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Things to Know

Caddies

Caddies can be requested in advance at most Scottish golf courses. A request does not guarantee that a caddy will be available but mostly all endeavours will be made to fulfil each request. Caddies are not permitted to double bag at most Scottish courses. More...


Base Caddy fees range from £35 - £45 and the generally acceptable gratuity for a job well done is a further £15 per round. You should therefore budget £50 - £60 per round for caddies.

We recommend that tour organisers and the lead golfer coordinate the caddy requests for each group and ensure that this information is passed onto On Course Golf, St. Andrews prior to arrival in Scotland so that requests may be lodged on your behalf.

Once requested the cancellation of caddy services cannot be made known to us less than 48 hours prior to play and payment of the base fee will be required. This is because many courses make special arrangements to ensure caddies are available for you, whereby such arrangements give rise to a contract between the golf club and the caddy.


CELL PHONES and BLACKBERRY

If you do not regularly travel overseas, it is possible that your cell phone and Blackberry subscription contracts (or plans) may NOT include international ROAMING and DATA (receipt of emails anywhere in the World). If in doubt check with your phone company...an additional premium may be charged for international roaming and data.


Clothing

We recommend that you bring the following essential clothing; More...
  • Two pairs of golf shoes (soft spikes are commonly worn in Scotland)
  • Light weight, good quality wet weather gear
  • Polo shirts or shirts with structured collars
  • Casual trousers...chinos and other cotton makes are acceptable...jeans are NOT acceptable in golf clubs
  • A good pair of shoes....trainers, joggers deck shoes, and sandals are NOT acceptable for entry to golf clubs
  • Thin layers that may be removed whilst on the golf course are advisable
  • Sweater/s & windcheaters (long & short sleeved).


Currency

Currency is Great British Pounds (GBP) Sterling and all payments in Scotland will be required in pounds. The Royal Bank of Scotland automatic teller machines cater for most credit and debit cards issued throughout Europe and the USA that are accessed/operated by a four digit pin code. This is by far the most efficient way to access money in Scotland although such access may be restricted to £200 GBP per day. More...

With most tours arriving on Saturday or Sunday, and with frequent bank holidays on Mondays during the summer season, it may not be possible to access full banking facilities for withdrawls until Tuesday and therefore, should you not have a pin operated credit or debit card, you should bring sufficient GBP with you to cover the cost of caddies and other expenses for the first few days of your tour. GBP notes may be ordered in advance from your bank. Exchanges may be made at the UK airports on arrival at more unattractive rates of exchange than you may find at banks. Mastercard and Visa are widely accepted in Scotland. AMEX is less widely accepted.

US Dollars and other currencies are not generally accepted in Scotland.


ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES

Standard mains voltage in Scotland and the UK is 220 volts.

Many NOTEBOOK computers, CELL PHONES and SHAVERS will "normally" charge without the requirement for a voltage converter, however, a USA to UK power adaptor (plug) will be required. You should check to ensure that this is the case with your particular appliance.

To be on the safe side a voltage converter with a USA to UK power adaptor is recommended. These are available at most electrical retail outlets and at airports.


Flight Arrivals & Departures

Always carry this number with you +44 (0)780 8840100

• Edinburgh Airport - All International Flight Arrivals More...
Our drivers will normally meet you as you exit the secure Customs area. Proceed to the International Flight Arrivals area...we will meet you there. In the event that you have not been met by our driver, proceed thru the terminal building following the signs to Domestic Arrivals and exit the terminal building at the last exit on the right. Proceed directly ahead, crossing the zebra pedestrian crossing and through the covered walkway to the Coach Park. All of our vehicles carry the On Course Golf, St. Andrews logos.

• Edinburgh Airport - Domestic Flight Arrivals More...
Proceed through the arrivals lounge into the baggage carousel area. Those who have not cleared customs in London or a European EC port of entry should collect their luggage from Carousel 6 at the far end of the terminal. Those who have cleared UK or EC Customs should check the monitors for the appropriate luggage carousel. In the event that you have not been met please exit the terminal through the nearest exit adjacent to the luggage carousels and proceed directly ahead, crossing the zebra pedestrian crossing and through the covered walkway to the Coach Park. All of our vehicles carry the On Course Golf, St. Andrews logos.

• Glasgow Airport
International Flight Arrivals - Direct international flights into Glasgow More...
Collect your baggage and proceed to clear customs. As you proceed into the arrivals lounge our driver will meet you. In the event that you have not been met by our driver, please proceed through the nearest exit and turn immediately right thru the covered walkway. You will see the buses lined up in Bute Road which runs immediately parallel to the terminal building. All of our vehicles carry the On Course Golf, St. Andrews logos.

• Glasgow Airport - Domestic Flight Arrivals More...
If your journey commenced outside the UK but you are on a code share UK Domestic flight from a UK port into Glasgow proceed to the luggage carousels at the far end of the terminal. Our driver will meet you here.
In the event that you have not been met by our driver proceed through the terminal to the opposite end following the signs to International Arrivals then exit the terminal building. On exit turn immediately right thru the covered walkway. You will see the buses lined up in Bute Road which runs immediately parallel to the terminal building. All of our vehicles carry the On Course Golf, St. Andrews logos.
In the event of unforeseen circumstances, flight delays, rescheduling etc; please phone +44 (0)780 884 0100 as soon as possible to reschedule airport pickups. If unattended, leave your name and cell phone contact number and we will return your call.


Gratuities

We are often asked about the local custom in relation to service gratuities...tipping. The following are what we regard as normal expectations for good service throughout our hospitality and tourism sector. Please remember that gratuities are service based and the recommended guideline below is for good quality service. More...

