St Andrews Query

paulos53

I am hoping to make a trip there early next year. Their website says handicap certificates are required to play the Old Course but some of our group have not renewed their club membership

I know a few boardsies have made the trip. Were you asked for the cert by the starter?

ckeego

I have been fortunate to play it twice and we were not asked for handicap certs on either occasion.

We went into the lottery on both occasions and had no problem in getting a slot.

During the winter months it can be susceptible to frost (we missed out on playing it on a third occasion because of this) and for most of the winter you are supposed to play off a small astro turf mat when on the fairway.

All said, it was a fantastic experience, worth every penny of the (modest) green fee-light years ahead of Troon which closed to the public for all of last winter. We walked the course and it wasn't a patch on the Old Course...Very saucy green fee as well.

I wish you a great trip-the town of St Andrews itself is lovely and Edinurgh is only about 50 min away by car-one of my favourite cities in Europe-you will have a blast!:)

ckeego

Meant to say as well that even if you are unlucky in the lottery, the starter will usually fit you in as a singleton with another 2 or 3 ball.

chuckyarelaw

Certs are a must for Old Corpse

Lapin

chuckyarelaw wrote: »

Certs are a must for Old Corpse

Death certs surely

bailey99

Went there last year in a fourball for my dad's 70th birthday. Haunted with the weather, not a drop of rain. Played the Jubilee the first day, the old the second day and the New the third day.

Certs were asked by the starter. I wouldn't risk not going with certs to be honest. They state all over the bookings that you must have a handicap certificate for the starter. The limit is 24 for men.

I'm absolutely recommend a trip over there at least once. Teeing off on the 1st on the Old course was brilliant but the walk up the 18th won't ever be beaten.

mike12

Hi,
If the guys are all decent then someone with decent computer skills will be able to print them Handicap certs. It's not like it is for a comp.

Norfolk Enchants_

mike12 wrote: »

Hi,
If the guys are all decent then someone with decent computer skills will be able to print them Handicap certs. It's not like it is for a comp.

That's dishonest and you really shouldn't be encouraging that sort of thing.

mike12

Norfolk Enchants_ wrote: »

That's dishonest and you really shouldn't be encouraging that sort of thing.

The guys are just trying to get onto a golf course not win any prizes or play in a open. As long as they are all reasonable golfers who know what they are doing fire ahead.

Norfolk Enchants_

mike12 wrote: »

The guys are just trying to get onto a golf course not win any prizes or play in a open. As long as they are all reasonable golfers who know what they are doing fire ahead.

I'm sure they have their reasons for having a HC cert requirement, and I doubt very much it has anything to do with the winning of prizes, so it's still dishonest whatever way you want to package it and advocating that they fabricate HC certs really isn't very clever.

mike12

Norfolk Enchants_ wrote: »

I'm sure they have their reasons for having a HC cert requirement, and I doubt very much it has anything to do with the winning of prizes, so it's still dishonest whatever way you want to package it and advocating that they fabricate HC certs really isn't very clever.

The op said they were all club golfers but some hadn't renewed their membership, the reason they look for certs is to make sure u can actually play golf

ckeego

mike12 wrote: »

The op said they were all club golfers but some hadn't renewed their membership, the reason they look for certs is to make sure u can actually play golf

Like I said, we were not asked for HC certs but this policy has obviously changed in the last few years.

When I changed clubs some time back, my membership had lapsed and the new club I was joining asked for a HC cert as part of the application/transfer and my old club provided it without any hassle-this should be the solution to the issue.

One thing I would strongly advise the OP to bring along is a rangefinder as there are little or no markings out on the course and it can be very deceiving as to the distance to some of the pins/distances to shared greens and the relative pin placements.

paulos53

Thanks for the info guys. Seems it is best to play it safe and make sure everybody has a handicap cert.

ssbob

@Paulo, this came up before but personally think you should borrow certs from someone but make sure as Mike says whoevers going can play. It would be a nightmare if they were all digging holes like you:D

paulos53

It will give them a head start on some of those new bunkers they are planning for next years Open