From 11 to 18 July 2027, The Open returns to St Andrews for its 31st staging on the Old Course. For golfers travelling to Scotland, the week brings championship golf together with the chance to play elsewhere in Fife.
In this article, we cover the Open week schedule, official ticket and hospitality routes, what makes St Andrews different, and one suggested way to fit your own golf around it.
Key Takeaways
- The 155th Open returns to the Old Course from 11 to 18 July 2027, marking St Andrews' 31st staging.
- Open week starts with practice and special events before four championship rounds take over from Thursday through Sunday's final round.
- Official tickets, resale, Ticket Plus, accommodation, camping, and hospitality should be checked directly through The Open's authorised channels.
- The Old Course stands apart through shared greens, deep bunkers, strategic angles, famous closing holes, and its championship character.
- Golfers can use the early days for rounds across Fife, then keep Thursday through Sunday free for The Open itself.
The Open Returns to the Old Course
The 155th Open will be played on the Old Course at St Andrews from 11 to 18 July 2027, with championship rounds running from 15 to 18 July. The championship returns to Fife with its venue, dates, and place on the golf calendar firmly confirmed.
St Andrews will stage The Open for the 31st time, extending a hosting record that no other venue matches. The Old Course first hosted the Championship in 1873, when Tom Kidd won the first Open played over an 18-hole course.
The 2027 date also sits within The Open's confirmed venue sequence. Royal Birkdale hosted The 154th Open in 2026. St Andrews follows in 2027, while Royal Lytham & St Annes is scheduled to stage The 156th Open from 30 July to 6 August 2028.
Work towards the field is already under way. Qualification pathways for St Andrews have been published, and a number of players are already exempt through previous Open victories, recent major championships, leading finishes, tour rankings, and other established categories that will continue to shape the field through 2027 itself.
Final Qualifying will be held at Gailes Links, Prince's, Burnham & Berrow, and West Lancashire on 29 June 2027. Those four courses will offer one of the final routes into The 155th Open, before the completed field gathers at St Andrews for championship week in July 2027.
What to Expect During Open Week at St Andrews
Open week at St Andrews builds gradually before the championship begins. The early days give spectators a closer look at practice and special events around the Old Course, before attention turns fully to four days of competitive golf from Thursday through Sunday.
The confirmed programme for The 155th Open runs as follows:
- 11 July 2027 (Sunday). Open week begins with practice activity on the Old Course. Gates open at 9 AM, giving spectators an early opportunity to watch players becoming familiar with the links before competitive play begins.
- 12 July 2027 (Monday). The Last-Chance Qualifier brings 12 players to St Andrews to compete for the final available place in The 155th Open field, adding competitive golf to the programme several days before the opening round.
- 13 July 2027 (Tuesday). The Heroes Classic - Champion Edition brings former Open champions and special guests together in teams over the 1st, 2nd, 17th, and 18th holes of the Old Course.
- 14 July 2027 (Wednesday). The final practice day gives the championship field one last opportunity to prepare on the Old Course. For spectators, it offers a chance to watch players study the links before every shot begins to count.
- 15 July 2027 (Thursday). The first round of The 155th Open begins, with the full championship field starting its pursuit of the Claret Jug. Estimated playing hours run from 6:35 AM until 8:30 PM.
- 16 July 2027 (Friday). The second round continues from early morning into the evening, with another estimated 6:35 AM to 8:30 PM playing window before the championship moves into its weekend stages.
- 17 July 2027 (Saturday). The third round begins the championship weekend, with estimated play running from 8 AM to 7 PM as the leading contenders position themselves for Sunday's final round.
- 18 July 2027 (Sunday). The final round brings Open week to its conclusion at the Old Course. Play is estimated between 8 AM and 7 PM, ending with the crowning of the Champion Golfer of the Year at St Andrews.
Tickets and Hospitality for The 155th Open
The public Ticket Ballot for The 155th Open has closed, but there are still official routes for golfers planning to attend St Andrews in 2027. The best option will depend on whether entry alone is the priority or whether accommodation and a more comfortable day at the course also matter.
