2027 Visitor Reservations Terms & Conditions
These Terms & Conditions apply to visitor reservations made directly with Crail Golfing Society (“the Society”), whether through the Society’s online booking system or through the Reservations Department.
The person making the reservation (the lead booker) is responsible for the booking and for ensuring that all golfers included within the reservation are aware of and comply with these Terms & Conditions.
The Society may require cancellations, material changes and refund requests to be made or authorised by the lead booker.
1. Reservations & Booking Conditions
All reservations are subject to availability.
The Society reserves the right, where operationally necessary, to adjust a reserved tee time by up to 20 minutes before or after the original tee time. Where a change is made, the lead booker will be notified using the contact details provided with the reservation.
Reservations made for fewer than four golfers do not provide exclusive use of the tee time. The Society reserves the right to fill any remaining spaces and pair golfers with other players.
Reservations may not be commercially resold or transferred to another party without the prior agreement of the Society.
Reservations that cannot be completed online, including bookings for groups of five or more golfers, should be made through the Reservations Department.
2. Payment
Reservations made through the online booking system require payment in full at the time of booking.
Reservations made directly through the Reservations Department must be paid in full within five calendar days of the reservation being made.
Where a reservation is made sufficiently close to the date of play that the standard five-day payment period is not practical, payment may be required immediately or within a shorter period specified by the Reservations Department.
If full payment has not been received within the applicable payment period, the Society reserves the right to cancel the reservation without further notice and release the tee time or tee times for resale.
An unpaid reservation may be cancelled without charge during the five-day payment period, provided the reservation remains outside the cancellation period set out below.
3. Cancellations & Refunds
Cancellations made seven calendar days or more before the date of play will receive a full refund.
Cancellations made less than seven calendar days before the date of play are non-refundable and no credit will be issued.
For the purposes of this policy, the cancellation period is calculated by calendar date and not by the exact time of the reserved tee time. A cancellation is treated as received on the calendar date on which it reaches the Reservations Department, up to 23:59 (UK time).
The same cancellation conditions apply where individual golfers are removed from a larger reservation. Where an individual golfer is removed seven calendar days or more before the date of play, the applicable green fee will be refunded in full. Where an individual golfer is removed less than seven calendar days before the date of play, no refund or credit will be issued.
Cancellation requests must be made by email to the Reservations Department at info@crailgolfingsociety.co.uk and will be assessed against the date on which they are received.
Notification given to another department, member of staff, caddie or other person does not constitute formal cancellation of the reservation.
The cancellation policy applies regardless of the reason for cancellation, including illness, injury, travel disruption or changes to travel or golfing arrangements, except where otherwise expressly stated within these Terms & Conditions.
Failure of a booking, or of an individual golfer within a group booking, to attend the reserved tee time will be treated as a cancellation on the day of play. No refund or credit will be issued.
Golfers are responsible for arriving in sufficient time for their reserved tee time and should report to the Pro Shop at least 20 minutes before their published tee time. The Society will endeavour to accommodate late arrivals where possible but cannot guarantee an alternative tee time. Where a golfer is unable to play because of late arrival, no refund or credit will be issued.
The subsequent resale of a cancelled tee time by the Society does not alter the cancellation conditions or create an entitlement to a refund.
All approved refunds will be returned to the original payment method used for the reservation, normally within five to ten working days. The time taken for refunded funds to appear in the customer’s account may vary depending on the payment provider or financial institution.
Visitors are strongly advised to arrange appropriate travel insurance covering cancellation, illness, injury, travel disruption and loss of green fees.
4. Substitution of Golfers
Where a named golfer is unable to play, another golfer from the same travelling party may be substituted in their place at no charge. A travelling party means the wider group of which the booking forms part, whether or not the substitute golfer is named on the same tee time.
Notice of a substitution must be received by email at info@crailgolfingsociety.co.uk by 17:00 (UK time) on the day before the date of play. A substitution keeps the original tee time, player numbers and rate unchanged and is not a cancellation.
Where no substitute is nominated by that deadline, the withdrawal is treated as a cancellation for that golfer under section 3.
5. Changes to Reservations
Reservations are made for the specific date, course and tee time confirmed at the time of booking.
A reservation cannot be transferred to a different date because a golfer’s plans or golfing itinerary subsequently change.
Where a golfer’s travel plans, itinerary or other golfing arrangements change, the existing reservation must be cancelled in accordance with the cancellation policy and a new reservation made for the required date, subject to availability and the rates applicable at the time of the new booking.
