More than 1,000 tee time applications for play on the Old Course in 2008 were received in 15 minutes yesterday morning (Wednesday), a record for the world renowned links.
After the advanced reservations process opened at 10 a.m. BST, 1,100 applications flooded in to the Reservations department of St Andrews Links Trust, the organisation which manages and maintains the Old Course.
The vast majority of the applications were received by email as golfers from around the world sought to secure coveted tee times at the Home of Golf.
In order to give everyone an equal chance, golfers were invited to apply at that specific time. The reservations department will spend the next few weeks processing the applications on a first come first served basis before sending out confirmations to those who have been successful and informing those who have not.
Alan McGregor, general manager of the Links Trust, said, “Since we changed the advanced reservations process a few years ago to invite everyone to apply at the same time we have become accustomed to surges of applications but to receive more than 1,000 applications in the space of 15 minutes is quite remarkable.
“It is testament to the regard in which golfers round the world hold the Old Course that there is such interest in securing a time to play next year. Although there is a high level of demand most of the applications will be successful.”
Yesterday also saw the official opening of the advanced reservations process for the new Castle Course which is due to open next summer. Golfers were given the opportunity to book tee times on the seventh St Andrews Links Trust course from 28th June to 31st October 2008.
The widely anticipated opening of the course, which was designed on a spectacular cliff top location to the south east of St Andrews by internationally acclaimed architect David McLay Kidd, led to a steady flow of applications on the day. The Castle Course will form part of the two-course booking policy for advanced reservations on the Old Course along with the New, Jubilee, Eden and Strathtyrum courses.
St Andrews Links Trust www.standrews.org.uk