When Should I List My Home for The Open 2027?

If you are wondering when to list your home for The Open 2027, the straightforward answer is: as early as you can. The 155th Open Championship takes place at the Old Course, St Andrews, from 11–18 July 2027, and visitors planning travel to Fife — particularly groups booking multiple bedrooms — tend to begin searching for private accommodation well ahead of the event. The earlier your property appears on Golf Event Stays, the more time interested guests have to find it, consider it and make an enquiry.

For event information, places to stay and travel guidance, visit our St Andrews Open 2027 accommodation guide.

Why Timing Matters for The Open 2027

Major golf events create a concentrated burst of accommodation demand in a relatively contained area. St Andrews is a small town, and the surrounding towns and villages across Fife — including Cupar, the East Neuk villages, and Dundee to the north — attract visitors who cannot find suitable accommodation in the town centre itself. Groups travelling together often prefer to book a private home with several bedrooms, shared living space and parking rather than split across multiple hotel rooms.

That kind of group booking takes time to organise. Guests need to agree travel dates, confirm who is attending, plan their budget and compare options. A property that appears early in their search has a significant advantage over one listed two months before the event.

When Is the Right Time to List?

There is no single correct date, but as a general principle, listing your property twelve to eighteen months before the event gives it the greatest possible window of visibility. For The Open 2027, that points to listing in early-to-mid 2026 at the latest — and listing sooner rather than later if your property is already ready to photograph and describe.

Even if your listing is not complete in every detail when you first submit it, appearing on the platform early means that visitors browsing for St Andrews accommodation during The Open week can begin to find and shortlist your property. You can add photographs and refine your description over time.

What Happens If I Wait?

Waiting is a common instinct — homeowners often want to see how demand develops before committing. That is understandable, but it does carry a practical cost. Properties that appear later have less time to be discovered, less opportunity to receive enquiries, and less time for the homeowner to communicate with prospective guests and confirm a booking. By the time event week draws near, many visiting groups will already have arranged their accommodation.

Listing early does not commit you to accepting any particular guest or booking. You retain full control over who you accept, what you charge, and what terms you set. Submitting a listing simply makes your property visible to people who are already looking.

Where Should My Property Be to Appeal to Open Visitors?

Properties in and around St Andrews itself are naturally well placed — St Andrews town is walking distance from the Old Course, and visitors value that convenience highly. However, properties further afield can also attract interest, particularly from groups who prioritise space, comfort and value over proximity.

The practical wider tier of accommodation around St Andrews includes:

• Cupar — approximately 20 minutes via the A91, a market town with good road access.
• East Neuk villages — Crail, Anstruther, Pittenweem, St Monans and Elie, roughly 20–35 minutes along the A917 and B9131, offering coastal settings popular with visitors.
• Dundee — approximately 30 minutes north via the A92 and Tay Bridge, with frequent ScotRail trains to Leuchars (the nearest rail hub to St Andrews).

Properties in Perth (around 50–60 minutes via the A90/M90) and Edinburgh (approximately 80–100 minutes via the M90 and Forth crossings) may suit visitors planning to attend the event on selected days rather than daily. These journey times reflect normal traffic conditions; event-day travel and temporary transport arrangements may affect them.

If your property offers several bedrooms, good parking, a shared kitchen and living area, and reasonable access to the A91 or A92 corridor, it may well attract interest from a group that would otherwise be comparing several separate hotel rooms. The complete offering — bedrooms, bathrooms, parking, outdoor space, nearby facilities — matters as much as the distance.

How to Prepare Your Listing

Getting your listing ready does not require extensive work. The most important elements are clear photographs, an accurate description of what the property offers, and honest information about travel time to St Andrews. Here is a straightforward approach:

1. Use the rental calculator to form an initial view of what your property might be worth during Open week.
2. Take good photographs of bedrooms, bathrooms, living areas, kitchen, outdoor space and parking. Natural light and tidy, decluttered rooms make a significant difference.
3. Note the total guest capacity, number of bedrooms, bed sizes and number of bathrooms.
4. Describe parking arrangements honestly — how many vehicles, whether the drive is suitable for large estate cars or minibuses if relevant.
5. Include an approximate travel time to St Andrews under normal conditions, and note the nearest road or rail option.
6. Decide on your rental price and available dates before submitting, so your listing is complete and informative from the start.
7. Set straightforward payment terms — a booking deposit to secure the dates, with the balance due before arrival — and consider a refundable security deposit.

Once your listing is live on Golf Event Stays, interested guests can browse it, check availability and send an enquiry directly to you. You remain in control of every aspect of the booking.

What Does a Golf Event Stays Listing Include?

A standard listing for The Open 2027 on Golf Event Stays is a one-time fee of £129 — there are no monthly charges and no commission taken from your rental income under the self-managed model. Your listing can include a property description, bedroom and bathroom details, guest capacity, amenities, approximate location, travel information to St Andrews, your pricing and availability, and up to 12 property photographs.

Note that public-facing maps on Golf Event Stays display approximate locations to protect homeowner privacy. The confirmed property address is shared with guests after a booking is agreed.

Golf Event Stays provides listing exposure and enquiry generation. You handle your own enquiries, guest communication, booking agreement, payment and property preparation — the platform is designed to make that process manageable for an ordinary homeowner, not just professional landlords.

Common Concerns — Addressed Simply

I have never rented my home before

Many homeowners who list through Golf Event Stays for major golf events have not rented their property before. A one-off Open Championship rental does not require you to operate a permanent accommodation business. The practical preparation — cleaning, organising, securing personal belongings, providing clear information — is straightforward for most homeowners.

What if my property is not beside the Old Course?

Visiting groups often prioritise comfort, space and value over being within walking distance of the venue. A four-bedroom home with parking in Cupar or a coastal cottage in the East Neuk may suit a group of four to six friends who are happy to drive or use the park-and-ride each morning. Describe the travel options accurately and let guests decide.

Do I need to worry about tax?

Rental income may need to be declared. Keep a record of what you receive and retain receipts for any direct costs, such as cleaning. The exact position depends on your individual circumstances, so if you are unsure, a local accountant or tax adviser can give you a straightforward explanation.

Should I check my insurance?

Yes — contact your insurer before the stay to confirm whether your existing cover is appropriate for a short-term paying guest arrangement, and whether any temporary adjustment is needed. This is usually a brief conversation rather than a complicated process.

Related guides: For a broader walkthrough, see the Open 2027 homeowner listing and rental guide, or browse currently available properties on the Open 2027 accommodation page.

Useful External References

• The 155th Open Championship, Old Course, St Andrews (11–18 July 2027) — The R&A / The Open official site.
• Rail travel to Leuchars (nearest station to St Andrews) — ScotRail.
• Local visitor information for Fife and St Andrews — VisitScotland — Fife.
• Guidance on declaring short-term rental income — HMRC / GOV.UK: Renting out a property.

Golf Event Stays pricing is reviewed from time to time. For the current Self-Managed listing fee for each event and the current Fully Managed terms, see the Golf Event Stays pricing page or list your property.