St Andrews Ballot Buddy Service
Are you a single golfer and want to play St Andrews Old Course?
– Problem: Singles can’t enter the ballot on their own.
– So register on my Ballot Buddy service for just £10 and enter the dates you are coming to St Andrews.
– As and when there is a date match with another single player I will hook you up so you can make a ballot application together.
– Get lucky in the ballot? No more waiting in line!
don’t wait in line – get a ballot buddy!
REGISTER HERE
Current Ballot Buddy date match requests – view here:
How Ballot Buddy Works
Decide when you would like to play the Old Course via a ballot time.
Register for just £10 on my Ballot Buddy Service.
Submit up to 5 dates.
I will add them to a database of other Ballot Buddy golfers looking to team up.
If there is a date match I will hook you up.
You are now eligible to apply jointly as a 2, 3 or 4 ball for an Old Course ballot time.
Questions?
Do I need Ballot Buddy?
YES – if you are a single golfer without an advance guaranteed tee time.
WHY? Because there must be at least 2 golfers on an Old Course ballot application.
What if I score a date match?
As and when you get a date match with a second golfer (or more, up to 4 in total) I will connect you to your Ballot Buddy via email introduction.
What happens then?
It’s down to you and your Ballot Buddy from this point forward.
Submit a joint ballot application by 14:00 hrs, 2 days before you wish to play.
More than 4 golfers with a date match?
The first 4 golfers by registration date will be grouped together. Then the next 4, and so on.
No match or no success in the ballot?
You can still use the ‘walk up’ option and wait in line on your chosen day of play.
Chances of play that day are reliant entirely on gaps on the draw sheet and your place in the line.
For the answer to more of your queries for Ballot Buddy and for the Old Course Ballot see Frequently Asked Questions
“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
Read more about your chances of play using the walk up option in my in-depth report on the Single Golfer at St Andrews
Ballot Buddy success STATS
2019
Ballot Buddy launched
350 requests
80% date match rate
50ROUNDS PLAYED ON THE OLD COURSE
2020
57% date match rate
11ROUNDS PLAYED ON THE OLD COURSE
** DESPITE Covid travel restrictions & course closures
2021
200+ requests from 80 golfers
25% date match rate
26 ROUNDS PLAYED ON THE OLD COURSE
** DESPITE Covid restrictions
2022
166 dates requested
150 date matches
38 golfers played the Old Course!
** DESPITE course closure for the Open and pent up demand caused by COVID
2023
Registration is open and active
Over 400 golfers have registered more than 160 dates with Ballot Buddy
130+ golfers have already found a Ballot Buddy and can therefore enter the ballot
23 golfers (so far) can tick ‘Playing The Old Course’ off their bucket list
Don’t miss out!
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 prompt in email help even prior to me applying for the ballot buddy. I was only available for 1 day of my trip, and I got matched immediately. Our group grew to a full 4-ball after a short period of time and, after application (which Chris helpfully reminds you of via automated emails), we were selected to play the Old Course! It was a dream come true and something that would never have happened without the Ballot Buddy service. The level of help and interaction you get for such a low cost is amazing – I recommend to anyone that doesn’t have playing partners for their trip. Thank you again, Chris and Gingerbeer Golf, for the great experience and helping me check a bucket list item off!
Adam L, April 2023

The Ballot Buddy experience was incredible. Thanks to Chris, I was paired with a group each day I was hoping to play. And to my surprise, was selected twice! It’s an incredible experience, and the Ballot Buddy helped remove some of the anxiety of arranging a group, but also kept me from having to wake up in the middle of the night to sign up as a single.
I highly recommend Ballot Buddy.
Thanks, Chris!Dennis H, April 2023

reviews
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
See Ballot Buddy in action:
A Ballot Buddy four ball!

May 2022
This brings me much joy. 4 guys from the US who met each other for the first time at 7:30. 4 single golfers who wanted that chance to play the Old Course without having to get up at stupid o’clock to join a queue and hope for the best.
Chris Toll, Ginger Beer Golf Travel
Bill, George, Todd and Matt – congrats guys, I hope you had a great round together!
All 4 joined my Ballot Buddy service I hooked them up, and this is my first all-Ballot Buddy 4-ball to get a tee time in the ballot.
“We had a fantastic day at St. Andrews. Perfect conditions and a very enjoyable round with Alex and Hamish and caddie Jim.
Bryan Leahy, April 2022
For me, the Ballot Buddy service was great as I knew on Thursday evening that I had a guaranteed tee-time for Saturday lunchtime and it allowed me to plan my weekend around that.

My tee shot on 18 – it stayed in bounds by about two feet! 😊
Without a successful ballot, I would’ve ended up in the singles queue at all hours of the morning with no guarantee of success, or scrambling around trying to get out on a neighbouring course. This peace of mind is well worth 10 pounds in my opinion.
Many thanks for your help again Chris – I’m now 2 for 2 using Ballot Buddy service!