Old Course Annual Ballot Question

[hobokengolfer]

No dice!

[jas904]

I was part of the rejected group also. My request could have been too lofty, two foursomes at the end of June. This new method sucks, first time in four attempts which I have been rejected. As the trip leader, I now have to deliver the news to seven other soon to be disappointed golfers.

[Armour248]

I also got rejected. Had a request for two foursomes at the end of May. I certainly miss the "first come, first serve" process...seems fair to me.

 

Does anyone know of any authorized providers that will do Old Course tee times only? We already have our flights and lodging...and have no issue taking care of our vehicle transportation and other tee times. Definitely in a tough spot with 7 other guys going and a handful of them that have never played the Old Course...

[TerpFangolfer]

how long are you planning to be in St A's? If multiple days - maybe still go? I am thinking of still going...try for 48 hrs or wait in the Q

The "guaranteed" way - is waaayyy $$$$ - "Old Course Experience" is the main one I've heard about?

Or I think Old course hotel has some room & golf packages - probably 800+ per day?

[Armour248]

We'll likely try for the ballot at some point during our stay, but we also need to make other tee time arrangements just in case we don't get a tee time. I'd love to just keep every morning open and hope that one of them hits through the ballot...but we have two foursomes and we'll want to play somewhere else if we don't get on the Old. What a pain.

[TerpFangolfer]

yeah, it does suck for that kind of planning.

I was lucky and got confirmed 2 years ago. Much more relaxing when you can make all the plans and have your TOC time fixed.

Hope all goes well...

[dcmidnight]

Sorry to hear about all the rejections, I remember getting mine last year, very depressing lol. Definitely adds a bit of stress to the planning process. I will say a couple things if it makes guys feel any better.

 

One, if you need to "settle" for a round on the New or Jubilee, you will absolutely not be disappointed. You get to see all the same sights, same atmosphere, same feel. I absolutely thought both of those courses were A+ options. Two, its a pain in the neck to enter the 48 hour ballot wondering if you have to change rounds, change your itinerary etc. But - in our experience - all the other courses in the area were really good about moving things around.

 

FWIW having now done the "sit outside on concrete ground at 2am" bit - twice - I'm on the "pay whatever it costs for a guaranteed time" the next time I go. No question.

[gregkeller]

Yeah, Now I'm trying to figure out what to do. We are going over for only 4 days of golf, playing all of them in and around St. Andrews. Now trying to decide what to do. I'd like to play Carnoustie & Panmure one day, Elie & Lundin another and some combination of Castle, New, Jubilee now that we don't have TOC. I don't know if I'm willing to take my chance on the 48 hour ballot each morning we are there and only get afternoon reservations and then try and think on my feet for morning rounds if we don't get lucky with the advance ballot. Or do I just leave one slot open and get in line the night before?

[tiderider]

> @gregkeller said:

> Yeah, Now I'm trying to figure out what to do. We are going over for only 4 days of golf, playing all of them in and around St. Andrews. Now trying to decide what to do. I'd like to play Carnoustie & Panmure one day, Elie & Lundin another and some combination of Castle, New, Jubilee now that we don't have TOC. I don't know if I'm willing to take my chance on the 48 hour ballot each morning we are there and only get afternoon reservations and then try and think on my feet for morning rounds if we don't get lucky with the advance ballot. Or do I just leave one slot open and get in line the night before?

 

i'd leave the last day open if you really, really want to get on TOC ... which is a tough call, no doubt ... course is closed sundays, though, and i think saturdays are open only to the two-day lottery and daily walk ups ... 36 at carn/pan, 36 at ll/elie, then two days ... new course and one other that 3rd day ... can still try for the third day ... if you're going to stay around st andrews, i think you can play it be ear and find golf the day of if you don't get a tt at toc ...

[CDM]

Rejected group also. I only put down for a 2 some so figured we may have a better shot of filling in spots but not so.

[TerpFangolfer]

> @CDM said:

> Rejected group also. I only put down for a 2 some so figured we may have a better shot of filling in spots but not so.

 

Yeah, I was also just 2 - and put 3 different date ranges...thought would have good shot.

 

Not that it matters now, but does anyone know - does the fact that I "won" a tee time within the last 3 years count against getting it this time?

Do they factor that in and give preference to those who either haven't applied, or haven't won before...just wondering?

 

We are probably still going - my son old enough (and improving enough) to play all the other courses at St A. We'll try the 48 hr ballot for me & my FiL...or else try our luck with sleeping out.

 

We are also planning to go to Ayrshire for the 1st time - so will still be a great trip.

[jas904]

During my post rejection research I have spoke with a few "Authorised Providers" as the Links Trust likes to call them. All except one that I found are completely sold out for 2020 for groups of 8. I did find one for the second week in June, yourgolftravel.com. For the bargain price $3,750 (at today's exchange rate) you get three nights lodging, one round on the Old, and one round on the Jubilee. If one were to make this same booking (assuming you had the Old Course tee time) at the rack rate the total would come to $902. What a prime example of the laws of supply and demand. I'm sure they will sell it, but it won't be to me.

 

At this point I think the group I am leading is still planning on going and not playing the Old Course. I hope this is the decision they make, there is still lots that Scotland golf has to offer even without the Old.

 

One other dismal point, if any of you are planning curing your rejection ills with the hope of postponing your trip to 2021, know that 2021 is an Open Championship year. This means that there will be 20-25% less tee times available.

[Hawkeye77]

> @TerpFangolfer said:

> > @CDM said:

> > Rejected group also. I only put down for a 2 some so figured we may have a better shot of filling in spots but not so.

>

> Yeah, I was also just 2 - and put 3 different date ranges...thought would have good shot.

>

> Not that it matters now, but does anyone know - does the fact that I "won" a tee time within the last 3 years count against getting it this time?

> Do they factor that in and give preference to those who either haven't applied, or haven't won before...just wondering?

>

> We are probably still going - my son old enough (and improving enough) to play all the other courses at St A. We'll try the 48 hr ballot for me & my FiL...or else try our luck with sleeping out.

>

> We are also planning to go to Ayrshire for the 1st time - so will still be a great trip.

 

Ayrshire = simply wonderful for us this summer for the first week. Seriously good golf around there!

[tiderider]

> @TerpFangolfer said:

> > @CDM said:

> > Rejected group also. I only put down for a 2 some so figured we may have a better shot of filling in spots but not so.

>

> Yeah, I was also just 2 - and put 3 different date ranges...thought would have good shot.

>

> Not that it matters now, but does anyone know - does the fact that I "won" a tee time within the last 3 years count against getting it this time?

> Do they factor that in and give preference to those who either haven't applied, or haven't won before...just wondering?

>

> We are probably still going - my son old enough (and improving enough) to play all the other courses at St A. We'll try the 48 hr ballot for me & my FiL...or else try our luck with sleeping out.

>

> We are also planning to go to Ayrshire for the 1st time - so will still be a great trip.

 

i have no knowledge of the st andrews links trust, but have no doubt they do not do that ... they do a fabulous job of reserving as many tee times for the public as possible, and hand them out equitably, to the highest degree possible ... more people are wanting to play golf over there, and they no longer have a "first come, first served" type process, so there's no guarantee ...