Jump to content
Note: This thread is 2149 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Recommended Posts

Some buddies and I are strongly considering heading over to play for 7-10 days next June or July.

We did SW Ireland in 2012 and loved the courses, people, and Irish experience. The biggest challenge I see with Scotland is deciding if we use a tour company or book everything ourselves, which courses to play and how long of a trip to make it.

We all want to play courses like The Old Couse at St Andrews, Kingsbarns, & Carnoustie but several of us would like to round out our golf with some lesser known (less expensive courses) that still offer great Scottish links golf.

Also after spending a few days near St Andrews, do we go west and play Prestwick, Troon, & Turnberry or head north and hit Cruden Bay & Royal Aberdeen ?

Love to hear thoughts from guys who have traveled over there for golf.....Thx !


  • Moderator

Its easy to plan this yourself, and you can save a bunch of money.  I planned trips for 8 in 2011 and 2012, and went on a trip a friend planned just this past June.  two suggestions right now.  Get Allan Ferguson's book about planning your own trip to Scotland, at:

http://fergusongolf.com/pages/book.htm

Second, look at the St Andrews website to understand how to apply for a advance tee time for the Old Course for next year, at:

https://standrews.com/play/courses/old-course/booking-the-old-course

As I read it, you need to have your group figured out by September 5, not too far away.  

From personal experience, you can spend an entire week in St Andrews and love every minute, no need to move anywhere else.  I've enjoyed Dornoch, Ayrshire, and East Lothian as well, but a week in St Andrews will make you want to go back and see more of Scotland.  Let me know if I can help with anything at all.

  • Like 1

Dave

:callaway: Rogue SubZero Driver

:titleist: 915F 15 Fairway, 816 H1 19 Hybrid, AP2 4 iron to PW, Vokey 52, 56, and 60 wedges, ProV1 balls 
:ping: G5i putter, B60 version
 :ping:Hoofer Bag, complete with Newport Cup logo
:footjoy::true_linkswear:, and Ashworth shoes

the only thing wrong with this car is the nut behind the wheel.

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

I will repeat Dave's advise and get Allan Fergusons book. I have been to Scotland 7 times and have always been the trip planner. With groups up to 12. I have helped buds plan their trips also. Go to Visit Scotland and find an apartment big enough for the group. Last year I rented a place a par 4 from 1st tee Old. We had 8 bedroom place. Old starts taking advance apps on Aug 22nd this year. Until Sept not sure when. But sure the website spells it out. Depending where you fly from..Ya go to Glasgow or Edinburgh. You want a direct flight if possible. You try to get Old in advance but in June/July that will be a longshot. But go anyway. If you are truly motivated you will play. Last year we had 9 in mid August and we all played....but 2 got dumb lucky mid day...3 walked up at 4am...and 4 hit the ballot....Places to play...Gotta play Castle in St Andrews...Kingsbarns has a second round 1/2 price so set up two rounds there. They will work with you if you get lucky with ballot Old. The New is worthy of play...St Andrews has a multi play ticket and look into that. Two jaunts away...Ya gotta run down and play North Berwick...It is so special and accommodating too. It's like 75 minutes from St Andrews. Don't stay overnight though. So maybe best 1st day or last especially if have early flight out and you may wish to stay near airport last night. Rentals in UK are different. They go Fri to Fri. Plan on that. The last get away you need to double up on a room elsewhere...but it is so worth it. Run up play Carnoustie...Check their website they sell teetimes on line and they sell out fast..After playing Carnoustie continue up to Aberdeen and stay at Cruden Bay B&B...use to be Red Door B&B...I think....But play Cruden then Royal Aberdeen and head back to St Andrews..If above isn't enough golf there are a few great lesser known places near St Andrews...Leven, Lundin and Elie...Also the fairmont has two courses which are very nice but best is they have carts so maybe you sneak that in midweek to give legs a break...Good Luck.   


  • 2 weeks later...

I have a couple buddies who did this.    It really depends on how much you want to travel.   For 7-10 days, you can have more than enough golf if you just stay close to St. Andrews. 

It's pretty much a must that you go into East Lothian (about an hour south of St. Andrews, just east of Edinborough.)   Go play North Berwick, for sure.   also, Kilspindie is down there, for a cheaper fun course.  

    

.   

