Qwerty
Tour Winner
Just had the news that we're in for next May.
St Andrews ballot
- Thread starter Hobbit
- Start date
huds1475
Journeyman Pro
In for April
Happy days!
Happy days!
huds1475
Journeyman Pro
Probably been done to death but any good tips on where to stay? In and around the city or on the coast?
Also, think dates are at 1/2 term. Is there much up there to do file wise - daughter is 6yo?
Any advice appreciatedo.
Also, think dates are at 1/2 term. Is there much up there to do file wise - daughter is 6yo?
Any advice appreciatedo.
Jimaroid
Journeyman Pro
Give yourself plenty of time, the practice range isn't well placed for the Old despite it running alongside the 16th hole. You can easily lose 20 minutes by having to park and walk back to the starter. Get there early and soak in the atmosphere around the 1st tee. The Old Pavilion near the starter is a good place to grab a drink, snacks, go to the toilet etc.
The first tee is nerve wracking, there's no playing it down, but a member of links staff will be on the tee to welcome you. They'll probably tell you to aim to the gorse bush to the right of the Swilcan bridge and it's good advice. Club up to avoid the burn on the 1st green for your second shot as, when stood on the fairway, the green looks a lot smaller than it is but there's loads of room in reality. The green slopes back left to right mostly and it's much better running long than being in the burn and pitching over. A three putt bogey on the first is nothing to be ashamed of.
From then on the usual advice about the Old is stay left off the tee and it's generally true with caveats. Playing left usually sets up a tricker 2nd or 3rd shot to the green, and this is the beauty of the Old; the course rewards risk taking in ways that aren't immediately apparent. Left is safe off the tee but adds difficulty to the green so don't feel that a shot leaking right off the tee is a bad one.
Get a steak&gravy pie from the halfway snack van if there's any left.
Most of all just enjoy it. You will love it. The course is gentle to begin with, it wraps you up in a lovely blanket for the first 10 holes and lulls you into a feeling of godliness. 11 is where the test begins and it can remind you why golf can make strong men cry.
Jimaroid
Journeyman Pro
Stay in town if you can. Avoid the chain hotels, the guest houses are generally reasonably priced and very welcoming.
For kids, there's plenty of play parks, beaches and whatnot to keep them entertained as well as the best Ice Cream parlour in Scotland. Craigtoun Park, a 5 minute drive out of town is a good place to take them. It's a large park with land-train, miniature railway, paddle boats, crazy golf, adventure playground and whatnot. There's plenty enough to keep kids occupied for a day or two.
seochris
Challenge Tour Pro
Its the only place in the world where they have asked to see my handicap certificate.....so don't forget that!
mcbroon
Journeyman Pro
Don't look behind you on the first tee until after you've hit your shot. I accidentally didn't look back and smoked one down the middle. Only then did I look back and was struck by all the history etc.
Farmergeddon
Assistant Pro
3 putt the first green??? I 4 putted the first 3, Problem was we turned up early to have a practise putt and someone had dropped out so they asked us us to go straight on.. not a good idea as I had been on temps for a month!! But I have to say the starter was great I expected a lecture on keeping up, replacing divots and raking bunkers etc but there was none of that they just tried to make it a wonderful experience I got really emotional but it was fabulous..
Jungle
Head Pro
Thanks Guys.
Seems like we have a cracking day for it with sunshine and a light breeze expected this afternoon.
Phoned the course this morning to check a quick question and got the most pleasant women in the world so hopefully that has set the tone of the whole day.
Seems like we have a cracking day for it with sunshine and a light breeze expected this afternoon.
Phoned the course this morning to check a quick question and got the most pleasant women in the world so hopefully that has set the tone of the whole day.
I would also look at Dundee hotels, much cheaper than StA. Plus has a science centre for children, you could drop her off here and leave her there for the day
Andy
Tour Winner
Greyfriars is nice, good food and superb bar. Take a trip into the Balgove larder for some good nosh too.
stokie_93
Tour Rookie
Had my email through today! Playing Jubilee on 14/03 & Old Course 15/03! Happy man!
richart
Major Champion
in St Andrews at the moment. Played Old yesterday, and Jubilee today. Jubilee is a tough course, but really enjoyed it. Old course is just stunning, and my best experience playing golf, even the third time.
Six of us in group, three staying in Westport Bar an kitchen and three in Cameron guest house. Both excellent and can fully recommend.
Six of us in group, three staying in Westport Bar an kitchen and three in Cameron guest house. Both excellent and can fully recommend.
