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
See current date match requests:

How Ballot Buddy Works
“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
Decide when you would like to play the Old Course via a ballot time.
Register up to 5 dates 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.
Registration is open and active
Over 220 Old Course ballot applications have been made possible by Ballot Buddy so far in 2023
Don’t miss out!
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 next?
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 failed 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.
– At a glance review tee time availability today, tomorrow and in 2 days for over 20 of the best local courses using Last Minute Tee times
I answer more of your queries for Ballot Buddy and the Old Course Ballot – see Frequently Asked Questions
Jay, a single golfer, played the Old Course, thanks to Ballot Buddy, and then used Last Minute Tee Times to play Crail – a local ‘gem’ where tee times are scarce.

Jay N August 2023, USA
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!
Ballot Buddy HISTORY & success
2019
Ballot Buddy launched
350 requests
80% date match rate
50 ROUNDS PLAYED ON THE OLD COURSE
2020
57% date match rate
11 ROUNDS 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
Read more about your chances of play using the walk up option in my in-depth report on the Single Golfer at St Andrews
reviews
Read what some of our clients have to say about their Ballot Buddy experience this year on Facebook:

Adam L April 2023
“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! “

Dennis H April 2023, USA
“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!“
See Ballot Buddy in action:
A four ball first for Ballot Buddy!

May 2022
All 4 joined my Ballot Buddy service I hooked them up, and this was my first all-Ballot Buddy 4-ball to get a tee time in the ballot.