Every year, we are inundated with questions from clients hoping to secure a tee time on the Old Course through the Ballot. As the name suggests, this is very much a lottery, making it difficult to predict the chances of success. However, with demand continuing to grow, securing a place has become increasingly challenging.

While there is no guaranteed formula for success, there are a few ways to give yourself the best possible opportunity. We hope the following advice helps you make the most of your Ballot entries.

1. Choose your playing days carefully

Certain days of the week offer better opportunities than others, particularly Thursdays and Saturdays. This is because there are no advanced tee times on Thursday afternoons or throughout Saturdays, meaning more availability is released through the Ballot.

2. Make the most of multiple opportunities

If you are spending several days in St Andrews, you may have the opportunity to enter the Ballot on more than one occasion. Naturally, this increases your overall chances of success.

If you plan to do this, we recommend arranging your other rounds at courses that offer some flexibility should you secure an Old Course tee time at short notice. Kingsbarns, Craigtoun, Crail, Dumbarnie and the Fairmont courses are all worth considering.

3. Be flexible with your preferred tee time

Ballot entries are submitted in the morning, 48 hours before the intended day of play. When entering, we strongly recommend being as flexible as possible with your availability. For example, selecting any available tee time will give you a better opportunity than restricting your application to a particular part of the day.

4. Be aware of dates when the Ballot is unavailable

There are certain periods throughout the year when the Ballot does not operate due to course closures and major events. These include the R&A Spring Meeting in the first half of May, the 2027 Open Championship running for much of June and July, the R&A Autumn Meeting in September and the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, which runs from 27 September to 4 October.

It is worth bearing these dates in mind when planning your trip.

5. Consider travelling outside the busiest months

August and September are traditionally the most challenging months in which to secure an Old Course tee time. Demand is particularly high during this period, with chances of success sometimes falling to 1 in 20.

By comparison, clients travelling earlier in the summer often enjoy better fortune, with many securing a tee time on their very first Ballot attempt.

Finally, remember that the Ballot results are announced at 4pm, 48 hours before the day of play. Few moments in St Andrews generate quite as much anticipation as those few minutes waiting for the results!

We wish you the very best of luck.