VVega
Assistant Pro
Thanks to the forum I too applied and was lucky enough to receive a confirmation for Eden and the Old in April.
Looking at the terms and conditions it says a couple of times that no changes are allowed for the booking on the Old but then other clauses look like it might be allowed, could someone confirm if:
a) I can add a 4th person to my original 3-ball booking (before/after the payment)
b) If I can change the names of my playing partners (before/after the payments)
Thank you very much!
Looking at the terms and conditions it says a couple of times that no changes are allowed for the booking on the Old but then other clauses look like it might be allowed, could someone confirm if:
a) I can add a 4th person to my original 3-ball booking (before/after the payment)
b) If I can change the names of my playing partners (before/after the payments)
Thank you very much!
steadyeddy
Medal Winner
Thanks to the forum I too applied and was lucky enough to receive a confirmation for Eden and the Old in April.
Looking at the terms and conditions it says a couple of times that no changes are allowed for the booking on the Old but then other clauses look like it might be allowed, could someone confirm if:
a) I can add a 4th person to my original 3-ball booking (before/after the payment)
b) If I can change the names of my playing partners (before/after the payments)
Thank you very much!
Congrats on getting tee time to play the Old Course. I applied but was unsuccessful.
Not sure if you can add a 4th. but i would have thought so.
I do know that only 1 name change is allowed but the lead name cannot change.
Jungle
Head Pro
What an experience.
Had an absolute hoot of a time playing the Old Course yesterday.
All morning I had been indecisive about what club to hit off the tee (not for fear of hitting the burn, more a case of limiting potential embarrassment) but the wind was pretty much into our faces so would hit the driver. Just as Jim called earlier was told to aim for the single bush and with a great sigh of relief, I put one right bang on the bush, flying away off across the road and that was me off on my round.
With the exception of one or two duffs and a few short putts missed I played really well stringing a good run of pars together in the middle of the round.
My Highlight came on the Road Hole though. Unintentionally took a very aggressive line over the shed, which I feared may be in trouble but there was a round of applause from the hotel roof so on I trooped. 2nd shot was about 190 into a stiff wind so hit a flushed 3 iron which flew to the right hand side of the bunker and raced up the green leaving a 15 ft putt for birdie. Missed the putt but walked off with a very well played par.
Managed to finish with a decent drive on 18 and wee pitch onto the green but got nervous and took 3 putts to get the damn ball in the hole.
Finished off the day with a quick pint in the Jigger already thinking about when I can play again.
An absolutely fantastic experience and I'm sure all the guys that have times for 2017 will be counting down the days already.
Had an absolute hoot of a time playing the Old Course yesterday.
All morning I had been indecisive about what club to hit off the tee (not for fear of hitting the burn, more a case of limiting potential embarrassment) but the wind was pretty much into our faces so would hit the driver. Just as Jim called earlier was told to aim for the single bush and with a great sigh of relief, I put one right bang on the bush, flying away off across the road and that was me off on my round.
With the exception of one or two duffs and a few short putts missed I played really well stringing a good run of pars together in the middle of the round.
My Highlight came on the Road Hole though. Unintentionally took a very aggressive line over the shed, which I feared may be in trouble but there was a round of applause from the hotel roof so on I trooped. 2nd shot was about 190 into a stiff wind so hit a flushed 3 iron which flew to the right hand side of the bunker and raced up the green leaving a 15 ft putt for birdie. Missed the putt but walked off with a very well played par.
Managed to finish with a decent drive on 18 and wee pitch onto the green but got nervous and took 3 putts to get the damn ball in the hole.
Finished off the day with a quick pint in the Jigger already thinking about when I can play again.
An absolutely fantastic experience and I'm sure all the guys that have times for 2017 will be counting down the days already.
Carl_Spackler
Newbie
We got tee times on the Old, Castle, New and Jubilee courses the last week in March 2017. These dates was our third choice (as it is low season on Old and Castle).
I understand that we may have to play from fairway mats on the Old Course and the Castle Course which of course is somewhat sad.
Does anybody have experience playing the Old Course or the Castle Course the last days of low season? Is there any chance we do not have to play from the mats? Do you think we will play from the normal tees?
I understand that we may have to play from fairway mats on the Old Course and the Castle Course which of course is somewhat sad.
Does anybody have experience playing the Old Course or the Castle Course the last days of low season? Is there any chance we do not have to play from the mats? Do you think we will play from the normal tees?
PCWOX
Assistant Pro
You will be on mats on the fairway, but tee off from normal teeboxes.
