORE THAN A CALL TO THE RESERVATIONS DEPARTMENT, A CLICK OF A MOUSE OR A TOUCH ON A TABLET TO BOOK YOUR TEE TIME. B will be the chance to stand in the following in more famous footsteps as you navigate your way around 18 holes of pure golfing history. With this simple guide, and in conjunction with my free golf travel planning assistance, you can decide the best route to take to get you onto that first tee, with A WORD OF WARNING Many tour operators, travel agents and intermediaries may claim to have access to a guaranteed Old Course tee time. In reality, they may deliver no more than assistance to give you the chance of a guaranteed tee time in a lottery, without the certainty that you require to plan your itinerary. Read on and I will show you 4 ways to get a tee time, which will include th both lottery and firm guarantee plus a bonus -n- way.

2 If you are looking to plan your next golf vacation to Scotland right now, and prefer the certainty of a guaranteed tee time on the Old Course, then contact me right now for some of the most popular itineraries and to request my assistance. CONTENTS 1) ST ANDREWS LINKS TRUST PRIVATE ADVANCE RESERVATIONS... p3 2) GOLF TOUR OPERATORS... p5 3) LOCAL HOTELS... p6 4) DAILY BALLOT... p7 5) WALK UP... p9

3 1) ST ANDREWS LINKS TRUST PRIVATE ADVANCE RESERVATIONS To catch the sweet spot of a guaranteed tee time at close to the regular green fee rate, you can make a direct application to the Reservations Team at St Andrews Links Trust. HOW DOES IT WORK? You should make your online application on play.standrews.com within a 15-day window between 23 rd August and 6 th September You will receive an mid to end October either confirming your tee time or advising you that you were unsuccessful. You have to be organised and ready to submit your application before early- September in the year prior to when you wish to play; so, for example, by 6 th September 2017 for play in May However, if your application is successful you will then have the luxury of planning your golfing itinerary, accommodations and transportation around your Old Course start time at your leisure. High Season (16 th April 14 th October 2018) cost is 320 per person. Shoulder Season (1 st -15 th April & 15 th -31 st October 2018) is 210 per person. Single golfers may apply for a tee time 15 th April - 31 st July Old + Castle Course. Cost is 320 per person.

4 Note - lead golfer apply on behalf of your group and the maximum number of golfers accepted in one group request is eight; minimum two. - Handicap restrictions - 24 maximum for men, 36 for ladies. - There is a minimum two course policy when booking the Old Course between April and October which requires golfers to book and play at least one other St Andrews Links Course in addition to the Old Course Castle, New, Jubilee, Eden or Strathtyrum. Tee times will be allocated randomly by a lottery rather than a first come, first served basis, so you do not need to apply as soon as the window opens. More information: Check busy dates in 2018 before considering the dates you wish to play: Busy dates on St Andrews Links What next? You will receive an mid to end October either confirming your tee time or advising you that you were unsuccessful. Successful? Congratulations! Now you can start to create a perfect golfing itinerary around your Old Course tee time. Get in touch with me for help and advice on your golfing options and local accommodations and I can suggest some great golf in the area, and a rundown of my favoured accommodations. ou may get a second opportunity in early January when any unused start times are resold. But there is no certainty of suitable inventory becoming available in January. So, if you are keen to secure that guaranteed start time right away then follow the golf tour operator route below.

5 2) GOLF TOUR OPERATORS Having discussed your golf vacation itinerary ideas with you, I work with golf tour operators who combine the different components tee times, accommodations, transportation, non-golfer options etc. - and offer them to you in one customised, inclusive package. HOW DOES IT WORK? Some operators, known as Authorised Providers, have agreements in place giving them access to a limited number of guaranteed Old Course start times from St Andrews Links Trust. Times are available on a first come, first served basis, so the earlier you get in touch to discuss your requirements with me the better chance of being offered an Old Course time that suits. Prices are more expensive than going the DIY route above, but by using a tour operator package, you have the certainty of a tee time so that you can book your time off work, flights etc. many months in advance. You can also enjoy local, on-the-ground support provided by the tour operator company to ensure your vacation runs smoothly. Contact me at Ginger Beer Golf Travel and let me help you with some sample itineraries which include a guaranteed Old Course tee time.