 

 

:tmade:  - SIM2 - Kuro Kage silver 60 shaft
:cobra:  - F9 3W, 15 degree - Fukijara Atmos white tour spec stiff flex shaft

:tmade: - M2 hybrid, 19 degree
:tmade: - GAPR 3 iron - 18degree
:mizuno: MP-H5 4-5 iron, MP-25 6-8 iron, MP-5 9-PW

Miura - 1957 series k-grind - 56 degree
:bettinardi: - 52 degree
:titleist: - Scotty Cameron Newport 2 - Putter

check out my swing here

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  • Moderator

I just got an email from St Andrews, they will start accepting applications for reserved tee times on the Old Course pretty soon, and the application period will extend to about September 5.  If you're interested, now is the time to get your friends to commit.

  • Thumbs Up 1

Dave

:callaway: Rogue SubZero Driver

:titleist: 915F 15 Fairway, 816 H1 19 Hybrid, AP2 4 iron to PW, Vokey 52, 56, and 60 wedges, ProV1 balls 
:ping: G5i putter, B60 version
 :ping:Hoofer Bag, complete with Newport Cup logo
:footjoy::true_linkswear:, and Ashworth shoes

the only thing wrong with this car is the nut behind the wheel.

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  • 1 month later...

If you do put East Lothian into your plans let me know if I can offer any help or advice-that's my local stomping ground!

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

What about the Jubilee course in St. Andrews?  After reading Oliver Horovitz's book again a few weeks ago very curious what others think of that course.  He seemed to like it quite a bit in his book An American Caddie in St Andrews (which if you haven't read, you should) but don't hear many people talk about it when planning trips.

Hoping to head that way myself in 2019.  Only golf trip to the U.K. I have previously had we played several of the Royal courses in England and didn't get to Scotland.

In my bag: All Lefty clubs
Goldsmith driver I built 10 degree reg flex, Orlimar 14 degree 3 wood, 7 wood
Cobra Oversize 3 and 4 iron; Gigagolf Ion Control 5 iron through PW firm flex and 1 inch over with 3 degrees upright
Golfsmith SW that I built, steel shaft reg flex, Cleveland Tour Action Raw 60 with dynamic golf stiff
Scotty Cameron Teryllium Newport putter

 
 
Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  • Moderator
  On 10/3/2018 at 7:48 PM, scotth said:

What about the Jubilee course in St. Andrews?  After reading Oliver Horovitz's book again a few weeks ago very curious what others think of that course.  He seemed to like it quite a bit in his book An American Caddie in St Andrews (which if you haven't read, you should) but don't hear many people talk about it when planning trips.

Hoping to head that way myself in 2019.  Only golf trip to the U.K. I have previously had we played several of the Royal courses in England and didn't get to Scotland.

Expand  

The Jubilee is the "third" course there, and its really solid.  Obviously the Old Course is the big daddy, and the New gets lots of well-deserved respect.  Jubilee is the closest to the sea, and it has a few of the larger dunes to play through anywhere around.  I had one of the old-line caddies, and he thought it was almost too tough, but I enjoyed it.

Dave

:callaway: Rogue SubZero Driver

:titleist: 915F 15 Fairway, 816 H1 19 Hybrid, AP2 4 iron to PW, Vokey 52, 56, and 60 wedges, ProV1 balls 
:ping: G5i putter, B60 version
 :ping:Hoofer Bag, complete with Newport Cup logo
:footjoy::true_linkswear:, and Ashworth shoes

the only thing wrong with this car is the nut behind the wheel.

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Others have mentioned some of the lesser-known (and less expensive) courses near St Andrews. Elie and Lundin Links are really excellent and very different from most of the courses you'll get in the States.

After a few days there the choice is really whether to go north, into Aberdeenshire, or south to East Lothian. I'd suggest the first-time visitor should do the latter. North Berwick, Gullane 1 and Gullane 2, and Dunbar would all be on my list. And if you want to go a little off the beaten track, Goswick at Berwick-upon-Tweed is a superb links course, used as a qualifier for the Open, that you can play for peanuts.

 

 


  • 1 month later...
(edited)

St Andrews is definitely a place where you can spend your golf holiday without getting bored, but a great addition is visiting Elie Golf club about 30min South of St Andrews. 

Relating to this, we're also traveling to St Andrews next year, in early May, and would love to play a Ryder Cup -style match against a group from the US. If anyone here knows someone who knows someone who is coming over with a group at the same time, please pass on this message and let's find an opponent for us 👍

We're a group of 8 Finnish guys, hcp between 5 and 16, ages 35-40. We've been to St Andrews 6 times already. 

Happy golf trips to everyone! 

