Sit down, relax and drink in some….
Ginger Beer Golf Travel
Specialist planning tools & advice to turn your dreams of playing St Andrews Old Course into reality
THINK OF ME AS A STROKESAVER© IN YOUR POCKET. I CAN HELP YOU PLAN YOUR TRIP MAKING SURE NO DETAIL IS OVERLOOKED
Chris Toll, Ginger Beer Golf Travel
Who I am
Hi, I’m Chris Toll , Golf Travel Specialist and founder of Ginger Beer.
I have been working with golfers to plan their dream trips for over 20 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.
Ballot Buddy – Old Course
I am a champion of the single golfer.
I 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 you a single golfer and want to play St Andrews Old Course register on our BallotBuddy service and enter the dates you are coming to St Andrews.
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 waiting in line!
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 or those who need to plan a flexible itinerary around a ballot application.
For golfers who have failed in the Old Course ballot and now have an empty golf day to fill with a stellar substitute, or simply need to re-arrange your golf itineraries 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.
I have been providing travel planning advice to golfers for over 20 years
Chris Toll, ginger beer golf travel
Plan your golf trip of a lifetime
Put some ‘pop’ into your planning with Ginger Beer Golf Travel
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 over 18,000 Old Course tee times over the last 2 years.
For ANY date range, month, week or day I can share insights for:
Indepth research resources
I have written FREE, in-depth, data-rich reports to help you kick-start your Old Course trip planning process:
Chris who runs Ginger Beer Golf is very professional and 100% serious. He responds quickly and is very solution-oriented. We had to move on our trip three times due to Covid-19 and Chris solved this in a very good way. I can highly recommend Ginger Beer Golf for your next golf trip. We’ll use him again
Svein – Harald A, September 2021
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 2022/3 trip planning and Covid-19.
St Andrews – 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.
Updated for 2022/3 trip planning and Covid-19.
Reviews for my golf planning service
Chris did an outstanding job with the planning and implementation of our Scotland Golf Trip. He was recommended by a neighbor who also spoke very highly of Chris. He appears very well connected within the Scottish Golf Community to arrange a tee time at preferred courses including the Old Course. He also arranged a wonderful driver who together with Chris' planning made for a stress-free golf vacation. (I recommend getting a driver as a more economical and worry-free alternative to renting a van.) Chris detailed every component of our trip on paper and in a very handy app which made access to every detail of our schedule immediately accessible throughout the trip. I highly recommend Chris at Ginger Beer Golf Travel for a care-free Scottish golf vacation.
I am planning a complex golf trip for my upcoming retirement. Chris has been very helpful in providing me options to best assure that we gain access to the Old Course. Different options have been tossed back and forth and a solution has been figured out. Thank you, Chris for all of your help.
Mark
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.
john B, September 2021
Last Minute Tee Times
Failed to get on the Old Course and looking for ‘plan B’?
Try Last Minute Tee Times
A one-stop-shop to secure a last-minute tee time at the best courses in the St Andrews areand looking for ‘plan B’?
The best 25 Old Course alternatives including Major Championship and Open Qualifying venues and their tee time availability today, tomorrow and in 2 days time.
Click through to book directly with the course
Find an Old Course Ballot Partner
THERE MUST BE AT LEAST 2 GOLFERS ON AN OLD COURSE BALLOT APPLICATION.
DON’T WAIT IN LINE – GET YOURSELF A BALLOT BUDDY
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
chris toll, ginger beer golf travel
Ballot Buddy success November 2021, Brady D & Dustin M
Ballot Buddy Reviews
I had the fortune of traveling Scotland with friends and family recently, however, none were golfers! I figured I would be out of luck on playing the Old Course due to the ballot restriction of 2+ applicants - that is until I found Chris's website and the ballot buddy. Chris was extremely helpful and... See full review
A special day on the Old Course, with two great companions, all thanks to Ballot Buddy.
Ron V, October 2021
Golf in Spain
Valderrama and the Sotogrande area
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.
Think for a moment that in the course of a 7 night golf vacation you have the chance to play at venues which have hosted Ryder Cup, Volvo World Match Play Championships, PGA European Tour events and the Tour Qualifying School. Course designers like Robert Trent Jones Snr, Dave Thomas and more recently Cabell Robinson have shaped the local golfing landscape. Even Seve has left his mark on the design front.
WHETHER YOU WANT TO PLAY SERIOUS OR FUN GOLF ON YOUR VACATION, STAYING IN A VILLA, APARTMENT OR HOTEL, SOTOGRANDE HAS SOMETHING TO OFFER ALL TASTES AND BUDGETS, COMBINED WITH THE ENVIABLE SUNNY ANDALUCIAN CLIMATE.
chris toll, ginger beer golf travel
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.
Contact me
Have some questions? Get in touch.