Can someone please recommend a good tour company for Scotland?

[edhalsim]

Hi,

I'm leading a small group of four golfers and their wives to Scotland spring/summer 2018.  We'll probably stay six nights and play four courses, including hopefully the Old Course.  I'm hoping you can help me with a couple of questions:

1. Can someone recommend a good tour operator to make the golfing and hotel arrangements?  There seem to be quite a few out there.
2. Can you give me some idea as to the cost for golf and hotel per couple?  I'm trying to give everyone an idea as to the overall cost and it looks like you can spend anywhere from $3,000-$10,000.

Thanks for your help.
 - Ed.

[billchao]

I know @iacas and @DaveP043 have been there, maybe they can help. 

[alfriday]

Call Liz at Golf International.  She is wonderful to work with.  I have traveled to Scotland 3 times and Ireland twice (third trip starts on Friday) and used Golf International each time.  The company will arrange hotel, tee times and transportation as needed.  They can get guaranteed tee times at the Old Course.  

 

Cost depends on level of hotel you stay in.  Top of the line, like the Old Course Hotel and Grey Walls near Muirfield can be pricy.  But much cheaper alternatives are available.  Liz should be able to give you a ball park figure over the phone.  

 

Liz Lee at Golf International, 212-986-9176, 800-833-1389 

 

 

[DaveP043]

I planned two trips to Scotland, I think in 2011 and 2012.  Each time I made all the arrangements myself, and it wasn't any problem.  For the Old Course, I worked through their advanced reservation system.  You can find it on the St Andrews Trust website.  Basically, you apply in October for guaranteed times for all of next year.  Other than St Andrews, it was easy to make the rest of the hotel, car hire, and golf arrangements via email.  We stayed in B&Bs and guesthouses, and probably saved a bit of money there.  My memory is a little hazy, but I'm thinking that for a basic week of golf, we were looking at $2000 to $2500 per person, not including airfare or caddies.  You can look up my reviews on Tripadvisor, same user name, in the Golf Vacation forum.  Another great resource is www.golfnook.com, aimed at people planning their own golf holidays to Scotland.

Good luck!

[DaveP043]

Here's one of my Trip Reports on Tripadvisor, for our trip including 4 couples

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g1-i15987-k4881920-Trip_report_golf_in_Dornoch_and_St_Andrews-Golf_Vacations.html

[DaveP043]

I looked back on some of my notes for our 2011 trip.  We were estimating a total cost of around $2500, including airfare, food, caddies for 2 rounds, lodging, car, and 6 rounds of golf.  One way of being budget-concious is playing non-rota courses.  We played the Old and Kingsbarns, and the other 4 courses were great links that I'd never heard of.  We also stayed in reasonably inexpensive guesthouses, another way of economizing.  Its not like you spend a lot of time in your room.  I'm almost certain we exceeded the budget, but its a starting point.    

[DaveP043]

I'll post a little more current information.  I'll be going to Scotland in June, 2018 with a group of 4 guys from my home club.  We're staying 8 nights, planning 8 rounds of golf.  We're flying IcelandAir, saving a few hundred bucks.  Our known costs at this time are:

Golf  8 rounds, including Prestwick, Gailes, Western Gailes, Dundonald, Dunbar, North Berwick, the Glen, and Gullane #2 - total cost 864 pounds per player

Lodging - 8 nights, 4 at Golf View B&B in Prestwick, 4 at Ducks Inn in Aberlady, total cost 642 pounds per person (shared rooms), includes breakfast.

Rental 9 passenger van, big enough for all of us with all of our luggage and clubs  750 pounds, or 188 per person.  A typical UK minivan would NOT be big enough.

Total known costs in Scotland, 1506 pounds, or about $2,000

Airfare, $ 861

Estimated costs for meals (snack lunch and dinner) and drinks, trolleys, and an occasional caddie, I'd guess another 300 to 500 pounds (50 pounds per day as a guess, could be less, would be more if we take a caddie more often).  I believe we'll have a great time, and spend under $4,000 apiece for a really full week of golf.

All in, this is probably less than week at Bandon