Edited by IlkkaFromFinland
  • Like 1

  • Moderator
  On 12/6/2018 at 8:57 AM, IlkkaFromFinland said:

We're a group of 8 Finnish guys, hcp between 5 and 16, ages 35-40. We've been to St Andrews 6 times already. 

Happy golf trips to everyone! 

Expand  

Welcome to The SandTrap, Ikka  :beer:

I hope you'll get involved with more of the threads here, and be sure to post your location in the Member Map:

It looks like you're just the second member in Finland.

 

Dave

:callaway: Rogue SubZero Driver

:titleist: 915F 15 Fairway, 816 H1 19 Hybrid, AP2 4 iron to PW, Vokey 52, 56, and 60 wedges, ProV1 balls 
:ping: G5i putter, B60 version
 :ping:Hoofer Bag, complete with Newport Cup logo
:footjoy::true_linkswear:, and Ashworth shoes

the only thing wrong with this car is the nut behind the wheel.

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

(edited)

I’m from the NE Scotland. Played pretty much every course as a kid. Any of the following are well worth it..

- Cruden Bay, The Nairn, Royal Aberdeen, Murcar. Fraserburgh are all top class links courses from way back My old home club of Banchory is a lovely short riverside course. 

South of Edinburgh my favourites from my uni days were Gullane #1 and North Berwick. Both lovely... oh and Muirfield, but good luck getting on there🙁

Edited by Beastie
Poor grammar

Stevie T

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  On 12/13/2018 at 11:10 PM, Beastie said:

Murcar

Expand  

Murcar is underrated IMO. I thoroughly enjoyed it and wasn’t even breaking 100 at that time of my golf life. 

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  • 2 months later...

Hi.

We played at St. Andrews a few years back - and paied £200 for a three day ticket to play the other courses there. 
We played Castle, New and Jubilee course - all very good courses. Castle course is a bit different than the rest - and I located a bit away from the rest.
Other fine course between Aberdeen and Edinburgh are:
* Gullane
* North Berwick
* Carnoustie
* Royal Aberdeen 
* Murcar
* Cruden Bay - probably the best course I'ved played in Scotland - incl Old Course.

But if you travel to the other side of Scotland - you can the play courses like:

* Kilmarnock Barassie
* Dundonald Links
* Prestwick
* Westen Gails.

I'm traveling to Scotland this April and are going to play 7 rounds in 4 days.
We are playing:
* Murcar - also played this last year
* Curden Bay - also played this last year
* Fraserburgh
* Peterhead

 

Have a nice trip.


Note: This thread is 2149 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Want to join this community?

    We'd love to have you!

    Sign Up
  • TST Partners

    PlayBetter
    TourStriker PlaneMate
    Golfer's Journal
    ShotScope
    The Stack System
    FitForGolf
    FlightScope Mevo
    Direct: Mevo, Mevo+, and Pro Package.

    Coupon Codes (save 10-20%): "IACAS" for Mevo/Stack/FitForGolf, "IACASPLUS" for Mevo+/Pro Package, and "THESANDTRAP" for ShotScope. 15% off TourStriker (no code).
  • Posts

    • I watched that video a few days ago. I chuckled at him saying it is so much easier to set up than plopping a GC3 down and turning it on. I love how he did his test hitting AlmostGolf balls, too. 🤦🏼‍♂️ Do I think this is remotely accurate? No. It's measuring ball speed. It's not getting spin or anything like that. Certainly not in dim conditions outside at night.
    • Has anyone tried this? Just came across it. 
    • Actually through BlueGolf the 9-hole calculation is still the old version. There's other issues to apply, I guess might be the BlueGolf system that is not updated yet. The other thing I have doubt, is where can I find in the rules of handicapping information about Modified Handicap with a capital letter on the side "M", these capital letters still aplies ? Other doubt, do you know any system that the player can post the score, and for peer review the partners can validate the score as marker on the app or system of handicap? Best. 
    • I recently conducted an interview with Fred Couples on behalf of Questions For Cancer Research.  Below, I've posted a link to Part I and we'll soon be releasing Part II.  Enjoy! Chris O'Gorman  
    • I can't access the Brazil Golf organization's information, perhaps you can tell us what you think its being done wrong.  I do know that lots of people were confused with the new method of "completing" 9-hole rounds based on "expected score" for the unplayed holes.  
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Welcome to TST! Signing up is free, and you'll see fewer ads and can talk with fellow golf enthusiasts! By using TST, you agree to our Terms of Use, our Privacy Policy, and our Guidelines.

The popup will be closed in 10 seconds...