VSGA Scotland Trip FAQs
- What is included in the rate?
- 7 nights / 7 rounds of golf
- Breakfast each morning / 3 group dinners
- Scotland Tours logo golf shirt for each golfer / Scottish Gift for each non-golfer
- £50 St Andrews Links Voucher for merchandise or additional green fees for each golfer
- £60 Food & Beverage Credit per person at Fairmont Resort, St Andrews
- Luxury coaches with drivers/guides for your tour (services specified above) – 1x for the golfers & 1x for the non-golfers
- Based on up to 32 golfers plus partners in the group sharing up to 24 rooms
- Local taxes (VAT at the current rate of 20%)
- Meet & Greet service on arrival in Scotland
- 24-hour emergency assistance from Scotland Tours
- What's not included in the rate?
- Airfare
- Lunches / Dinner (as not otherwise noted above) / Drinks
- Entrances to places of interest
- Travel Insurance
- What is the deadline to register and cancellation policy?
- The deadline for registration (if not sold out) is February 1, 2025.
- The full cancellation policy can be found on the Scotland Golf Tours website here
- 60 days prior to arrival - Loss of deposit and any other instalments paid.
- 59 – 28 days prior to arrival - 50% of total event cost
- 27 – 14 days prior to arrival - 75% of total event cost.
- 13 days or less prior to arrival - 100% of total event cost.
- It is strongly suggested that you purchase trip insurance through a U.S. based company to cover any possible emergencies prior to the trip.
- Will I get to play The Old Course?
- As there is such a demand to play; there are rules and procedures in place that differ from other courses. Scotland Golf Tours will do the following for those who wish to play The Old Course:
- Private Advance (PA) Times – St Andrews Links will take applications directly from golfers around late August 2024 for the 2025 season. We will contact you in the summer of 2024 advising how to apply for these times. Once you’ve applied, you’ll get a notification whether you have been successful in getting a private advance tee time (late October 2024). These times are 2-course packages which include a second round on the Castle, New or Jubilee Course.
- Ballot – If you are unsuccessful at getting a private advance tee time, we would suggest that we apply for you to play The Old Course via ballot (or lottery). We would call your details in 2 days before you play, and we would be notified that same afternoon of the result. If successful, the green fee of GB£295 (2023 rate) is paid directly to the starter on the day.
We will enter your name(s) in the ballot each day you are staying in St Andrews and if you are successful on a day when you have a guaranteed tee time already, we will endeavour to shuffle the tee times around to a different day so that you play all the golf you have paid for, and play The Old Course as well. We have a long-standing relationship with all these courses that allows us to adjust bookings like this, and these plans usually fall into place. It is subject to availability of course, but, it usually works out fine. - In an effort to manage your expectations, you should be aware that the ballot is heavily oversubscribed every day during the summer months in particular, so please do not assume that you will obtain a tee time by this method.
There are occasions when we succeed in obtaining a time, but there are many more occasions when the golfers do not get their game there.- There is also a process where the golfers can line up at the starters box and wait to be fitted into gaps on the tee sheet, however, this usually involves sitting up all night at the 1st tee which many will find unacceptable. These gaps are usually for 1 or 2 players so 4 ball games will rarely play together.
- As there is such a demand to play; there are rules and procedures in place that differ from other courses. Scotland Golf Tours will do the following for those who wish to play The Old Course:
- What will non-golfers do each day?
- See full itinerary for detailed information, but non-golfers can expect sightseeing in some of the following:
- St Andrews
- Coast of Fife
- Dundee, the City of Discovery
- City of Sterling
- Edinburgh
- See full itinerary for detailed information, but non-golfers can expect sightseeing in some of the following:
- Do I have to play all 7 rounds?
- Two rounds are optional for those who wish to spend some time sightseeing or taking a rest day.
- Saturday at Kittocks Course (on resort property)
- Tuesday at Torrance Course
- Two rounds are optional for those who wish to spend some time sightseeing or taking a rest day.
- Can I take a cart?
- Many courses in Scotland do not have golf carts available and walking is required. The following courses offer optional carts (for an additional fee):
- Kittocks Course
- Torrance Course
- Many courses in Scotland do not have golf carts available and walking is required. The following courses offer optional carts (for an additional fee):
- If we have other friends register, can we play together?
- Yes! You should register yourself and anyone you are sharing a room with. We will note the grouping requests as the trip gets closer.
- What time and where should I fly into?
- You should take an overnight flight from the U.S. to Edinburgh, Scotland. Plan to arrive the morning of May 17. A shuttle will be provided for all participants to the hotel.
- Caddies
- Caddies are optional at all of the courses and most range between £65 - £75 per round plus gratuity. The caddies are paid directly by the guest following the round in cash and we will request the caddies on behalf of the guest prior to the trip.
- How should I get my golf bag to Scotland?
- Ship Sticks is offering a 20% off discount for VSGA members for this trip. Click here to use the 20% off.
- You can also check your bag via your airline. See airline information for costs.