This includes circumstances where a golfer subsequently obtains a tee time or reservation at another golf course which conflicts with their reservation at Crail Golfing Society.
The Society is under no obligation to transfer, move or provide credit for an existing reservation because of changes to a golfer’s itinerary or other golfing arrangements.
6. Other Changes to a Reservation
A genuine administrative error, such as a misspelled golfer name or an incorrect contact detail, may be corrected at the Society’s discretion without being treated as a cancellation. A change requested because a golfer’s plans or itinerary have altered is not an administrative error, however it arises and however it is described.
Additional golfers may be added to an existing reservation where availability permits. Any additional green fees must be paid at the applicable rate.
A reduction in the number of golfers will be treated as a partial cancellation and will be subject to the cancellation conditions set out in section 3. Where a replacement golfer is available, a substitution under section 4 is the appropriate course.
Requests to change the tee time or course on the same date of play may be considered subject to availability and at the discretion of the Society.
Where an agreed course change results in a different applicable green fee, the reservation will be adjusted accordingly. Any additional amount must be paid before play and any applicable reduction will be refunded to the original payment method.
7. Rates, Discounts & Concessions
The rate confirmed at the time of booking is the rate applicable to that reservation.
Green fees, promotional rates and concessionary rates may change without notice. Any subsequent increase or reduction in the published green fee will not alter the price of an existing confirmed reservation.
Discounted, promotional or concessionary rates cannot be applied retrospectively to an existing reservation unless expressly stated otherwise.
Where a discounted or concessionary rate is subject to eligibility criteria, the Society reserves the right to request appropriate evidence of eligibility. Where the required eligibility cannot be demonstrated, the golfer may be required to pay the difference between the rate booked and the applicable standard visitor rate before play.
Discounts, promotional offers and concessionary rates cannot be combined unless expressly stated otherwise.
The Society reserves the right to correct genuine pricing or booking-system errors. Where an incorrect price has been charged as a result of such an error, the customer will be offered the option of paying the correct applicable rate or receiving a full refund.
8. Juniors
The junior rate applies to golfers aged 17 years or younger on the day of play.
A maximum of two juniors per tee time may be booked at the junior rate.
Evidence of age may be requested where appropriate.
9. Buggies
Balcomie Links and the Craighead course are primarily walking courses. Buggies are available to golfers who require one in order to play, and to golfers aged 70 or over. Buggies must be requested in advance.
A golfer who requires a buggy in order to play must provide a valid, current medical certificate or a valid Blue Badge issued in their name. Any golfer driving a buggy must hold a valid, current driving licence and must sign the Society’s buggy disclaimer before play.
Buggy availability cannot be guaranteed and use is always subject to weather, ground and course conditions. The Course Manager has final authority regarding whether buggies may be used and may impose restrictions on buggy routes or areas of the course where buggies may operate.
Golfers must comply with all buggy restrictions and instructions issued by the Society. Unsafe or inappropriate operation may result in permission to use the buggy being withdrawn without refund.
Where a buggy has been requested and confirmed in advance but the Society subsequently withdraws buggy use because of course or ground conditions, a golfer who is unable to play without the buggy will be entitled to a refund of the affected green fee. Refunds under this paragraph arise from a decision of the Society and are not affected by the cancellation period described in section 3.
Where a buggy has not been requested and confirmed in advance, the unavailability of a buggy will not create an entitlement to a refund outside the normal cancellation policy.
10. Caddies
Single caddies and forecaddies must be requested in advance. The Society will endeavour to fulfil all requests; however, availability cannot be guaranteed. Caddie fees are paid directly to the caddie in cash, in pounds sterling, on the day of play. Where a caddie has been allocated in advance and is cancelled by the golfer on the day of play, the full caddie fee remains payable.
All caddies are members of the Society and are in charge of their group on the course. They are responsible for the safety of the golfers in their care, for protecting the course, for maintaining the pace of play expected by the Society, and for allowing member groups to play through where necessary.
11. Practice Facilities
Practice facilities are available for visitor use subject to opening times and operational requirements. Availability may be restricted due to maintenance, coaching, events, weather or other operational requirements.
The availability of practice facilities does not form part of the visitor’s golf reservation, and temporary closure or restriction of these facilities does not create an entitlement to a refund of green fees.
