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By David Brice
Golf International, Inc.

The St. Andrews Old Course has been compared to an incurable disease -- not everyone catches it, but those who do will never rid themselves of it. There's probably not a golfer around who wouldn't give their right arm to play this, the most cherished piece of golf real estate on the planet.

Deceivingly tricky fairways, filled with pot-bunkers.

Most make the pilgrimage to Scotland and golf's birthplace with the dream of playing The Old Course uppermost in their minds. Some will arrive in St. Andrews with a guaranteed time already in their pocket, purchased many months earlier. These are the careful planners, already aware that demand to play this, the Grand Old Lady of golf, far exceeds the available supply of visitor times. Each year the throngs of golfers streaming into St. Andrews from around the globe, all with eyes on playing The Old Course, just keeps growing and visitor times become evermore elusive.

Other visitors will have placed their faith in Lady Luck, arriving in hopes they will be successful on the daily ballot and their name will be among the fortunate few drawn every afternoon for play the following day. While it is true that 50% of all visitors playing The Old Course secure their times through the ballot, there remain even larger numbers upon whom Lady Luck does not smile and sadly they will leave St. Andrews, their dreams unfulfilled.

The famous Swilken Bridge.

Even before the first day of Spring arrived, this year's supply of guaranteed visitor times on The Old Course and made available directly through Links Management (the body responsible for all of the municipal courses in town) was sold out, at least for the prime summer months of May through October.

But all is not lost and for those who have procrastinated, but would still like to play golf in St. Andrews this year and include a guaranteed time on The Old Course, there are still times waiting to be snapped up. A little flexibility on your departure date is all that's needed. Remember, with the fast growing demand, there is no time like the present to make your golf dream come true.

The Royal & Ancient Clubhouse towering over the first tee.

If you are able to travel during the fall and winter months of October, November and December, limited times are still available by contacting Links Management directly. St. Andrews courses stay open and available for play on a year round basis and although ground frost may delay the opening by a few hours on occasion, last year The Old Course was only closed for bad weather for 7 days. The only real problem in traveling during the winter months is the shorter daylight hours, which prohibit any 36-hole days.

If you prefer to travel during the warm, long days of summer, there are still guaranteed times available, though not too many, during the prime golfing months of May, June, July and August. These are the last remaining hotel times -- guaranteed Old Course times that have been assigned to specific hotels, usually the smaller guesthouses. Packaged as a hotel stay with two rounds of golf, The Old Course included, the only requirement is that purchasers must stay in the hotel to which the Old Course time has been assigned.

Hotel times are among the most cost effective ways of playing everyone's favorite course, with the guarantee that you will definitely be playing the most revered layout in the world. It's an experience no golfer should be without.

For some ideas on how you can still play St. Andrews Old Course, with a starting time guaranteed, this summer, click here. Better act quickly, Old Course times are more precious than hens teeth!

© 2007 David Brice / Golf International Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Golf International -- Providers of quality golf travel arrangements since 1988.