The Old Course at St. Andrews is considered the Home of Golf and, throughout its history at the base of an incredible Scottish town, has been a public-access layout. But don’t expect to just ring up the pro shop for a tee time at 10 a.m. next Saturday for yourself and seven buddies.

The Old Course – site of this week’s British Open – hosts nearly 50,000 rounds a year, and that’s with the course being closed on Sundays when the hallowed golfing grounds become a public park – take your dog for a stroll to the beach, but don’t plan on sneaking out for a quick nine after a haggis brunch.

With all those rounds played six days a week, there is quite a bottleneck for access for visiting golfers. But tee times aren’t impossible, they just require planning – and maybe a very early morning wake-up call or long night sitting outside.

There are several ways for locals to score tee times – might we suggest signing up for classes at the ancient University of St. Andrews? Short of that, the St. Andrews Links, which manages tee times on the Old, offers access to non-residents via limited advance registrations, authorized providers, the Old Course ballot and singles golfers. Check out the details for each below.

Worth noting, the green fee for 2023 is 270 pounds (roughly 320 U.S. dollars) in the high season of April 18-Oct. 16, then it drops to 190 pounds for the shoulder season of October 17-31, then it falls to 135 pounds for the low season of November 1-March 31. Players tackling the Old in the winter might be required to play all full shots off mats, little strips of artificial turf that must be carried around the course throughout the round. Caddies, of course, cost extra and must be arranged.

And last of all, don’t forget your handicap card. Players must provide proof of having a handicap of 36 or less.

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An aerial view of the courses at St. Andrews, including the Old Course at the center of the peninsula (David Cannon/Getty Images)

Each fall, golfers can apply to the St. Andrews Links for a tee time the following year, with applications due by early September and the lucky winners of the draw announced in October.

The famed 17th hole, named the Road Hole, of the Old Course at St. Andrews (David Cannon/Getty Images)

Every day of the week but Friday, the St. Andrews Links accepts ballot entrees for tee times two days later. So enter the ballot on Monday for a Wednesday tee time, for example.

Nos. 1 and 18, plus No. 17 green, of the Old Course at St. Andrews (David Cannon/R&A via Getty Images)

St. Andrews Links has designated several companies as authorized providers of tee times – basically tour operators.

The practice green and the Old Pavilion beside the first tee in front of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club clubhouse on the Old Course at St. Andrews (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)

This option is for adventurous players with possibly a lot of free time on their hands on a vacation, or for those determined to play the Old regardless of lack of sleep.

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