Terms & Conditions - Tour Operators 2027

Bookings and Tee Times

Crail Golfing Society operates two courses, Balcomie Links and Craighead Links. References in these terms to a course are to either course.

At the Society’s discretion, bookings may be moved up to 20 minutes before or after the selected tee time. The tour operator will be notified of any change.

Bookings for fewer than four players may be paired with other golfers at the Society’s discretion.

From 12 to 19 July 2027 the Society operates a peak period. During the peak 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. From 12 to 19 July 2027, a seperate Terms and Conditons will be in place

Payment

A provisional booking sheet will be issued for each reservation, and payment in full is required within 30 days of the date the booking is made, using the secure payment link provided. Once payment is received, a confirmation will be sent.

Where a reservation is made fewer than 30 days before the date of play, payment in full is required within five days of the date the booking is made.

Where payment has not been received by the applicable deadline, a reminder will be issued, allowing a further five days to respond. If payment remains outstanding after this period, the reservation will be cancelled without further notice and the tee time released.

Where a reservation is made fewer than five days before the date of play, the Society may at its discretion accept the booking on the basis that payment is made in full on the day of play. Such bookings are charged at the standard visitor rate and the tour operator rate does not apply.

Tour Operator Rates

Approved tour operators will receive the applicable tour operator rate. Tour operator rates cannot be combined with other discounted, promotional or concessionary rates, with the exception of the Junior Green Fee for eligible junior golfers (aged 17 or under on the day of play; maximum two juniors per tee time).

During the peak period, no concessionary rates other than junior rates will apply. All golfers booked through a tour operator will be charged the applicable tour operator rate.

Cancellation

Status of a confirmed booking

Once a booking has been confirmed by Crail Golfing Society, the reserved tee time is held exclusively for the named golfers and is withdrawn from sale. A confirmed booking is a firm commitment. It must not be treated as a provisional or temporary reservation held pending the outcome of a ballot, application or enquiry for golf elsewhere.

How to cancel

All cancellations must be made by email to the Reservations Department at info@crailgolfingsociety.co.uk and will be assessed by reference to the date and time at which that email is received. Notice given by any other means, or to any other department, member of staff, caddie or contractor, does not constitute a valid cancellation.

The seven-day period

The seven-day period is counted backwards from and including the date of play. For example, for a round on Saturday 10 July, the seventh day is Sunday 4 July: an email received on or before 23:59 (UK time) on Sunday 4 July falls outside the period, and an email received on Monday 5 July or later falls within it.

Refund position

● Cancellations received before the seven-day period will receive a full refund of green fees, with no administration charge.

● Cancellations received within the seven-day period are non-refundable.

● A reduction in player numbers is treated as a cancellation in respect of the golfers withdrawn and is subject to the same terms, assessed by reference to the date and time the email is received.

● A golfer who fails to arrive, or who arrives but chooses not to play, is treated as having cancelled within the seven-day period. No refund is due.

Refunds are made by the original payment method, normally within five to ten working days. Where a booking was made through a tour operator, the refund is issued to that tour operator and not to individual golfers.

Reason for cancellation

These terms apply regardless of the reason for cancellation, including illness and travel disruption. The Society strongly recommends suitable travel insurance to cover loss of green fees.

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 tour 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 the terms above.

Change of itinerary and golf obtained elsewhere

A tee time, ballot allocation or competition place obtained elsewhere after a Crail booking has been confirmed, including a successful ballot allocation for the Old Course at St Andrews, is a change of itinerary. It is not a booking error and is not treated by the Society as an exceptional circumstance.

Where a golfer chooses not to take up a confirmed Crail tee time for that reason, and cancellation is not received before the seven-day period:

(a) the tee time and the green fees paid in respect of the affected golfers are forfeited;

(b) those green fees will not be refunded, credited or transferred to another date, course, tee time or booking; and

Substitution under the paragraph above remains available and is the appropriate course where the travelling party is able to nominate a replacement golfer. Requests to change a booking are dealt with under Reservation Amendments below.

Reservation Amendments

Amendments may be requested by email to the Reservations Department at info@crailgolfingsociety.co.uk and are subject to availability. Adjustments made by the Society under Bookings and Tee Times are not amendments for the purposes of this section.

Changes of date, course or tee time

A change of date, course or tee time is treated as a cancellation of the original booking under the Cancellation section above, followed by a new reservation at the rate then applicable and subject to availability. Where the request is received within the seven-day period, the green fees for the original booking are non-refundable and are not transferable to the new booking.

Corrections

A genuine administrative error, such as a misspelled player 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.

Substitution

The substitution of one golfer for another from the same travelling party is dealt with under the Cancellation section and is not an amendment for the purposes of this section.

Golf obtained elsewhere

Where an amendment is requested because a golfer has obtained a tee time, ballot allocation or competition place elsewhere after the Crail booking was confirmed, the Society is under no obligation to offer an alternative. Any tee time subsequently taken is a separate new booking, made at the time of the request, subject to availability, and charged at the standard visitor rate. The tour operator rate applicable to the original booking is forfeited and does not carry over to the new booking.

Buggies

Balcomie Links and Craighead Links are 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 use is subject to availability, weather and course conditions, and the Society’s decision is final.

Where a buggy has been requested and confirmed in advance but is subsequently withdrawn due to course or ground conditions, a golfer unable to play without it will receive a refund of the affected green fee. Where a buggy was not confirmed in advance, unavailability does not create an entitlement to a refund. Refunds under this paragraph arise from a decision of the Society and are not affected by the seven-day period described in the Cancellation section.

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.

Etiquette and 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.

Bad Weather

If the Society declares a course unplayable before play has commenced, the applicable green fee will be refunded unless rescheduling has been agreed. No refund will be made where a golfer chooses not to play while the course remains open. Where a course closes after play has commenced and the round cannot resume, any refund will be determined having regard to the amount of golf already completed. Refunds under this section arise from a decision of the Society and are not affected by the seven-day period described in the Cancellation section. Where the Society agrees to reschedule a booking following course closure, that arrangement is made by the Society and is not treated as a change of date under Reservation Amendments.

Insurance

Playing golf carries inherent risks, including the risk of injury from golf balls in flight. Golfers are expected to have appropriate personal and travel insurance.

The Society takes reasonable steps to manage that risk on both courses. Golfers play at their own risk and are responsible for their own play, 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.

Golf Club Deliveries

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.

Tour Operator Responsibilities

Tour operators are responsible for providing accurate booking and player information and for ensuring their clients are made aware of the relevant conditions of play, including the caddie, buggy and cancellation policies.

All payment, cancellation, amendment and refund enquiries relating to a reservation made through a tour operator must be directed to that tour operator. Crail Golfing Society will not issue refunds, receipts or amendments directly to individual golfers on a tour-operator-booked reservation.