Bespoke Links Golf · Independent planning guide
How to Plan an Old Course Golf Trip
The Old Course is one of golf’s most iconic experiences. Planning the trip properly means considering access, timing, accommodation, the wider St Andrews experience and how the rest of your Scotland itinerary fits together.
Begin with the whole journey
Planning Your Old Course Golf Trip
An Old Course ambition can be central to the trip without being the only thing that shapes it.
Start with the people travelling, the dates that might work, the golf that matters most and the type of time you want to share in St Andrews and beyond.
Thinking about those details early gives the group a clearer brief. It also leaves space to consider the stay, the rhythm between rounds and the wider Scotland experience alongside the official access route that may apply to your dates.
Official information first
How Old Course Access Works
Official St Andrews Links information controls the current access routes, requirements, dates and outcomes. The live official sources currently provide pathways for booking, visitor tee-time requests, the Old Course Ballot and the Singles Daily Draw.
Those live instructions—not this guide—determine the detail that applies to your dates. For the access mechanics, use our dedicated tee-time planning guide.
Official sources: Book a tee time · Request a tee time · Singles Daily Draw.
Old Course arrangements are subject to applicable official access routes, current conditions and written confirmation within your individual proposal.
A flexible approach
When Should You Start Planning?
There is no single timeline that fits every group.
What shapes the timing
Travel dates, group size, golf priorities, accommodation requirements, the wider itinerary and the applicable official access route can all affect the right starting point.
What helps early
Begin with a useful date range and a clear sense of the group. Check the live official information as plans take shape, then keep the trip flexible until the relevant arrangements are confirmed in writing.
The trip beyond one round
Building Your St Andrews Golf Itinerary
Move from an Old Course ambition to the rest of the journey: the other golf, the time in St Andrews and the rhythm between rounds.
A considered St Andrews stay can begin with the Old Course ambition, then broaden into the golf, the town and the time available. Other St Andrews Links golf, wider Fife links and a broader Scotland route can all be part of the planning conversation where they fit the group’s priorities and current arrangements.
The question is not simply how many rounds to fit in. It is how much space the group wants between rounds, whether St Andrews is the whole trip or one chapter of it, and what will make the journey feel worthwhile for everyone travelling.
The rhythm of the stay
Choosing Accommodation
Where you stay can shape the rhythm of the trip as much as the golf itself.
Location, rooming requirements, group size, preferred atmosphere, length of stay, golf routing and wider travel plans are all useful parts of the brief. Rather than treating the stay as a separate hotel decision, consider it alongside the golf and the pace you want for the group.
Shape around the time you have
How Many Days Do You Need?
These are planning approaches, not fixed packages.
Short St Andrews Stay
A useful approach for golfers who want to focus primarily on St Andrews and make the most of the town around the golf.
Extended St Andrews Journey
More time can create room for additional golf, a slower pace and a fuller sense of the town and surrounding area.
Wider Scotland Golf Tour
St Andrews can be one part of a broader route, shaped around the regions, experiences and time that matter to the group.
Beyond the golf
Experiencing More of Scotland
The trip can make room for more than a sequence of tee times. Whisky, dining, heritage, scenery, Edinburgh and Scottish culture may all be possible considerations when they fit the people travelling and the rhythm of the route.
They are not an afterthought; they can help the wider journey feel more personal.
A clear planning path
How Bespoke Links Golf Can Help
Start with the group, dates, golf priorities, accommodation preferences, pace and wider experiences that matter most.
Enquire
Tell us when you want to travel, who is coming and what you want from the trip.
Consult
We discuss your golf, accommodation, pace and wider travel preferences.
Curate
We shape the itinerary around your group.
Propose
You receive a tailored proposal based on the journey we’ve discussed.
Refine
We adjust the details around your feedback.
Confirm
Once agreed, the arrangements and applicable supplier terms are confirmed in writing.
Travel
Your final trip information is prepared for your journey.
A planning framework
Build the journey in the right order.
This is a planning framework, not a guaranteed itinerary.
The relevant official access route and the people travelling inform the next useful planning step; no outcome is assumed at the start.
Useful planning questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a tee time on the Old Course?
Start with the live St Andrews Links information, which directs visitors to current booking, ballot, results, busy-date and related access information. Official conditions and processes can change, so use the live source for the detail that applies to your dates.
How far in advance should I plan an Old Course trip?
There is no universal deadline in this guide. Begin when you have a useful date range, group profile and golf priorities, then check the current official access information and consider the wider trip around those facts.
Can I combine the Old Course with other Scottish golf courses?
You can make other golf priorities part of the conversation. The final course mix should reflect the group, time available and arrangements confirmed for the selected dates.
How long should I stay in St Andrews?
A shorter stay can focus closely on St Andrews, while more time can make room for additional golf, the town and a wider Scotland route. The right answer depends on the people travelling and what they want from the trip.
Where should I stay when playing the Old Course?
Think about location, rooming, atmosphere, length of stay, golf routing and the wider travel plan. Those details give a useful starting point for discussing accommodation options.
Can you arrange accommodation as part of a golf itinerary?
Accommodation preferences can be discussed alongside the golf, dates and wider journey. Any selected arrangements remain subject to the relevant dates and written confirmation.
Can you create a wider Scotland golf tour around St Andrews?
St Andrews can be a focused stay or one part of a broader Scotland journey. Share the regions, golf and experiences that matter to the group so the right starting point can be considered.
What happens after I enquire?
The enquiry starts with the essentials: dates, group, golf priorities and the type of Scotland experience you want. The planning path then follows Enquire, Consult, Curate, Propose, Refine, Confirm and Travel.
Can you tailor a trip for a private group?
A private group brief can begin with the people travelling, the golf they want to prioritise, the pace they enjoy and the experiences that matter to everyone in the party.
Are Old Course tee times guaranteed?
No. This guide does not promise an access outcome. The applicable official route, current conditions and written confirmation for your individual proposal determine any arrangement.
Start with the essentials
Ready to Start Planning Your Old Course Journey?
Tell us when you’d like to travel, who you’re travelling with and what you’d like from your Scotland golf experience. We’ll use that information to help shape the next steps.