Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Playing the Old Course
Golf has been played at St Andrews since the 15th century. By 1457 it was so popular that James II placed a ban on
it because it interfered with his troops' archery practice. Although it lies beside the exclusive, all-male-membership
Royal Ancient Golf Club, the
Old Course
(
01334-466666;
www.standrews.org.uk
; Reservations Office,
St Andrews Links Trust)
is public.
You'll need to book in advance to play via
St Andrews Links Trust
( 01334-466666;
www.standrews.org.uk
)
. Reservations open on the first Wednesday in September the year before you wish to
play. No bookings are taken for Saturdays or the month of September.
Unless you've booked months in advance, getting a tee-off time is literally a lottery; enter the ballot at the
caddie
office
(
Offline map
Google map
01334-466666)
before 2pm two days before you wish to play (there's no
Sunday play). Be warned that applications by ballot are normally heavily oversubscribed, and green fees are £150 in
summer. Singles are not accepted in the ballot and should start queuing as early as possible on the day - 5am is
good - in the hope of joining a group. You'll need a handicap certificate (24/36 for men/women).
Guided walks
(£2.50)
of the Old Course run Tuesday to Sunday in July and August, and hit famous landmarks
such as the Swilcan Bridge and the Road Hole bunker. They run from outside the shop by the 18th green at 11am
and 1.30pm and last 50 minutes. On Sunday, a three-hour walk (£5) takes you around the whole course.
Sleeping
St Andrews' accommodation is overpriced and often heavily booked (especially in sum-
mer), so reserve in advance. Almost every house on super-central Murray Park and Mur-
ray Pl is a guest house.
ABBEY COTTAGE££
( 01334-473727; coull@lineone.net; Abbey Walk; s £45, d £65-70; )
You know you've
strayed from B&B mainstream when your charming host's hobby is photographing tigers
in the wild - don't leave without browsing her albums. This engaging spot sits below the
town, surrounded by stone walls that enclose a rambling garden; it feels like you're stay-
ing in the country. There are three excellent rooms, all different, with patchwork quilts,
sheepskins and antique furniture.
| B&B
FAIRWAYS OF ST ANDREWS££
( 01334-479513;
www.fairwaysofstandrews.co.uk
; 8a Golf Pl; s £80-120, d £90-150; )
Just around
the corner from golf's most famous 18th green, this is more of a boutique hotel than a
| B&B
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