Plan your 2020 Golf trip today with Fairways Scotland
Tens of thousands of golfers look to play these top golf courses in Scotland year on year; and with so limited tee times available, it is important to plan your 2020 golf trip to Scotland well in advance. Anywhere from 12-24 months out in some instances, to ensure you can play those courses you have always dreamed of playing.
Were going to give you a brief insight into the booking parameters for each of the Open Championship venues in Scotland, past and present to provide food for thought when planning your Scottish Golf Trip with us in 2020 or even, 2021.
Prestwick Old Course, Ayrshire
Prestwick Old Course, The Birthplace of the 1st Open Championship in 1860. Today is still classed as a wonderful test of links golf. Visitors are allowed to play this famous links weekday mornings and afternoons. Play between 8am and 9am is limited to 2-ball play. 4-ball play is however allowed during this time if playing as part of the Prestwick Experience Package. In addition to a round of golf at the club the experience also includes a 3-course lunch (excluding drinks) in the Dining Room.
No play is allowed before 10:15am on Thursdays and no visitors are allowed on Saturdays. However, there are limited tee times available on Sundays. Handicap limits also apply with a requirement of 24 for men and 28 for ladies.
Royal Troon Golf Club, Championship Course, Ayrshire
Located on the west coast close to Prestwick, Royal Troon has played host to The Open Championship 9 times. Most recently in 2016 when Henrik Stenson won. Royal Troon allow visitor play from mid April, through early October on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Furthermore the tee times on these days are allocated between 9:00am and 10:30am and 2:30 and 4pm. Handicap limits also apply here with a requirement of 20 for gents and 30 for ladies.
As you can see with these limited times, planning your trip well in advance is very important. Therefore, if you wish to play Royal Troon as part of your golf trip in 2020, we recommend securing your tee times as early as possible.
Trump Turnberry, Ailsa Course, Ayrshire
The Ailsa Course has hosted The Open Championship on 4 occasions. Most famously featuring Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus in the ‘Duel in the Sun’. There are no restrictions in play days here for visitors. However residents of the hotel do receive a favourable discount on their green fees.
With advanced reservations available we find that tee times are snapped up very quickly by hotel residents and corporate outings, so yet again tee time requests must be done well in advance.
Carnoustie Golf Links, Angus
Carnoustie Golf Links is one of the most famous courses in the world. Known for its 9 Open Championships but also how tough this links course can play. Visitors are allowed to play here 7 days a week, however there are a number of local golf clubs as well as the hotel that have access to tee times for their own members/guests. Therefore times can be hard to come by if you are not prepared. Handicap limits of 24 for men and 36 for ladies are also enforced here.
There seems to be an ever increasing demand to play at Carnoustie, especially after the most recent Open here in 2018. Therefore once again to guarantee your tee time for your 2020 golf trip, advanced booking is essential.
Muirfield, East Lothian
An incredible test of golf located 30 minutes from Scotland’s Capital, Edinburgh. Muirfield is consistently ranked as one of the worlds greatest courses and has hosted The Open Championship 16 times. Visitors have access to play here every Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Play is 4-balls between 8:50am and 9:50am playing from a 2 tee start of the 1st and 10th. There are also times available on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons to play an additional round but this must be played under Foursome (alternate shot) format. Strict handicap restrictions also apply of 18 for ladies and gents.
Muirfield are already taking bookings for 2020 and some days over the busy summer months are nearly booked out already. Therefore, if Muirfield is on your list for your 2020 golf trip, we suggest booking now!
Also check out our Golf Coast Swing package which features great golf in East Lothian including Muirfield.
The Old Course, St Andrews
Having hosted The Open 29 times, it is without a doubt the most famous of all Open Championship venues, if not courses in the world. Hundreds of thousands of people apply to play here on a yearly basis. The Old Course is open for play Monday to Saturday and is closed every Sunday. Similar to Carnoustie, the links has a number of clubs who use the course for competitions for members and guests. Therefore tee times are limited. There are a number of ways to play The Old Course. These include; an advanced application process through Fairways Scotland, guaranteed tee time packages & entering into the ballot made 48 hours prior to play. We have full information on of all of these processes. Please click here for further details.
The Old Course has handicap requirements of 24 for gents and 36 for ladies and like all the other Championship venues, handicap certificates must also be shown at time of check in.
Fairways Scotland will have access to guaranteed Old Course packages for 2020 soon, therefore please contact us today if you wish to play The Old Course as part of your golf tour next year.
Contact us today
We hope this blog has given you an insight into what’s involved to secure tee times at these venues. Fairways Scotland can assist to make this all happen for you in a memorable 2020 golf trip. Contact us today to start planning….
