St Andrews Links Trust is consulting on the daily ballot for play on the Old Course.
The trust, which manages the seven courses in St Andrews, is seeking views on the current 24-hour ahead system and possible change to a 48-hour ahead system proposed by Stayinstandrews, the local hotel and guest house association.
A range of different organisations and individuals with an interest in golf in St Andrews are being invited to give their views on the daily ballot by email in the next few weeks.
The findings will then be collated and considered by the St Andrews Links trustees and members of the Links Management Committee (LMC), said Alan McGregor, the trust’s chief executive.
The results of the study will decide whether the status quo should continue or whether any changes should be made.
Mr McGregor said yesterday, “We are continuously looking at ways of improving the service we deliver to our golfing customers. When we became aware of a suggestion from Stayinstandrews that we should consider changing the daily ballot to 48 hours ahead, we felt it was appropriate to gauge the views of as wide a cross section of the golfing community as possible.
“The consultation will enable us to canvass opinion and let our trustees and LMC make a fully informed decision on the way forward.”
At present, the daily ballot enables a minimum of two golfers to enter their names before 2pm on the day before they wish to play.
The ballot is drawn each afternoon and on Saturday for Monday play. The results are posted on www.standrews.org.uk. It is designed to give golfers who have not been able to book a tee time in advance the opportunity of playing the Old Course when they are in St Andrews.