Terms & Conditions – The Open Championship Week 2027
Bookings and Tee Times
Crail Golfing Society operates two courses, Balcomie Links and Craighead Links. These Special Booking Conditions apply to visitor reservations on Balcomie Links between 12 and 19 July 2027 inclusive (the Special Booking Period). They supplement, and take precedence over, the Society's standard 2027 Visitor Reservations Terms & Conditions where the two conflict. The Arrival and Late Arrival section and the Concessionary Golf section below also apply to visitor reservations on Craighead Links throughout the Special Booking Period.
During the Special Booking Period, the first tee time on Balcomie Links is 06:30 and the last tee time is 18:30. Tee times on Craighead Links are unchanged and follow the standard visitor tee times published online through our website.
The Society reserves the right, where reasonably necessary for operational purposes, to make reasonable adjustments to confirmed tee times. Wherever practicable, any adjustment will be limited to 30 minutes either side of the original booking time, and reasonable efforts will be made to notify the lead booker in advance of any material change.
Bookings for fewer than four players may be paired with other golfers at the Society's discretion. Booking fewer than four places does not guarantee exclusive use of the tee time.
Payment
Full payment is required to secure a reservation during the Special Booking Period. A tee time is not confirmed until payment has been received and a booking confirmation has been issued by the Society. Golfers should check all booking details carefully before completing payment.
Cancellation
Status of a confirmed booking
All Balcomie Links visitor reservations between 12 and 19 July 2027 inclusive are non-refundable once confirmed. Because of the exceptional demand for tee times during this period, the Society's standard cancellation and refund policy does not apply to these reservations. Golfers should ensure that their travel arrangements, accommodation and group details are settled before completing their reservation.
No refund or credit will be provided where a golfer subsequently chooses, or becomes unable, to play. This does not affect the position where the Society is unable to provide the booked golf, which is dealt with under Course Closure or Cancellation by the Society below.
Refund position
● No refund or credit will be provided for a reduction in the number of golfers after a reservation has been confirmed. For example, where a reservation is made and paid for four golfers but subsequently reduces to three, the green fee paid for the fourth place will not be refunded or credited.
● Golfers who fail to attend their confirmed tee time forfeit the full green fee. No refund or credit will be provided for a no-show, including where only some members of a group fail to attend.
● A replacement golfer may be nominated instead of a reduction in numbers or a no-show, in accordance with Substitution of Golfers below.
Reason for cancellation
The Society cannot accept responsibility for circumstances affecting a golfer's ability to attend their reservation. No refund or credit will be provided as a result of:
● delayed or cancelled flights;
● ferry, rail or other transport disruption;
● changes to travel arrangements;
● illness or injury;
● accommodation problems;
● changes to a golfer's itinerary;
● attendance at The Open Championship;
● alternative golf arrangements; or
● other personal circumstances.
The non-refundable conditions applying during the Special Booking Period continue to apply in these circumstances. The Society strongly recommends that all visiting golfers arrange suitable travel insurance covering golf reservations and associated travel costs.
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. Notice must be given by email to the Reservations Department 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, group size and rate unchanged and is not a cancellation. Where no substitute is nominated by that deadline, the place is treated as a reduction in group size under Cancellation above.
A genuine administrative error, such as a misspelled golfer name, may be corrected at the Society's discretion at any time before play.
Arrival and Late Arrival
On both courses, golfers should report to the Pro Shop 30 minutes before their confirmed tee time. Because of the exceptionally busy tee sheet during this period, golfers arriving late may lose their reserved tee time.
Where possible, the Society will endeavour to accommodate late-arriving golfers at another available time on the same day. This is entirely subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed. Missing a confirmed tee time through late arrival does not entitle the golfer to a refund or credit.
Reservation Amendments
Where availability permits, the Reservations Department may consider a request to move an existing reservation to another available tee time within the Special Booking Period. Any amendment is entirely subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed, and does not create an entitlement to a refund or credit where an alternative tee time is unavailable.
Adjustments made by the Society under Bookings and Tee Times above are not amendments for the purposes of this section.
Concessionary Golf
Between 12 and 19 July 2027 inclusive, normal concessionary green fee arrangements will not apply to visitor reservations on Balcomie Links or Craighead Links unless specifically advertised or authorised otherwise by the Society. This includes Scottish or resident rates, other golf industry rates, reciprocal arrangements, promotional or discounted rates, and any other concessionary visitor green fees. The junior rate is not affected and continues to apply throughout the Special Booking Period in accordance with the standard Terms & Conditions.
