"The continuing high rate of demand to play on the Links is confirmed by the speed with which these waiting lists are growing," said Peter Mason, External Relations Manager at St Andrews Links Trust. "The growth in demand is exceeding our forecasts and if all these golfers were to be supplied with a Yearly Ticket there could be around an extra 18,000 rounds played on the Links."
"This is further confirmation of the necessity for a 7th golf course" said Mr Mason. "Nearly all the golfers on these waiting lists are local club members and some will now be waiting three to four years for a Yearly Ticket to play golf here."
Limits on the number of Links Yearly Tickets for golfers living outside St Andrews came into effect in 2000 and the maximum number of tickets available is 1,200. The waiting lists have grown since then from zero to their current level of almost 600 as demand has continued to increase.