Visitor's Guide

What is the dress code?

Most courses do not permit denims, collarless shirts or sports shoes. Shorts can be worn with knee length socks, and golf shoes should preferably be soft spikes.

Very few hotels and restaurants require jackets and tie these days, but we will advise when these are necessary.

What is the best time to travel?

Scotland is full of great golf, whatever season you choose to travel. The shoulder months represent great value with slightly lower pricing, but the peak summer months generally provide the best weather.

When is the Old Course closed?

It is closed every Sunday, and we not authorized to book times on a Saturday. Additionally, it closes during the first week of May, and the middle two weeks in September and during The Dunhill Links Tournament which takes place in October.

What are the Handicap restrictions?

On the Old Course, gents must provide proof of a handicap of 24 or less, and ladies of 36 or less.

Can we book golf carts?

Generally, the links courses in Scotland do not permit golf carts. Most allow pull carts or provide a caddie service.

What do Caddies cost?

Each course has its own pricing and tipping policy, but a rough guide would be a fee of between £30-£45 and tipping of £10-£20 per round. Total in US currency will range between $75 and $125.

We will request caddies for you if you require them.

Do you allow single golfers?

We do not allow single golfers, as they cannot pre-book at St Andrews or Carnoustie. Generally, a single golfer would be advised to go and talk to the starter early in the morning of the day they wish to play and put his name on the list.

Do you have programs for Non-Golfers?

Yes, we realize many non-golfers accompany the golfing groups, so we have lots of options for tours and sight seeing. Please ask us for more details.

Travelers’ Tips:

Weather:

Scotland is well known for its unpredictable weather. It can change very fast in a matter of minutes, especially in mountain and sea areas. When traveling around Scotland it is always best to be prepared for anything, good or bad. In the height of the summer, the hours of daylight are long and it may not get dark until after 11pm, particularly the further north you are.

Average Temperatures for Edinburgh are approximately as follows:

January 6 C / 42 F May 14 C / 58 F September 16 C / 61 F
February 6 C / 42 F June 16 C / 61 F October 12 C / 54 F
March 8 C / 47 F July 18 C / 68 F November 9 C / 49 F
April 11 C / 52 F August 18 C / 68 F December 7 C / 45 F

Getting to St Andrews and getting around

There are direct air services from Europe to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen, Inverness or Kirkwall, and from the States to Glasgow or Edinburgh.

Long-distance buses are the least expensive way of getting to Scotland; alternatively you can take a train from London which will get you into Edinburgh in four hours and Glasgow in five.

Coming from Ireland, you also have the option of taking a ferry. In summer there is a weekly ferry between Aberdeen, the Shetlands and Norway, and a twice-weekly ferry from Aberdeen to the Faroes.

For those with their own transport, main roads are busy but flow quite well - a drive from London to Edinburgh will take about eight hours.

Air: There are direct air services from London and other European cities to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen, Inverness or Kirkwall, and from North America to Glasgow or Edinburgh. All UK domestic flights and those from Scotland to places in the EU attract a £15.00 departure tax and to other destinations it's £30.00, a cost that's usually factored into the ticket price.

Car: For those with their own transport, main roads are busy and quick - Edinburgh is 600km (373mi) from London and it will take you about eight hours to drive it.

Visas Overview

Citizens of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the USA may stay in Britain for up to six months without a visa; however, working is prohibited. EU citizens don't need a visa and can live and work freely.

Customs Overview

The following list of items are illegal to bring into the UK and therefore Scotland: illegal drugs such as heroin, offensive weapons, indecent and obscene material featuring children, pornographic material (other than that which can be legally purchased in the UK); material depicting extreme violence; counterfeit goods, goods that infringe patents and meat, milk and other animal products.

Goods you cannot import without authority or a license include firearms, explosives, ammunition and gas canisters; endangered species, alive or dead, and goods made from them; certain plants and their produce; and radio transmitters such as CB radios that are not approved for use in the UK. Contact the Customs National Advice Service if you are at all unsure whether to bring something with you.

Duty Free

Travelers arriving in the UK from other EU countries don't have to pay tax or duty on goods for personal use. The maximum amounts of tobacco and alcohol that each person can bring into the country duty-free are 3200 cigarettes, 400 cigarillos, 200 cigars, 3kg of smoking tobacco, 10L of spirits, 20L of fortified wine (i.e., port or sherry), 90L of wine and 110L of beer. People under the age of 17 are not allowed to import any alcohol or tobacco.

Travelers from outside the EU can bring in, duty free, 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco; 70fl oz (2L) of still table wine; 1L of spirits or 2L of fortified/ sparkling wine or liqueurs; 60mL of perfume; 250mL of toilet water; and 145.00 worth of other goods.

Money:

The currency in the UK is the pound sterling where 1 pound (£) is made up of 100 pence. This is the currency of England and Scotland, although you will find that Scotland has different notes for £10, £20, £50 and sometimes £5 as well. The exchange rate is around 1.90 US dollars = 1 UK pound.

Preferred Form: Carrying cash around is always convenient and no more risky than in other places in the UK. Cash is easy to get, there are ATMs (cash points) available widespread, otherwise major credit cards are also widely recognized.

Changing Your Money: A plastic/travelers check combination is the way to go. Travelers checks are widely accepted in banks and you might as well buy them in pounds sterling to avoid changing currencies twice. The bureaux de change at international airports are the best place to change money because sterling travelers checks are cashed for free.

Tipping: If you eat in a Scottish restaurant you should leave a tip of at least 10% unless the service was unsatisfactory. Waiting staff is often paid derisory wages on the assumption that tips will supplement the money. Some restaurants include a service charge on the bill, in which case a gratuity is unnecessary. Taxi drivers expect to be tipped about 10%.

The pound sterling is valid on both sides of the border, but Scottish banks also issue their own banknotes. These are generally accepted in England, but if problems do arise, most banks will exchange Scottish currency for pound sterling without a hassle.

Phone numbers & Postcodes

Most phone numbers in the UK now follow the format: 01 plus 8 or 9 digits, which is easy enough to dial if you are already in the country. However if you have to call from outside the UK, first dial the international dialing code, then dial 44, omit the lead zero, then dial the rest of the of the number you are calling. For example if the phone number is 01475 650 100 and you are not already in the UK, this is what you dial: international code + 44 1475 650 100. A phone number beginning with 07 is probably a mobile phone (cell phone).