How the 2027 Open at St. Andrews Will Impact Golf Travel

The Need to Know for St. Andrews Golf Trips in 2027 and Beyond

Chris McConn

March 5, 2025

5 Minute Read

In the world of golf travel, no destination carries more weight than St. Andrews. It doesn’t just move the needle—it is the needle. Demand for golf in Scotland has already been at a record high in recent years, and with The Open returning to the Old Course in 2027, it’s only going to reach another level.

While it’s still too early to predict the full impact on golf trips to St. Andrews, history suggests that availability will be scarce, competition will be fierce, and the effects will last for years. Here’s what golfers should keep in mind as they plan their future trips.

How The Open Affects Guaranteed Old Course Tee Times

For those hoping to secure guaranteed tee times at The Old Course in 2027, the effects of The Open are still unclear. The last time The Open was held at St. Andrews (2022), the golf travel landscape was far from normal—postponed COVID-era trips had created a massive backlog of demand. This time, however, the situation is different.

The St. Andrews Links Trust took control of the guaranteed tee time process nearly a decade ago, and 2027 will be the first "normal" Open Championship under this system. While we don’t yet know exactly how the process will unfold, one thing is certain: the demand for tee times will be staggering.

An Even Shorter Travel Season

One of the most immediate effects of The Open is that the Old Course will likely be closed for an entire month leading up to the championship. With an already limited golf season in Scotland, this means that golfers hoping to play the Old Course in 2027 will effectively lose 20% of the peak travel window.

This is a critical factor to consider for anyone planning a Scotland golf trip that year. With fewer available tee times and higher demand, competition for coveted spots will be fiercer than ever.

The members of Muirfield Village with the Claret Jug at The Old Course.

Ireland Will Be the Biggest Beneficiary

Whenever St. Andrews is temporarily off the table, many groups instinctively look elsewhere. And history suggests that Ireland will be the biggest beneficiary of The Open's impact in 2027.

Further fueling this trend is the fact that The Open is returning to Royal Portrush in 2025. That event will shine a global spotlight on golf in Northern Ireland, and many golfers who might have considered Scotland will instead set their sights on Portrush, Royal County Down, and other world-class Irish links.

Post-Open St. Andrews: Adjust Your Expectations

Many golfers dream of heading to St. Andrews right after The Open, hoping to snag a tee time via the Ballot (lottery system). But here’s the reality: the entire world of golf will descend on Scotland before and after The Open.

Simply put, if you’re going to St. Andrews after The Open with the hope of winning the Ballot, you need to seriously realign your expectations. The demand will be unlike anything we’ve seen before.

For those committed to playing the Old Course, the best approach is to plan ahead and secure guaranteed tee times as early as possible.

The Ripple Effect: 2028, 2029, and Beyond

While 2027 will be the focal point, the impact of The Open will extend well into 2028 and 2029.

The last time St. Andrews hosted The Open (2022), we received two to three months' worth of inquiries in a span of just ten days surrounding the championship. If history repeats itself, by the time the 2027 Open concludes, our entire allocation of guaranteed Old Course tee times for 2028 will be sold out.

That means golfers who wait too long will be left with two choices:

Set their sights on an alternative destination.
Look ahead to 2029 or even 2030.

This is why advance planning—and working with an expert—is more important than ever.

The members of Baton Rouge Country Club on the Road Hole.

Why You Need an Expert to Navigate This

With so many variables at play, navigating golf travel around The Open is not something to leave to chance. The demand for St. Andrews will be at an all-time high, availability will be extremely limited, and the ripple effects will extend for years.

The Open may come and go, but St. Andrews will always be the heartbeat of golf travel. And when the world of golf turns its attention there, having the right expertise on your side can make all the difference.