Authorised tour operators will continue to receive their applicable agreed tour operator rate during the Special Booking Period. No additional concessionary, promotional or discounted rate may be applied to an authorised tour operator booking.
Transfer and Resale of Tee Times
Reservations are intended for the personal use of the golfer or group for whom they were made. Tee times must not be advertised for resale, commercially resold, auctioned or otherwise transferred for financial gain without the prior written permission of the Society.
The Society reserves the right to cancel a reservation where there is reasonable evidence that a tee time has been purchased for unauthorised commercial resale. This condition does not prevent genuine golfer substitutions within an existing reservation under Substitution of Golfers above.
Weather and Suspension of Play
Links golf is played in a wide variety of weather conditions and golfers should arrive prepared to play unless advised otherwise by the Society.
Where Balcomie Links or Craighead Links remains open for play, a golfer who chooses not to commence or complete a round because of weather conditions or personal preference is not entitled to a refund or credit.
Where play is temporarily suspended because of weather or safety concerns, golfers must follow the instructions of Society staff and await further information. A temporary suspension of play does not in itself constitute cancellation of the reservation.
Course Closure or Cancellation by the Society
Where the Society declares Balcomie Links or Craighead Links unplayable, closes the courses, or is otherwise unable to provide the booked round, the Society will endeavour to offer a suitable alternative tee time or date where practicable. Where a suitable alternative cannot be provided, the applicable green fee will be refunded.
The non-refundable conditions applying during the Special Booking Period relate to cancellation or non-attendance by the golfer. They do not remove the golfer's entitlement to an appropriate remedy where the Society is unable to provide the booked golf.
Buggies
Golf buggies are available to golfers who require one in order to play, and to golfers aged 70 or over, subject to availability, course conditions and approval by the Society.
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. The required documents must be provided to the Society before the buggy can be authorised for use.
Golfers requiring a buggy are strongly encouraged to make their request at the time of booking, as the number of buggies available is limited. The Society cannot guarantee buggy availability and reserves the right to restrict or prohibit buggy use where course or weather conditions make their use unsuitable or unsafe.
The availability or authorisation of a buggy is separate from the golf reservation. Where a buggy has not been requested and confirmed in advance, its unavailability does not create an entitlement to cancel the reservation or to receive a refund or credit. 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. This arises from a decision of the Society and is not affected by the non-refundable conditions above.
Caddies
Caddies may be requested in advance, but availability cannot be guaranteed. The Society will make every reasonable effort to fulfil caddie requests. Any caddie request or allocation remains subject to the Society's applicable caddie terms, charges and cancellation conditions in force at the time of play.
The inability to provide a requested caddie does not affect the validity of the golf reservation or create an entitlement to cancel the green fee outside these Special Booking Conditions.
Etiquette and Pace of Play
All golfers are expected to observe the Society's normal standards of golf etiquette and to maintain an acceptable pace of play. Golfers must follow the reasonable instructions of the Starter, Pro Shop, Course Marshals and other authorised members of staff.
The Society reserves the right to take appropriate action where a golfer's behaviour, conduct or pace of play materially affects the enjoyment or safety of other golfers.
Relationship with Standard Terms & Conditions
The Society's standard 2027 Visitor Reservations Terms & Conditions continue to apply during the Special Booking Period except where specifically varied by these Special Booking Conditions. Where there is any conflict between the two, these Special Booking Conditions take precedence.
Acceptance of Special Booking Conditions
By completing a reservation for Balcomie Links or Craighead Links between 12 and 19 July 2027 inclusive, the lead booker confirms that they have read, understood and accepted these Special Booking Conditions on behalf of all golfers included within the reservation. In particular, the lead booker acknowledges that:
● the reservation is non-refundable once confirmed;
● reductions in golfer numbers are non-refundable;
● no-shows are non-refundable;
● normal concessionary rates do not apply during this period;
● authorised tour operator bookings remain subject to the applicable agreed tour operator rate, without additional golfer-specific concessions;
● travel disruption, illness or changes to personal arrangements do not create an entitlement to a refund; and
● the booking remains subject to the Society's standard 2027 Visitor Reservations Terms & Conditions where those terms have not been varied above.
Golfers should ensure that they are satisfied with their arrangements and have appropriate travel insurance before completing payment.