Caddies -Base fee plus £15 for a job well done
Hotel Porters -£2 per bag
Restaurants -10-15% (all vat and taxes are included in restaurant checks)
Bars -Where a tab is run for you 10-15%. Tipping is not expected where you pay as you go.
Drivers -For our 7-8 day private driver programmes, £50 per person at conclusion of your tour


Handicap Requirements & Cards

A valid handicap card is a mandatory requirement for play on many of our courses in Scotland including St. Andrews Old Course and play may be refused in the absence of proof of handicap. Please ensure that you bring your handicap card.......we recommend that you carry it in your wallet or golf bag at all times. More...

GOLF COURSEHANDICAP REQUIREMENTSGOLF COURSEHANDICAP REQUIREMENTS
East - FifeNorth - Dornoch
St. Andrews Old CourseMen 24 Ladies 36Royal DornochMen 24 Ladies 39
St. Andrews New CourseNSRBroraNSR
St. Andrews Jubilee CourseNSRGolspieNSR
KingsbarnsHandicap Card RequiredTainNSR
Lundin LinksHandicap Card RequiredCentral
Crail BalcomieHandicap Card RequiredGleneagles KingsNSR
ScotscraigHandicap Card RequiredGleneagles QueensNSR
The Dukes CourseHandicap Card RequiredGleneagles PGAHandicap Card Required
St. Andrews Bay DevlinHandicap Card RequiredEast Lothian via Edinburgh
East - AngusNorth BerwickMen 24 Ladies 34
CarnoustieMen 28 Ladies 36Gullane #1 & 2Men 24 Ladies 30
MonifiethHandicap Card RequiredDunbarHandicap Card Required
MontroseHandicap Card RequiredWest - Ayrshire
NortheastRoyal TroonMen 20 Ladies 30
Royal AberdeenMen 24 Ladies 24Troon PortlandNSR
Cruden BayHandicap Card RequiredWestern GailesHandicap Card Required
(Ladies to be
accompanied by male)
North - Nairn via Inverness
Nairn WestMen 28 Ladies 36Prestwick OldMen 24 Ladies 28
Nairn DunbarNSRSouthern GailesHandicap Card Required
Old MorayHandicap Card RequiredSouth West - Ayrshire
Turnberry AilsaNSR
Turnberry KintyreNSR
NSR = No stipulated handicap requirement


How to Book

Our Customer communications are second to none. We are members of Visit Scotland and the Confederation of Passenger Transport and assure you of our best service and personal attention to your holiday detail. Please remember that when you book with On Course Golf, St. Andrews you do so in the knowledge that we personally take responsibility for the operation of your holiday program to ensure delivery to the highest standards possible.
  1. Please complete the online "Quote" form to tell us your Scotland golf holiday preferences OR simply "Contact Us" by email with appropriate information.
  2. We will respond within 48 hours with a draft proposal clearly stipulating all inclusions, conditions and relevant pricing. Please notify any amendments or additional inclusions.
  3. Upon your written agreement and acceptance of our Terms and Conditions we will proceed to make all golf courses, accommodations and transportation reservations on your behalf and issue a confirmed schedule with our invoice for the appropriate deposit requirement. (This will vary from 35-45% of the total tour cost according to your specific schedule and those advance payments we will need to make to suppliers to secure your reservations)
  4. Final payment will be called for by invoice 60 days prior to departure with final schedules issued at the time of receipt.

PAYMENT METHODS


We accept the following payment methods via the Royal Bank of Scotland:


TAX on PURCHASES - REFUNDS!

Overseas visitors can receive a refund for the VAT (tax) paid on the purchase of retail goods under the VAT Retail Export Scheme. The scheme is voluntary and not all shops operate it.

When making purchases you will need to produce your passport and shopkeepers that participate in the scheme will issue refund form. At the airport you must take the goods, till receipts and refund forms to the Customs desk and complete a refund request. Till receipts alone are not sufficient so where it is intended to claim for items in hold luggage refunds should be sought before checking in. Refunds can be made in cash.

Full details of the Scheme can be found at www.hmrc.gov.uk VAT Notice 704 Retail Exports.


Transportation

Our transportation is sold to the customer on a "whole of group" basis where the customer is deemed to have hired one vehicle and one driver (unless otherwise specified) for exclusive use by the customer "on a group basis". More...

In respect to arrivals and departures, the party (or group) should arrive together and travel as a group. Understanding that this is not always possible, On Course Golf, St. Andrews Ltd; undertakes as part of its "group transportation reservation policy" to provide a maximum 2 hour window for arrivals and departures. If therefore, the main body of the party arrives at say 0930 our drivers will wait till 1130 to meet passengers off other connecting flights into the same airport. Any arrivals outside this period, or where individual arrivals are at other UK ports of entry, these customers will need to make alternative transportation arrangements at their own cost to join the tour. Customers arriving ahead of the main party should make arrangements to meet with drivers in the airport arrivals lounges. We regret it is not possible to pick up passengers individually from hotels etc;


Transportation and The Law - Your Safety Comes First!

On Course Golf, St. Andrews is fully Operator Licenced approved by the appropriate UK licencing authorities and carries all appropriate commercial insurances that include extensive personal passenger liability. More...

Our daily services are limited only by UK Driver Hours Rules at Law. These laws that are intended for your safety, provide for a cap on driving hours within any 24 hour period, strict rest breaks, a maximum length of day for drivers and minimum hours off duty between working shifts.
If you are planning a busy schedule for your golf vacation please discuss specific requirements with us and we will provide advice and assistance to ensure compliance.


WIRELESS

Wireless is available widely throughout Scotland and the UK although not all hotels and accommodations will necessarily have wireless connectivity. In Resort hotels a small charge may be applied for connectivity. Our tour managers are familiar with the locations throughout Scotland and the UK where free wireless connections are available.....please ask.

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