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Golf transfers in Scotland for groups with bags

Ritaat Coaches drives golf groups and societies between Glasgow Airport, their hotels and Scotland’s courses by minibus or coach with a driver. Royal Troon is about 34 miles from Glasgow and St Andrews about 75, and The Open returns to St Andrews in July 2027. Send your courses, tee times and bag count for a written quote.

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We are based in Glasgow and cover the whole UK, so we can also take groups to courses outside Scotland.

Why bag space decides the vehicle

A golf bag in a travel cover takes far more room than a suitcase, and every player has one, often plus a case. A vehicle that seats a group may not carry the same group’s bags. When you ask for a quote, tell us:

the number of players;
the number of golf bags, and whether they are in hard or soft covers;
the number of suitcases, if the transfer is to or from an airport.

Group	Vehicle	Bags	Supplied by
A small group	Mercedes Sprinter minibus, 16 seats	12 to 14 full-size golf bags	Our own vehicle
A larger group with bags	Mercedes Tourismo (53 seats) or Volvo B8R (38 seats) coach with under-floor lockers	Planned per trip	Our own vehicles
A large society or several groups	Several vehicles	Planned per vehicle	Our own vehicles plus a partner operator

A coach with a small group on board is often the simplest answer: everyone travels together and the bags go under the floor. See minibus hire in Glasgow or coach hire in Glasgow for the vehicles, and minibus or coach: what size do I need for sizing.

Drive times from Glasgow to the courses

Course area	From Glasgow city centre	From Glasgow Airport
Western Gailes, Ayrshire	about 33 miles, about 42 minutes	[verify]
Dundonald Links, Ayrshire	about 33 miles, about 48 minutes	[verify]
Prestwick, Ayrshire	about 33 miles, about 44 minutes	[verify]
Royal Troon, Ayrshire	about 34 miles, about 45 minutes	about 34 miles, about 46 minutes
Gleneagles, Perthshire	about 45 miles, about 53 minutes	about 54 miles, about 1 hour 5 minutes
Turnberry, Ayrshire	about 52 miles, about 1 hour 7 minutes	about 53 miles, about 1 hour 10 minutes
St Andrews, Fife	about 75 miles, about 1 hour 46 minutes	about 84 miles, about 2 hours
Carnoustie, Angus	about 92 miles, about 1 hour 55 minutes	about 102 miles, about 2 hours 6 minutes

Groups landing at Glasgow are met as described on our Glasgow Airport minibus transfers page. For Ayrshire courses, Glasgow Prestwick Airport is closer than Glasgow Airport; how coaches use Prestwick is on our group airport transfers page.

What the courses tell visiting groups

Royal Troon. The club’s visitor information says visitors play at set times and days, with tee times booked in advance and prices given by its Golf Operations team. It also says changing clothes or shoes in the car park is not allowed, so plan for the group to change in the clubhouse.
St Andrews. Fife’s tourism trade guide lists a dedicated coach park at West Sands (KY16 9XL) and St Mary’s Place (KY16 9UY) as a central drop-off and pick-up point. Ask St Andrews Links Trust where a coach may set down at the clubhouse you are playing [verify with the Links Trust].
The Open, July 2027. The R&A has confirmed the 155th Open for the Old Course, St Andrews, in July 2027 (reported as 15 to 18 July [verify on theopen.com]). Open weeks bring road closures and park-and-ride schemes: at Royal Troon in 2024, The Open said there would be no public parking at or near the course. Expect the same pattern and book early.

How a golf transfer day works

The plan
You send the courses, tee times, hotel and group size.
The pick-up
We work back from the first tee time, allowing time to unload bags and check in at the clubhouse.
During the round
The driver waits at the course or leaves and returns at the agreed time. Waiting between drop-off and return is included, within the 10-hour day.
The 19th hole
If the group stays for dinner, agree the return time when you book.

Multi-day golf trips and drivers’ hours

A week of golf usually means a different course each day, often far apart. Driving time is rarely the limit: Glasgow to St Andrews and back is about 3.5 to 4 hours at the wheel, well inside the 9-hour daily driving limit. What can bind on a long golf day is the driver’s duty time and daily rest: a driver normally needs 11 hours’ rest in each 24 hours. A long day out, such as St Andrews with an evening dinner, can run up against that, so some days need a second driver or an overnight stop.

Driver accommodation. If the group stays away from Glasgow, the driver needs a room near the hotel. On multi-day trips the driver’s accommodation and meals are charged separately and shown on the quote.
Multi-day trips. We run them. Tell us the dates and the courses.

What golf transfers cost

The price drivers specific to golf:

Bags, which usually set the vehicle size.
Waiting during the round, which is included within the 10-hour day. A hire is a maximum of 10 hours a day, and extra hours may be charged.
Multi-day trips: driver accommodation and meals are charged separately.

Our 53-seat coach is from £1,200 a day, or from £1,500 in peak season. Prices differ by season.

Every quote is in writing and lists what is included. See the coach hire price guide for how prices are built. Client golf days for companies are also on corporate coach hire; all services are on our services page.

Frequently asked questions

Can you take a golf society with bags?

Yes, but the bags decide the vehicle. A full group with bags in travel covers usually needs a coach with under-floor lockers rather than a minibus. A Mercedes Sprinter (16 seats) takes 12 to 14 full-size golf bags. Tell us the number of bags and cases when you ask for a quote.

How long is the drive from Glasgow to St Andrews?

About 75 miles, around 1 hour 46 minutes by car without traffic. A coach takes longer, so for a morning tee time we leave Glasgow early.

How long is the drive from Glasgow to Royal Troon and Turnberry?

Royal Troon is about 34 miles from Glasgow city centre, around 45 minutes by car without traffic. Turnberry is about 52 miles, around 1 hour 7 minutes.

Where can a coach park in St Andrews?

Fife’s tourism trade guide lists a coach park at West Sands (KY16 9XL) and a drop-off and pick-up point at St Mary’s Place (KY16 9UY). Check set-down at your clubhouse with St Andrews Links Trust.

Can the driver wait all day at the course?

Yes. The driver can wait at the course or leave and return at the agreed time. Waiting between drop-off and return is included, within the 10-hour day.

Is a St Andrews day too long for one driver?

Usually not on driving time: the round trip is about 3.5 to 4 hours, against a 9-hour daily limit. A long day with dinner can run up against the driver’s daily rest rules, so some days need a second driver or an overnight stop.

When is The Open at St Andrews in 2027?

The R&A has confirmed the 155th Open for the Old Course in July 2027, reported as 15 to 18 July. Check theopen.com for final dates, and book transport early, as parking near Open venues is restricted.

Get a quote

Send the courses, tee times, hotel, number of players and number of bags. We reply within an hour.