Buggy and Trolley Policies at Links Courses
Links golf is walking golf. The great seaside courses were laid out to be played on foot, and most still expect it, which catches out plenty of visitors who assume a buggy is a phone call away. Some links restrict buggies to golfers with a medical certificate, some ban them altogether, and even trolleys come with rules. Here is how the policies actually work, with the leading courses set out, and what to do if walking eighteen is not on the cards.
Photo: Royal Dornoch Golf Club via Google, contributor Kevin Heggie.
The general rule
Across the classic links of Britain and Ireland, the default is simple: you walk. The firm, rolling, sometimes severe terrain that makes links golf so good is also why buggies are the exception rather than the rule, both for the experience and for the turf. At the very top end, the policy usually falls into one of three camps. Some courses allow buggies only to golfers who can show a medical or disability certificate, often with the buggy driven by a caddie. Some do not allow buggies at all because the ground simply does not suit them. And a good number of resort and championship links keep a small fleet available, subject to ground conditions and with medical need given priority.
Trolleys are a softer story. Most links allow pull and electric trolleys, and many hire them out, but again there are limits, with morning bans, winter restrictions to pull trolleys only, and the occasional outright ban to protect wet ground. The golden rule is to confirm the current policy with the individual club when you book, because these rules change with the season and the weather, and a planner can flag any course where your group may struggle on foot.
How the leading links compare
| Course | Buggies | Trolleys |
|---|---|---|
| St Andrews, Old Course | Disability or medical certificate only, April to October, driven by a qualified caddie; the buggy is free but the caddie fee applies | Permitted, but not before noon; a morning round means carrying or a caddie |
| Royal County Down | Not permitted; the terrain of the links rules them out | Hand and electric trolleys available for hire |
| Kingsbarns | Six buggies for mobility restricted golfers, by advance reservation with a medical certificate, driven by a caddie | A walking experience; carrying or a caddie is the norm |
| Muirfield | A walking and caddie course by tradition; buggies only on genuine medical need | Generally permitted; confirm with the club |
| Carnoustie, Championship | A small number usually available, subject to ground conditions, with medical need prioritised | Permitted; check seasonal restrictions |
| Royal Dornoch, Championship | Limited numbers, subject to conditions and medical priority | Permitted |
Policies verified June 2026 from the clubs and links operators; they change by season and weather, so always confirm directly before booking. Where a row is framed generally, treat it as indicative and confirm the exact current rule with the club.
Trolleys, the detail that trips people up
Most visitors assume a trolley is always fine, and on the majority of links it is, but the detail matters. The Old Course at St Andrews is the classic trap: trolleys are not allowed before noon, so an early tee time means carrying the bag yourself or taking one of the famous caddies. Elsewhere, clubs commonly switch to pull trolleys only through the wet winter months, or suspend trolleys entirely after heavy rain, to protect fairways and greens that take months to recover. A few private members courses prefer carrying or caddies as a matter of etiquette even where trolleys are technically allowed.
The practical takeaway is to pack light and plan for the possibility of carrying, especially on morning rounds and in winter. A light carry bag, or a caddie booked in advance, removes the problem entirely and, on a great links, a knowledgeable caddie is worth far more than the convenience of a trolley.
If walking eighteen is a stretch
None of this should put off a golfer with a mobility issue, because there are good ways around it. The first is documentation: most clubs that keep buggies reserve them for golfers who can produce a medical or disability certificate, so carry yours and request a buggy well in advance, as the small fleets book out. The second is a caddie or fore caddie, who can carry the bag, read the ground and take much of the physical toll out of a round even where no buggy is available. The third is sequencing the trip itself toward the flatter, more buggy friendly links and the modern resort courses, and saving the most severe walks for the rounds you most want to do on foot.
This is exactly the kind of detail a planner exists to handle. Tell us about any mobility needs in the group and we will check each course's current policy, secure buggies or caddies where they are allowed, and shape the itinerary so everyone enjoys the golf rather than enduring it.
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Plan a links trip that fits your group
We confirm each course's buggy and trolley policy, secure buggies or caddies where they are allowed, and sequence the rounds to suit every golfer in the party. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling, and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Buggy and trolley questions
Can you use a buggy on a links golf course?
Often not, or only on genuine medical grounds. Links courses are walking courses by tradition, and many of the great names either restrict buggies to golfers who can show a medical or disability certificate or do not allow them at all. At St Andrews, buggies on the Old Course are available only with disability documentation, between April and October, and must be driven by a caddie. At Royal County Down the terrain means buggies are not permitted at all. Always confirm the policy with the individual club before you travel.
Are trolleys allowed on links courses?
Usually yes, though with limits. Most links allow pull and electric trolleys, and many hire them out, but there are restrictions to protect the turf. The Old Course at St Andrews, for example, does not allow trolleys before noon, so a morning round means carrying or taking a caddie. Some clubs switch to pull trolleys only, or ban them entirely, in wet winter conditions. Check the club's current trolley rules when you book.
Can you get a buggy at St Andrews Old Course?
Only with proof of a disability. A golfer with a permanent disability and supporting documentation may request a buggy on the Old Course, available April to October, and it must be driven by a qualified caddie driver. The buggy itself is provided without charge but the caddie fee applies. Documentation should be provided when booking or entering the Old Course ballot. The other St Andrews courses and the wider links have their own arrangements.
What if you cannot walk 18 holes on a links?
You have good options. Many clubs reserve a small number of buggies for golfers with a medical certificate, so carry your documentation and request one well in advance. Where buggies are not available, a caddie or a fore caddie can carry the bag and ease the round, and a planner can weight your itinerary toward the flatter, more buggy friendly links and resort courses. Tell us about any mobility needs and we will build the trip around them.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course buggy and trolley policies verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.