6 3) LOCAL HOTELS St Andrews Links Trust helps to promote local tourism business by granting a small number of tee times each year to hotels and guest houses in St Andrews. HOW DOES IT WORK? Qualifying premises, also known as Authorised Providers, receive an allocation of times based on their number of bedrooms. Venues combine the tee time with their own accommodations and sell the package direct to the public. The quality of accommodations can vary between properties, as do the terms and conditions that each establishment apply. For example, some properties make their tee times available only through tour operators or intermediaries like Ginger Beer Golf Travel, or have a minimum stay requirement. To get a flavour of the different accommodation options have a look at the official site for the Hotel and Guesthouse Association of St Andrews If you have managed to secure your tee time through a qualifying accommodation venue (or are merely contemplating going in that direction) please contact me at Ginger Beer Golf Travel. I offer planning advice and assistance in obtaining your Old Course booking and arranging the rest of your golfing itinerary, with recommended options for golf courses in St Andrews and the surrounding area.

7 4) DAILY BALLOT If you have been unlucky in obtaining an advance guaranteed tee time, then the daily ballot is for you. The ballot is a lottery based allocation of Old Course tee times by St Andrews Links Trust that takes place two days before your desired date of play. HOW DOES IT WORK? Organise yourselves into groups of two to four players, so that if you are picked you fit into a tee time. You can either call St Andrews Links Trust or apply online by 2pm two days before you want to play; for example, before 2pm Wednesday to play on Friday. (Please note there is no play on the Old Course on Sunday). Ballot results are available on-line, by phone and displayed in the St Andrews Links Trust Clubhouses from 4.30pm the same day. For successful applications, payment is made just before play at the will be checked. your handicap card Here is how you enter the ballot and check results: Ballot guidelines Note - You cannot make name changes after you have submitted your application, and will be disqualified if multiple applications are made. - You must include your handicap and home club information in your application and, if successful, will be asked to show proof to the starter prior to your round.

8 The ballot is a fair and democratic way to allocate Old Course tee times to local and visiting golfers who do not otherwise have an advance guaranteed tee time. Many golfers choose to visit St Andrews anyway, without an Old Course guarantee. If you are keen to visit to the home of golf but do not have a guaranteed time, then get in touch with me. I can discuss with you a ballot-friendly strategy and help to organise an appropriate itinerary which allows you multiple attempts at the Old Course ballot, as well as bookings at quality courses which offer flexibility and/or low cancellation penalties if you have to rearrange or cancel owing to ballot success. WILL YOU BE SUCCESSFUL? I am often asked what the chances of ballot success are. I always reply that it is known as a lottery for good reason. But as a very general rule of thumb based on my experience, in the high season months, the chances of success are likely to be around 20%. There are two variables which determine the probability of success demand and supply. There is nothing particularly scientific you can do to predict probable demand on any given day (though obviously an August day in the high season is likely to be more in demand than one in April), but at least with supply you can get an idea of when the course is likely to be busy and available ballot times are restricted or not available. Check for busy dates in 2018 when there is no ballot (marked as NB) here: Busy dates on St Andrews Links

9 5) WALK UP Finally, there is one further way to get on the Old Course if you have no success in the ballot. HOW DOES IT WORK? Arrive early in the morning and queue down at the Old Pavilion by the Old Course on the day you wish to play. When staff arrive (at 6am in the Summer) give them your name. They will endeavour to fill any gaps in the daily tee time schedule St Andrews Links Trust will keep a few slots available to single golfers and walk ups. Also, there are often gaps in the early morning tee times which are reserved for locals, so sometimes it pays to get up super-early to get towards the front of the line. Remember to turn up ready to play, with your shoes on and your clubs slung over your back! This strategy of walking up, prepared to play, is particularly recommended if you are a single golfer who is not able to get a time through the ballot. The Old Pavilion is open from 6am each morning in the Summer for the benefit of Old Course golfers. It provides snacks, hot and cold drinks, toilets and free wi-fi. Th golfers. Relax inside and await your tee time. It is situated adjacent to the putting green by the first tee of the Old Course, Read more and take a tour of the Old Pavilion here

10 If you are looking to plan your next golf vacation to Scotland right now, and prefer the certainty of a guaranteed tee time on the Old Course without the doubt of a lottery, then contact me right now for some of the most popular itineraries and to request my assistance. Chris Toll GINGER BEER GOLF TRAVEL e: travel@gingerbeergolf.com w: gingerbeergolftravel.com m: +44 (0)