St Andrews Links Trust has announced a research project to review Golf House’s commercial tee time plan with a view to providing a program to support the long-term health of the Scottish golf tourism economy and to reinvest in the prestigious St Andrews course.
A recent study by Sheffield Hallam University shows that the golf tourism industry in St Andrews Links has an impact on Scotland’s economy every year and supports more than 4,300 jobs nationwide.
Much of this impact is driven by the homes of the golf commercial tee time program, in which tee time is sold through authorized travel agencies and packaged on a wider itinerary in Scotland and beyond.
The current commercial tee time plan was launched in 2018 to generate revenue, improve customer data and experience and support the wider Scottish golf tourism industry.
Professional agencies will support Links Trust in conducting a review of the program to gain a clear understanding of the current market and provide any advice for the future.
The purpose of this work is to ensure that Links trust and authorized providers are aligned with the organization’s long-term ambitions and continue to provide world-class services to visit golfers and support the golf tourism industry and the wider visitor economy.
As part of the review, public dialogue will be held with authorized providers and the wider golf tourism industry, with key stakeholders demanding contributions to this work.
James Ralley, business director of St Andrews Links Trust, said: “Our commercial tee time plan is an important part of our business, providing visitors with time to visit time through authorized providers and providing a valuable source of income to reinvest in links and their facilities. The plan also contributes to the local, regional and national economies the driving force of Scotland’s golf tourism, a driving force for Scotland’s crossing Scotland, a reported annual economy of more than £31.
“Given the importance of our commercial tee time plan for St Andrews and Scotland, we ensure that the ambitions that best fit the Link Trust, as well as the needs of our diverse stakeholder, including our tickeholder community, are regular users of the link.”
The research project will begin this summer and will not affect the 2026 commercial kickoff season, which will be scheduled and has been assigned to authorized providers.
For more information on the value of St Andrews linking to Scotland golf tours, see the Summary of the Research conducted by Sheffield Hallam University.
