Playing the Old Course at St Andrews 1.1

Publish Date: 09/12/2024

Post 1.1 - Travel Tips for Getting to St Andrews

My most recent golf trip was to the course that sits atop everyone’s bucket list….The Old Course at St Andrews.  What better way to start a blog about golf trips than how to play the Old Course on the Cheap.  First, let me tell you there is no way to travel, stay and play this course cheaply. However, instead of spending $10,000, if you are frugal and follow my Tips, you can do it for less than $1,000 plus travel expense.

If you want to make any golf trip inexpensive, smart planning can save you thousands of dollars.  My best example of not-smart planning is my first attempt to play the Old Course.

Like most of you, I have dreamed of playing the Old Course for years and plotted how to do it.  My first attempt was a couple of years ago when we planned to visit Scotland, London and Paris.  Like all good planners, I had everything booked and mapped out, including my tee time on the Old Course.  Through a friend of a member, I had managed to get an Old Course tee time booked on the morning of the day after our proposed arrival in Edinburgh.

Unfortunately, due to bad luck and poor planning on my part, our flights from the US to Edinburgh were cancelled two days in a row.  We were eventually able to fly into London after losing two days of our trip and my tee time on the Old Course. We did enjoy London and Paris but missed everything in Scotland.😥

When relating the story of my failed first attempt at the Old Course to my playing partners at St Andrews, I was admonished with,” sounds like a lack of proper planning ole boy.” The Brits often use the word proper, which we Americans seldom use. Proper, meaning the correct or best way to do something.  So hereafter for this endeavor, I shall attempt to advise you on Proper Planning.

Before I get into the actual travel part of our Plan, first let’s discuss what you will take with you.  If you really want to make your golf trip in the most cost-effective way, you will strongly consider my packing suggestions, as follows.

No matter how much you love your golf clubs, leave them at home, unless you want to spend a few hundred dollars to send them via Ship Sticks.  There is nothing worse than dragging a bag of golf clubs through many airports and train stations.  Rental clubs are plentiful there and work just fine.  More on renting clubs later.

My luggage of choice is always a carry-on suitcase (roller board) 🧳and a back pack. A great option for luggage that I use is the 21” Swiss Gear expandable carry-on, which can be purchased for less than $100 USD.  If allowed, I always carry these items on to the plane with me and never check them unless forced by the airline. By keeping my bags with me I accomplish the following:

a.    My bags are never lost by the airline.

b.    If my flight is cancelled and I need to rebook on another flight I don’t have to wait for someone to go find my bags and make sure they get on the rebooked flight.

c.     Saves valuable time.  When bags are checked, you will always spend at least 30 minutes watching the bag carousel awaiting your bag to arrive.

Between the suitcase and backpack, I can easily pack and carry 7 days clothes and gear for a golf trip.  When traveling without golf clubs, I have a small cloth draw string bag that I put all of my golf gear into.  Gloves, balls, tees, ball marker, golf eye glasses, rangefinder, a Sharpie & a pencil with an eraser, one 5-hour energy per day (it helps), aspirin, Motrin, band aids and anything else I might need on the golf course.  I usually stuff this bag into the bottom of my backpack.  When it’s time to head for the course, I just throw this bag in with the rental clubs and I’m ready.  No looking thru zippers for golf stuff.

If you are flying into Scotland, especially from the US to the UK, there is a very good chance one or more of your flights will either be cancelled (as happened with my first attempt at the Old Course) or delayed.  My experience in the past few years is about 50% of all flights will have some kind of delay.  Bad weather, equipment problems (they won’t call it the plane, but it’s the plane) or possibly my most recent favorite…. “sorry, we don’t have pilots to fly the plane." ✈ You would think that by now they would have figured this one out?

I have learned in my travels, if you are flying somewhere to do something important, never make any plans to do anything on the day of your proposed arrival.  Just use this day for rest and scouting the area.  Then if your flight is delayed, you don’t miss much.

I won’t waste time here suggesting any particular airline, as there are several budget airlines and dozens more of the bigger and more expensive carriers.  Cheaper flights are where you find them, but they all seem to have to same issues of delivering you to your destination on time.  I do find when flying from the US, the bigger airlines such as American, Delta, United and British Air seem to do a better job, as they have more flight options when you are delayed.

Assuming most of you who read this are not in the United Kingdom, you will probably fly into Scotland. The closest airport is Edinburgh and is the usual choice for incoming golfers.  Glasgow is possible but it makes for an all-day train ride instead of a short one from Edinburgh.

Once you arrive at Edinburgh Airport (EDI), you will be offered many choices of transportation into Edinburgh or even direct to St Andrews, which is about 70 miles away.  As this blog is dedicated to budget golf trip travel, I will only cover what I found to be the most inexpensive alternative.  However, if you are rushed to make a tee time or just like to be chauffeured, one of the members I played my round with (Andy) owns a car service and he will be only happy to pick you up at EDI and deposit you in St Andrews. You can contact Andy at andysaverot@mail.com.

Prior to my travel, online I purchased an Open Return Ticket on the Edinburgh Tram for 9 Pounds (about $12.00 USD).  This ticket allowed me to travel from EDI into the Edinburgh City Center and also provides you the freedom to return to EDI anytime on the same ticket when headed home.

When arriving into the City Center on the Tram, you will want to exit the Tram at the St Andrews Square Stop (not related to your ultimate destination).  This exit will put you looking down the hill (about a Driver in distance) at the Waverly Train Station.  You may want to spend some time in Edinburgh, or not.  Many sightseeing options are available there including the Edinburgh Castle.

Once you are ready to head to St Andrews, go to the ticket counter in the train station and ask to purchase a Round Trip Ticket from Edinburgh Waverly to Lechuars Station.  Make sure and ask for an Open Return Ticket.  This ticket will allow you free return whenever it’s time to head home.  The ticket will cost about 25 Pounds and the travel time is 75 minutes.

Once you arrive at Lechuars Station, you will have two options to get to St Andrews which is about 5 miles away (currently there is no direct train into St Andrews).  Many taxis will be eagerly awaiting your arrival and will happily deliver you to St Andrews for about 20 Pounds.  My suggestion is to take the Stagecoach East Bus #99 to St Andrews, which arrives every 15 minutes and will cost you 5 Pounds (credit cards accepted).

Once you have arrived at the St Andrews bus station, you will have spent about $60.00 USD in total for travel from EDI to St Andrews, including the return.  You won’t find a cheaper alternative.

From the St Andrews bus station, if you walk down the hill about 3 blocks, you will find yourself looking at the 18th green of the Old Course (see photo).

This is a great way to start your St Andrews adventure.

And yes, the green really is that big.

My next installment will cover lodging and restaurants and will be published in about a week. I plan to cover Playing the Old Course in 4 installments:

1. Travel Tips for Getting to St Andrews

2. Trip Tips About Lodging and Restaurants in St Andrews

3. How You Can Actually Play the Old Course

4. My Round on the Old Course

Stay tuned for future posts and please don’t forget to HIT REPLY at the bottom of the page and let me know what you think about my blog. If you sign in as a member (no cost) you will receive a notice for my future posts. You can also include your email at the bottom for my newsletter.

Thanks again for reading and please feel free to share this with others.

Larry Hall