ginger beer golf travel.
Turn your dreams of playing St Andrews Old Course into reality.
Golf Travel Specialist
Planning Tools
Unique services
“Think of me as a Strokesaver© in your pocket. I can help you plan your trip making sure no detail is overlooked.”
Who I am
Hi, I’m Chris Toll , Golf Travel Specialist and founder of Ginger Beer Golf Travel
I have been working with golfers to plan their dream trips for over 25 years now. For much of that time I lived in and around St Andrews where I also owned and provided 5 star golfer accommodation.
In an increasingly competitive space I help source the best courses for your game, tee times, including the golden ticket of an Old Course tee time, transport and accommodation. My niche is personal, dedicated service and going the extra mile for my clients.
What I do
Planning Specialist
St Andrews, Scotland, or Valderrama and the sunny fairways of Sotogrande, Spain
I am here to help you plan your path to a stress-free, memorable golf trip. I can build the right itinerary, avoiding all the common planning pitfalls along the way.
If you go the DIY route, I am here as your back-up resource, with data-driven tips and advice.
Old Course Ballot Buddy
I am a champion of the single golfer and understand the difficulty for singles to source tee times and the inconvenience of queuing up overnight for a chance to play on the Old Course
Which is how my unique Ballot Buddy service was conceived – a date-matching service to help you find a partner for an Old Course ballot application.
If there is a date match with another single player I will hook you up. As a 2 ball you can now enter the ballot for a tee time. No more Daily Draw!
Last Minute Tee Times
I am excited about a new service
A one-stop-shop of last minute tee times for the best courses in and around St Andrews
Check last minute tee times for today, tomorrow and in 2 days time for 25 or so of the best courses in and around St Andrews. Book with the course directly.
Ideal for those who have failed in the Old Course ballot, need to plan a flexible itinerary around a ballot application, or simply need to re-arrange your tee times around a ballot friendly itinerary.
This service is for you.
Unique Research
As well as being a big fan of the game of golf I am also a bit of a numbers geek
So I have produced in-depth reports and analyses that you won’t have seen anywhere else to help with your trip plans. I reveal stats for St Andrews Old Course ballot success as well as single slots available for ‘walk up’ golfers waiting in line.
I also compare the Old Course with other top flight courses in the area – whether you are an expert or average golfer, playing off men’s or ladies’ tees. I’ve done a similar analysis for courses around Valderrama in Spain, my other area of interest and expertise.
Golf Trip Planning
Plan your golf trip of a lifetime
How I can help you with your St Andrews golf trip
25 years of experience and expertise
I offer impartial help and advice to secure a guaranteed St Andrews Old Course tee time, whether you trip is bucket-list or budget-oriented.
Planning a DIY trip?
I’ve analysed around 60,000 Old Course tee times over the last 6 years.
For ANY date range, month, week or day I can share insights for:
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“Once again (six or seven years and counting!), Chris delivered a brilliant itinerary and stellar golf holiday in NW England. We played six amazing courses, including two Open rota championship tracks. Perfect coordination, seamless planning, expert advice, and easy communication…the hallmarks of Ginger Beer Golf Travel.”
Review originally posted on WeTravel
William T
June 2026
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“Ginger Beer Golf Travel helped organize our entire trip to Scotland for 10 days. This was for 2 brothers and their sons and it was an amazing trip. The helped us with all tee times (this is a puzzle), travel arrangements and lodging, and were incredibly helpful and responsive. Can’t say enough about them and highly recommend their services!”
Review originally posted on WeTravel
David W
September 2025
In-depth research
I have written FREE, in-depth, data-rich reports to help you kick-start your Old Course trip planning process.
Getting an Old Course tee time
If the steps to an Old Course tee time appear difficult and unclear, I lift the haar and set out 4 ways (with a bonus 5th option) to get you walking the most famous fairway in golf.
Updated for 2024/5 trip planning.
Golf trip planning strategies
Using data from previous years, I guide you through when to travel and how long to stay in St Andrews to maximise your chance of playing the Old Course via the ballot – the best-value ticket in the whole of golf.
Reviews for my golf planning service
My family had an awesome trip to Scotland. This trip was planned at the very last minute. Less than one month before, I wrote to about 10 golf tour operators asking about getting a tee time on the Old Course for August. Knowing how hard it is to arrange tee times on the Old Course, I wasn't sure that this was possible. My son is going to play D1 golf at Brown University, and I thought it was important that he play the Old Course before college. Miraculously, Chris Toll delivered, and then some. Chris got us tee times on the Old Course, Kings Barns, Dumbarnie, Turnberry, Prestwick, and Western Gailes. He booked us into the Old Course Hotel and Turnberry. He arranged for all of our transfers. He is very knowledgeable. I heartily recommend Ginger Beer Golf Travel. A+
Review originally posted on WeTravel
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“Chris at Ginger Beer is a consummate professional. Responsive, thoughtful and always puts the client first. He went above and beyond in planning our golf trip to Scotland. Details and execution matter, and Chris excels.”