The official options include:
- Ticket Resale Platform. The R&A plans to open its official resale platform in 2027. Eligible unwanted tickets will be offered to other One Club members, providing the safest route for golfers who missed the original ballot.
- Ticket Plus. This combines course entry with access to Links, a private spectator area with undercover and outdoor seating, viewing platforms, private toilets, a food voucher, and its own bar. Championship Days are currently sold out, although a waiting list is available.
- Official Hospitality Experiences. Several hospitality levels are offered around the Old Course, with official entry alongside different combinations of viewing areas, dining, drinks, and private facilities. Prices and availability vary by day and experience.
- Official Tickets & Accommodation. These packages combine official Open tickets with hotel accommodation and transfers. They can be particularly useful for international visitors who would rather arrange the main parts of their Open stay together.
- Tickets & Camping. The Open Camping Village provides another official ticket-inclusive option within walking distance of the course. It suits visitors who place proximity to the course above a conventional hotel stay.
What Makes The Open at St Andrews Different
The Old Course looks generous from the tee, but its width can be deceptive. Several holes reward a demanding line because the safer side can leave a poorer angle into the green. At Open level, position matters as much as distance.
The Old Course will present a slightly different championship test in 2027. The planned changes increase its championship yardage to 7,445 yards, with new or extended championship tees, bunker adjustments, and the restoration of a strategic playing route on the 16th.
Seven double greens give St Andrews a scale few championship venues can match. Outward and inward holes share enormous putting surfaces, so an approach may finish a long way from the correct flag. Their contours demand careful pace and distance control, while the preferred angle into each green also matters.
Hazards such as Hell Bunker, the Principal's Nose, and the Road Hole Bunker can punish the wrong line heavily, so avoiding sand influences decisions well before a player reaches the green.
The 17th shows how unusual the Old Course can be. Players drive over part of the Old Course Hotel before facing a shallow green protected by the Road Hole Bunker, the road, and the stone wall beyond. Small misses can leave awkward recovery choices.
The 18th changes the feel again. Players cross the Swilcan Bridge before approaching a huge final green beside the town, with the Valley of Sin waiting short.
A Suggested Golf Itinerary Around The 155th Open
If you are not planning to spend every practice day at the Old Course, the first half of Open week leaves room to play across the wider St Andrews golf region. The aim is to vary the golf, keep transfers sensible, and reach Thursday ready for the championship.
Sunday, 11 July: Arrive and Settle into Fife
Sunday is best kept flexible after travel, especially for golfers arriving from farther afield. Practice is already under way at the Old Course, so there is no reason to force a long day before you have properly settled into Fife.
Leven Links
If you arrive early enough to play, Leven Links is a practical first round. Its 2027 visitor schedule specifically covers 9 to 20 July, with Open-period tee times available from 6:30 AM. The traditional links setting gives you a proper Fife start without sending you far from St Andrews.
The Castle Course is another attractive option if suitable visitor times are available that day. It keeps you close to St Andrews while offering a different setting from the Old Course, making it useful for golfers who would rather begin the week nearer their base.
If neither round fits your arrival time, leave the clubs packed and watch Sunday practice instead. After a long journey, that may be the better start before three stronger playing opportunities across the next few days.
Monday, 12 July: Play Along the Largo Bay Coast
Monday is the first day we would confidently build around your own round. The Last-Chance Qualifier is taking place at St Andrews, but unless seeing that event matters to you, the day is better used to experience another part of Fife's golf landscape.
Dumbarnie Links
Dumbarnie Links is our preferred Monday choice. The official 2027 Open experience programme includes Dumbarnie among its tee-time courses, while its position on the Largo Bay coast gives you a modern links contrast within easy reach of St Andrews.
Kingsbarns is the alternative if Dumbarnie does not fit your plans. It sits seven miles from St Andrews and has already published a separate rate for 12 to 20 July 2027, reflecting the exceptional demand expected around championship week and making advance planning particularly important.
