U.K. - Want to Play the Old Course but not a Golfer?
Jun 15th, 2015, 01:46 PM
#1
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U.K. - Want to Play the Old Course but not a Golfer?
Easy - folks going to St Andrews, a sweet sweet easy day trip from Edinburgh, often want to see the Old Course, home of golf I guess, but since they don't golf have to watch from the distance. But if you want to play on the Old Course but don't golf...
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/14/sp...owed.html?_r=0
Bring a picnic and sit by the famous 18th hole!
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/14/sp...owed.html?_r=0
Bring a picnic and sit by the famous 18th hole!
Jun 15th, 2015, 02:39 PM
#2
That has been mentioned on Fodors many <B>MANY</B> times . . . On most threads about St Andrews.
To be accurate >>Want to Play the Old Course but not a Golfer?<< is wrong - that would indicate 'playing' golf -- which isn't allowed.
Playing around on the course - sans clubs - is what is allowed.
To be accurate >>Want to Play the Old Course but not a Golfer?<< is wrong - that would indicate 'playing' golf -- which isn't allowed.
Playing around on the course - sans clubs - is what is allowed.
Jun 15th, 2015, 02:52 PM
#3
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janis - thanks for your usual nice comments - and I was talking about 'playing around' not 'playing a round'! What the heck did you think I would say play a round of golf on a course that is for some archaic reason closed on Sundays - surprising especially for a God-less Scotland IME!
Cheers!
PS have never ever seen this in any thread about St Andrews here and I usually read them all and for others who may have missed that I think this could be useful.
Cheers!
PS have never ever seen this in any thread about St Andrews here and I usually read them all and for others who may have missed that I think this could be useful.
Jun 15th, 2015, 04:20 PM
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I walked around a part of the Old Course on a Sunday and it was great. Walked along the 17th Road Hole, took photos standing in front of the Road Hole bunker, crossed the Swilken Burn by the old bridge and walked towards the 18th green pretending to be an Open champion. There are plenty of ground staff on duty to stop people entering bunkers or damaging the greens, but otherwise you are free to wander at will.
To play the course properly, you need a maximum handicap of 24 (for men) and you must show your handicap certificate to the starter (this is rigidly enforced). Getting a start time can be difficult, and unless you've booked months in advance, try the daily ballot for the next day's starts. If you are a single golfer, just turn up early and the starter may put you with an existing group. This isn't guaranteed to work, however.
To play the course properly, you need a maximum handicap of 24 (for men) and you must show your handicap certificate to the starter (this is rigidly enforced). Getting a start time can be difficult, and unless you've booked months in advance, try the daily ballot for the next day's starts. If you are a single golfer, just turn up early and the starter may put you with an existing group. This isn't guaranteed to work, however.
Jun 15th, 2015, 05:44 PM
#5
>> and I was talking about 'playing around' not 'playing a round'! What the heck did you think I would say play a round of golf on a course that is for some archaic reason closed on Sundays - surprising especially for a God-less Scotland IME!<<
PQ: re-read your <i>title</i>. My comment was to what you put in the title. One cannot "play the Old Course" on Sundays.
>>PS have never ever seen this in any thread about St Andrews here and I usually read them all and for others who may have missed that I think this could be useful.<<
I personally have posted that info maybe 5 or 10 times every month for the last 10+ years . . . And others have as well.
PQ: re-read your <i>title</i>. My comment was to what you put in the title. One cannot "play the Old Course" on Sundays.
>>PS have never ever seen this in any thread about St Andrews here and I usually read them all and for others who may have missed that I think this could be useful.<<
I personally have posted that info maybe 5 or 10 times every month for the last 10+ years . . . And others have as well.
Jun 15th, 2015, 05:49 PM
#7
Alec: I try to take every first timer there on a Sunday. They enjoy the same things you mention. The three biggest impressions seem to be standing in Hell Bunker, crossing the bridge, and seeing #1 tee and #18 green right there just like on telly 
(Standing in the bunkers used to be allowed . . . )
(Standing in the bunkers used to be allowed . . . )
Jun 15th, 2015, 09:36 PM
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Well, I didn't know you could visit St Andrews Old Course on Sundays and not have to get involved with the only major sport rivalling F1 racing for unbearable tedium.
I'm desultorily working out what to do after a forthcoming family wedding an hour or so away. PalQ's just suggested a near-perfect Sunday excursion. For the humans AND the Flannerpooches.
Thank you.
I'm desultorily working out what to do after a forthcoming family wedding an hour or so away. PalQ's just suggested a near-perfect Sunday excursion. For the humans AND the Flannerpooches.
Thank you.
Jun 16th, 2015, 12:05 PM
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PQ: re-read your title. My comment was to what you put in the title. One cannot "play the Old Course" on Sundays.>
Would YOU please re-read my title:
U.K. - Want to Play the Old Course but not a Golfer?>
What does "but not a golfer mean to you" - I wrote this purposefully to have a play on the word 'play' - play what? Not golf because I said that in the title - play the course - like walk the course -
Capiche?
Would YOU please re-read my title:
U.K. - Want to Play the Old Course but not a Golfer?>
What does "but not a golfer mean to you" - I wrote this purposefully to have a play on the word 'play' - play what? Not golf because I said that in the title - play the course - like walk the course -
Capiche?
Jun 17th, 2015, 02:40 AM
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"The article itself was even sillier than the title. Don't let anyone in St. Andrews hear you referring to the "British Open""
Why?
Is this a Scottish Nationalist thing.
Because a clear majority of us are well aware of what the Edinburgh rotten fish club would do to Scotland. The other minority are on benefits and like the look of the BMWs that Salmond and Sturgeon have promised.
Why?
Is this a Scottish Nationalist thing.
Because a clear majority of us are well aware of what the Edinburgh rotten fish club would do to Scotland. The other minority are on benefits and like the look of the BMWs that Salmond and Sturgeon have promised.
Jun 17th, 2015, 09:19 AM
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Jun 17th, 2015, 01:40 PM
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As it was the first Open competition in golf in the world, they can rightly call it The Open Championship. Like The Times newspaper, founded in 1785. Not 'London Times', as all other 'Times' like NYT (1851) and LA Times (1881) came much later.