“Our 2nd trip using Chris at Ginger Beer Golf. Knowledgeable, attention to details, no surprises, ultra responsive. Chris is a true professional. Trip was fantastic, played 6 Open courses. Transportation was always early, and got us to where we needed to be with time to spare.”
John B
September 2021 & 2024
Last Minute Tee Times
Your one-stop-shop to secure a last-minute tee time at the best courses in the St Andrews area
Failed to get on the Old Course and looking for ‘plan B’?
Try Last Minute Tee Times
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“Just wanted to write a note and say THANK YOU for your awesome service.
I successfully matched 1/3 entries for the Old Course and had an incredible time with people from Australia, Canada, and Germany, wow.
On the third and final day, after being turned away at Jubilee and New because of member play due to perfect weather, I sat on a bench outside the Links Clubhouse, and used your last minute tee times service and found a surprise availability at Crail Balcomie, where I’ve always wanted to play, and which has been booked solid for weeks. Sunset golf … what could be better!”
Jay N
August 2023
Find an Old Course Ballot Partner
There must be at least 2 golfers to enter the Old Course Ballot. Single golfers, don’t miss out – get yourself a Ballot Buddy!
BallotBuddy has already helped 64 golfers play the Old Course this year!
Ballot Buddy success, Brady D & Dustin M
“My unique simple-to-use Ballot Buddy service helps you find an Old Course ballot partner so you and your fellow golfer are eligible to submit an Old course ballot application together.”
Ballot Buddy success, Stephan B
Reviews for my Ballot Buddy service
Thanks to your amazing Ballot Buddy Match, I got to play the Old Course last Friday at 12:00 in perfect weather. After being drawn on Wednesday evening, I flew out of Zurich early Thursday morning and then took the bus to St. Andrews. It was a special experience to play the course with caddies and golfers... See full review
I would like to congratulate Ballot Buddy on a terrific service. This was my first opportunity to use the system on my recent trip to St.Andrews. It was a complete success. I listed 4 possible dates to enter the Ballot and was linked up with some really terrific guys. I was lucky enough to win 3 tee... See full review
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“Registration for the Buddy Ballot was simple, easy and, best of all, made my dream of playing the Old Course come true! It was a day I will never forget, with new friends that I will also never forget. I have already and will continue to recommend the Buddy Ballot to everyone I know looking to play the Old Course!”
Graham T
Oct 2025
Golf in Spain & Portugal
Valderrama and Sotogrande, Spain & Lisbon area of Portugal
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“I had the pleasure of working with Chris to design and book a golf vacation in the south of Spain. Sotogrande to be exact. I had a good idea of where I wanted to stay and play, but had never been before. Chris was enormously helpful in answering all of my questions, giving detailed advice and booking everything we needed. He even picked up the phone and called me so I could be sure he was legit. LOL. Everything went according to plan and the App he provided was enormously helpful for keeping track of everything. I would highly recommend him. He is very service oriented and a pleasure to work with. I hope to be able to book with him again soon. Thanks Chris.”
Sharon N
April 2025
With Valderrama at centre stage, the Sotogrande area at the western end of the Costa del Sol now plays host to a collection of the finest golf courses in Spain. Perhaps in all of Europe, only St Andrews can claim to rival such a concentration and variety of fine courses.
“Whether you want to play serious or fun golf, stay in a villa apartment or hotel, Sotogrande has something to offer all tastes and budgets, combined with the enviable sunny Andalusian climate.”
Golfer Resources
Like to do your own trip research? I can help with that
Use my extensive research reports where I have compared and contrasted the top courses in and around St Andrews and pored over 1000’s of Old Course tee times to help you make the best decisions about your golf trip.
How can you get a tee time on the Old Course?
Read my in-depth guide to maximising your chances of securing an Old Course tee time.
How to plan your golf trip to St Andrews
Everything you need to know about planning your trip to St Andrews.
How do other courses compare to the Old Course?
Compare the difficulty of 30 courses in the area and see what you might expect to score.
Old Course Ballot
What are your chances and how you can improve the odds.
Failed in the ballot?
How to maximise your chances of play as a single golfer.
Terminology
Explanation of terms used in measuring course difficulty.
Golf Course Reviews
Valderrama and the top courses in Sotogrande.
Sotogrande score predictor
What are you likely to score on Valderrama and how do the other courses compare?
How do other courses compare to Valderrama?
How difficult is it to play and how do other Sotogrande courses compare?
Contact me
Have some questions? Get in touch