COMMUNITY

They are something more than what they are.

Type 3 clubs such as the ones on here do not have home courses just a club. If you ever want to play the Old Course at St. Andrews you will be filling out either an app., a ballot, or pay twice the price from a tour operator.

Are you allright in the head???? The application process was born out of DEMAND from the public to play the course as a fair and equitable way for everyone, not the snootiness of the Links trust. Have you even heard of St. Andrews dude? Normally, we should all just say "to each their own", but in this case, I'm sure that millions of golfers that have played, or aspire to play the Old Course (myself included) don't give a damn about your opinion (as I'm sure Racer doesn't as he's preparing to apply)

You didn't indicate if you were going with a group or by yourself, but if you're going by yourself, here's what I did. I went to the course and expected to wait in line as a single walk up as I had heard that people sleep overnight there just to be at the top of the list. To my surprise, I was the first one there at 4:45 AM. This was in early April. When the starter arrived, he took my name and told me I would be called when a spot was available. When people started arriving, I noticed them walking off to other courses but nobody was playing the Old Course. Since it was Good Friday, I was thinking maybe the Old Ccourse was closed for the holiday. The starter told me that there was a frost delay on the Old Course, so the people that had early tee times essentially lost their chance to play the Old Course since they don't back up tee times and they were sent to other courses to play. Eventually at about 8 AM the frost delay was lifted and low and behold the 8 AM tee time was a threesome, so I was in the first group to tee off for the day.

There will be two of us so walk on is not possible. They have changed things up a little in that now you apply through the advanced registration system or you can do the ballot which now is two days in advance instead of one. We are only going to be there a week so I want to try for an advanced tee time and if we don't get one we will have to put our names in the ballot. The problem with the ballot is you have to be in the area so that if your name comes up as given a tee time you can play. We want to do some touring up in the Highlands which would be hard to do and then find out you have a 6:00am tee time the next morning. And if you don't get a tee time on the first ballot you have to resubmit for the next two days. Did I mention we will be with our wives so hanging around St. Andrews waiting on the ballot each day would be pretty hard to pull off.

I have always planned my trip in advance, which means I lock in my tee times a year in advance. If i am not mistaken that is the November prior. I have had friends with good success with the daily ballot, or some local hotels I believe have tee times allotted to them. Keep your head high...you will get on. My dad and I played in the busy season in July...weather was 73° and Sunny. We teed off at 10am as a twosome with no one ahead or behind us.

Thanks. The advanced app. is sent in on September 5th 5:00am EST. From what I have read we should get a time that way, especially for early may. I got a response from the reservation people who cleared up the "club" question. They said just put Golfnet and the club name and all will be fine. I agree with you on the set things up as far ahead as possible, saves a lot of scrambling and hassle. We have everything pretty much taken care of as far as flights, house rental, car and some of the other things we want to do but have to wait to see tee times before finalizing most activities.

My wife and I were there last year in July. We didn't wget on with the daily lottery but I did who down to the starter and ask if came early and " tipped the starter" could we both get on? He said " no, we don't accept tips to get folks on" but could come first thing in the am and get on the list for openings. So we get down there at 5 am and were 6th in line. I give the young starter a couple of twentys as I'm shaking his hand. My wife and I got out at 8:10 and enjoyed the Old Course!

I don't think he put us in front of anyone but since it was my wife and I I think he made sure we were able to play together which was my concern. I think it was worth the effort and btw $40 was probably the cheapest I spent on anything over there!

I am curious-did he put you in front of anyone else in the line? Or did you pay 40.00 to play at the same time you would have anyway?