If the Last-Chance Qualifier appeals more, keep Monday for St Andrews and shift your own golf elsewhere. Early Open week gives you enough flexibility to avoid squeezing both into one day unnecessarily during a busy week.
Tuesday, 13 July: Add Another Fife Links
Tuesday is another natural golf day if the Heroes Classic is not essential to your plans. We would move south-west towards Lundin rather than repeat Monday's part of the coast, giving the itinerary a little more variety.
Lundin Golf Club
Lundin is particularly straightforward for 2027. Visitor bookings are already open for 10 to 20 July, with tee times from 7:30 AM to 6:30 PM.
Crail Golfing Society is a strong alternative if you would rather head east. Both Balcomie Links and Craighead Links have special visitor arrangements for 12 to 19 July 2027, giving you two distinct courses from one base during Open week.
The Heroes Classic remains a worthwhile alternative to playing. Its four-hole format uses the 1st, 2nd, 17th, and 18th holes of the Old Course, so golfers keen to see former Open champions can make Tuesday a shorter spectator day instead.
Wednesday, 14 July: Keep the Final Practice Day Flexible
Wednesday should be the most flexible day of the first half of the week. Final practice is taking place at the Old Course, and four championship rounds follow immediately afterwards, so this is where we would resist adding golf simply because another tee time can be found.
St Andrews Links (Castle Course)
If you still want to play, keep the round close to St Andrews. The New Course, Jubilee Course, Castle Course, or another St Andrews Links option fits the geography well, but 2027 Open-week visitor access should be confirmed before any of them becomes a fixed part of the itinerary.
You could also make Wednesday a rest day after several rounds of your own. A quieter afternoon in St Andrews leaves you fresher for Thursday, when the itinerary becomes four consecutive championship days and the pace changes completely.
Thursday, 15 July: Attend the First Round
Thursday is where our own golf recommendations stop. If you have tickets for all four championship days, we would keep Thursday through Sunday clear for The Open and make the most of the championship from the opening round onwards.
Gates open at 6 AM, with play estimated from 6:35 AM to 8:30 PM. Arrive early, choose a viewing position, then move around the Old Course as the field spreads out. The opening round is your first chance to compare how every player handles St Andrews under championship pressure.
Friday, 16 July: Stay for the Second Round
Friday brings the second round and another full day on the Old Course. Play starts again at 6:35 AM and is expected to continue until 8:30 PM, while the cut adds pressure as players fight to remain in the championship.
Spend part of Friday watching golfers around the cut line instead of focusing only on the leading names. With the full field active for much of the day, meaningful golf continues across the Old Course before the weekend field is reduced and the championship begins to tighten.
Saturday, 17 July: Follow the Third Round
Saturday begins the championship weekend, with gates opening at 7 AM and play estimated from 8 AM to 7 PM. The smaller field makes the shape of the championship easier to follow as the leading groups move through St Andrews.
Stay in one viewing area for longer spells rather than trying to cover the entire course. With fewer groups, you can watch several contenders come through, then reposition later as the leaders approach the closing stretch.
Sunday, 18 July: Finish with the Final Round
Sunday is the day to stay with the championship from start to finish. Gates open at 7 AM, with play expected from 8 AM to 7 PM, so there is time to settle in, follow the final pairings, and watch the title take shape.
By the afternoon, attention narrows naturally towards the leaders and the closing holes. Rather than trying to move constantly around the Old Course, choose where you want to be for the final stretch and give yourself time to stay there until the champion is decided.
Experience St Andrews During The 155th Open
The 155th Open gives golfers a rare reason to shape an entire week around St Andrews. Play your own rounds during the early part of Open week, then leave Thursday through Sunday free for the championship itself.
For visitors coming from North America, Australia, or elsewhere overseas, arriving early also gives the trip some breathing room. There is time to settle in, play well, and be ready for Thursday.
For one July week, St Andrews will again hold golf's attention from first tee to final putt.
If a new golf experience is on your mind, start the conversation with Kinfern. We can develop your ideas into a considered itinerary, bringing together the golf, accommodation, transfers, and local details into one well-planned experience.