How to avoid the St Andrews ballot

Finally there’s a way to avoid the hit-and-miss daily ballot that decides who plays the Old Course at St Andrews and who doesn’t.

Finally there is away to avoid the hit-and-miss daily ballot that decides whether or not you going to get that sought after round on the Old Course at St Andrews.

I know people who have waited in vain for days on end at St Andrews, hoping that the ballot would pop out there names.

It never did and probably never will, so for the golfer who has suffered in this way, ‘Suit Golf’ will come as music to their ears.

‘Suit golf’ is a new golf package launched by the Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa that will offer guaranteed tee-off times on the must-play St Andrews Old Course along with a host of other amenities.

“Whilst indulging their passion for golf,” the ‘Suit Golf’ package announcement discloses, “visitors can enjoy life in a luxury suite at the five-star Old Course Hotel, which enjoys a unique location overlooking the 17th Road Hole of the Old Course and St Andrews Bay, made famous by the iconic film, Chariots of Fire.”

In addition to a round over the Old Course, the three-night package includes a tee time at The Duke’s Course, the Peter Thomson-designed heathland course that offers majestic views over the historic town of St Andrews, and a third round over either one of the New or Jubilee Courses.

Off the course, the Suite Golf package also comprises dinner on two nights in the Road Hole Fine Dining, the hotel’s award-winning restaurant that boasts three AA rosettes.

For those of us who are getting to the stage where we invariably stiffen up after a round of golf, Your package will also entitle you to a 50-minute luxury spa treatment in the hotel’s Kohler Waters Spa.

“St Andrews is a world-renowned golfing mecca and the best place from which to enjoy it is the luxurious Old Course Hotel which borders the 17th fairway of the Old Course and makes the experience all the more memorable,” says Debbie Taylor, Managing Directorm of the Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa.

“Due to overwhelming demand, the St Andrews Links Trust traditionally runs a daily ballot for the highly-coveted tee times on the Old Course, so it is a real bonus to be able to include guaranteed tee times on a course considered a must play due to its historic place in the heart of golf,” Taylor added.

In addition to playing golf, visitors can also sample the unique atmosphere and historical coastal setting of St Andrews by visiting the historical buildings of St Andrews Castle, the Cathedral ruins and the University of St Andrews, the most ancient in Scotland.

Around St Andrews there are also many picturesque fishing villages, such as East Neuk, Crail and Anstruther, to explore as well as numerous country parks and nature trails to roam.

The Suite Golf package has been launched in association with ‘Homecoming Scotland 2009′, a series of events that will take place throughout the year in honour of poet Robert Burns’ 250th birthday,

The packages start at £1,770 per person based on two people sharing and are valid until the end of 2009.

For further details email reservations@oldcoursehotel.co.uk and mention booking reference HOMGLF or visit www.oldcoursehotel.co.uk

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