St Andrews Old Course

Everyone knows that St Andrews is the home of golf, but few people realise that anyone can play on the Old Course. Although it lies beside the exclusive, all-male (female waiters are, unsurprisingly, allowed) Royal & Ancient Golf Club, it's a public course and not owned by the club. If you baulk at the green fees, stroll the Old Course in the evening instead.

The trust runs frequent guided walks of the Old Course; these take half an hour and will take you to famous landmarks like the Swilcan Bridge and the Road Hole bunker. If you play on a windy day, expect those scores to balloon: Nick Faldo famously stated that when it blows, 'even the seagulls walk'.

Advance bookings for the Old Course should be made to the Reservations Office, St Andrews Links Trust. You must reserve before 30 Jun the year before you wish to play, at least a year in advance. You also need to present a handicap certificate from your club. Getting a tee-off time is something of a lottery. Unless you book months in advance, the only chance you have of playing here is by entering a ballot at the caddie office (tel: 466666) before 14.00 on the day before you wish to play. Be warned that applications by ballot are normally heavily oversubscribed, and green fees are hefty.