I did a trip this July over the 4th holiday (was in St Andrew's the week prior to the 4th). Took the train from London to Edinburgh, stayed overnight in Edinburgh, then trained over to Luchars, and caught the bus to St Andrew's. Got in about 12:30pm to St Andrew's, dropped my clubs off at my residence (a University of St Andrew's dorm across from the Dunvegan) and walked to the Old Course starter. I was last on the list for the day (#72), and walked over to the New Course and went right off on the 1st tee. Walking back to check in to my residence (check in time was 2pm), I stopped off at the Old Course starter to see how it was going (about 5:15pm). The lovely woman at the desk told me to hang out as the afternoon tee times are reserved for the R&A. If members don't show up on the tee box, they send out whomever on the list is hanging around. Long story short, I went out at 6:10pm on the 2nd to last tee time on the day. Was dead tired, but nutted a drive just short of the berm on 1 and chipped on and made par. The wheels came off on the 2nd 9 (holes 27-36) for the day, but it was worth it. Played Carnoustie (Buddon) the next day, then was 1st off the New Course at 7:30am on day 3, before catching the 2pm train back to Edinburgh, then back on the London.
I got a sub $100 rate/night through booking.com at McIntosh Hall which was spartan (the co-ed bath/shower rooms were unique), but I wasn't spending time in the room!
Here's a pic at the Jigger in overlooking the Road Hole and 1/18....