12. Conduct, Etiquette & Pace of Play
Golfers are expected to observe normal golf etiquette and maintain an acceptable pace of play; a four-ball should normally complete its round in approximately four hours. Excessive alcohol consumption and the playing of music are not permitted.
Golfers must cooperate with caddies, Course Marshals and Society staff. Dangerous play, abusive or threatening behaviour, excessive intoxication or persistent refusal to follow reasonable instructions may result in removal from the course without refund.
13. Course Closure & Adverse Weather
Golf in Scotland is played in a wide range of weather conditions, and adverse weather alone does not necessarily result in course closure.
Where a course remains open for play but a golfer chooses not to play, or chooses to discontinue their round because of weather conditions, the normal cancellation policy will apply and no refund or credit will be issued.
Where the Society officially closes a course before a golfer has commenced play, the affected green fee will be refunded in full.
The Society may delay or temporarily suspend play where necessary due to weather, ground conditions or safety considerations. Where play subsequently resumes and golfers are able to continue their round, no automatic entitlement to a refund or credit will arise.
Where a delay or suspension ultimately prevents the Society from providing the booked round, the affected green fee will be refunded.
Temporary greens, mats, temporary tees, individual hole closures and other reasonable alterations to the course may be introduced where necessary for course protection, maintenance, weather, ground conditions or safety. The use of such measures does not, by itself, constitute course closure or create an automatic entitlement to a refund.
Where conditions require a materially shortened course to be operated, the Society will determine whether any refund or other appropriate arrangement should be offered having regard to the circumstances.
Where a course is officially closed after a golfer has commenced play and the round cannot be resumed, any refund or other appropriate arrangement will be determined by the Society having regard to the amount of golf already completed and the circumstances of the closure.
Refunds under this section arise from a decision of the Society and are not affected by the cancellation period described in section 3. The decision of the Society regarding whether a course is open, closed, temporarily suspended or subject to playing restrictions is final.
14. Operational Disruption
In the event of an unforeseen operational issue affecting a visitor reservation, the Society will make reasonable efforts to accommodate the affected golfers and provide the booked golf or a suitable alternative.
Where the Society is unable to provide the booked golf or a suitable alternative, the affected green fee will be refunded.
The Society will not be responsible for additional travel, accommodation or other consequential costs arising from changes to or cancellation of a visitor reservation.
15. Insurance & Liability
Golf involves inherent risks, including those associated with golf balls and clubs, uneven terrain, changing weather and natural features of the course.
Golfers are responsible for taking reasonable care for their own safety and for the safety of others while on Society property, including calling a warning where a ball may endanger others. Where a golfer is struck by a ball played by another golfer, that is a matter between the golfers concerned.
Visitors are responsible for their own golf equipment, personal belongings and other property brought onto Society premises.
The Society strongly recommends that visitors have appropriate personal and travel insurance covering the activities and circumstances associated with their visit.
16. Golf Club Shipping & Storage
The Society strongly advises against sending golf clubs to the Society in advance, as secure storage is not available. Equipment sent in advance is sent at the owner’s risk. The Society cannot guarantee receipt or storage and accepts no liability for loss of or damage to equipment sent in advance.
17. Bookings Made Through Tour Operators or Third Parties
Where a reservation has been made and paid for through a tour operator or other third party, any payment, cancellation, amendment or refund enquiry should be directed to the company through which the reservation was made.
The Society cannot issue refunds directly to individual golfers where payment for the reservation was made to the Society by a tour operator or other third party.
Tour operator reservations may be subject to separate Terms & Conditions agreed between the Society and the relevant operator.
18. Special Booking Periods
The Society may designate a special booking period during which varied conditions apply.
Between 12 and 19 July 2027 inclusive, all visitor reservations on both Balcomie Links and the Craighead course are subject to the Society’s Open Championship Week 2027 Special Visitor Booking Conditions.
Those conditions supplement these Terms & Conditions and apply equally to both courses. Where there is any conflict between the two documents, the Open Championship Week 2027 Special Visitor Booking Conditions take precedence. In all other respects these Terms & Conditions continue to apply in full.
19. General Provisions
The Society reserves the right to make reasonable operational changes where required for course management, safety, maintenance, competitions, events or circumstances outside the Society’s reasonable control.
Where such a change materially affects a visitor reservation, the Society will make reasonable efforts to contact the lead booker using the contact details provided with the reservation.
All enquiries regarding visitor reservations, payments, cancellations, refunds or booking details should be directed to the Reservations Department at info@crailgolfingsociety.co.uk.