Talk about a long strange trip- 25 years old, I first played the Old Course in 1977. It was walk up, pay the L3.50, play away please. At that time the Old Course Hotel promised guaranteed times with room reservations, as did Russacks, but my buddy and I stayed in a local B&B and had a fine time, saving hundreds of pounds. I still have the ticket for any non-believers.
PS we also went to the Open at Turnberry, pre-purchased tickets but got a room at a B&B in Maidens when we arrived at the Tourist Information Center nearby, a 1 mile walk to the course.