Scotland Golf Trip 101 (The Compass Guide)

[az2au]

I love New and Jubliee. Both are significantly better courses than Castle. I mean, significantly. Plus, you can easily do a 36 hole day on them. We always do that one day of our visit there.

 

Eden is fun as well.

[CMCSGolf]

I love New and Jubliee. Both are significantly better courses than Castle. I mean, significantly. Plus, you can easily do a 36 hole day on them. We always do that one day of our visit there.

 

Eden is fun as well.

 

I agree the New and Jubilee are good courses (haven't played the Castle). As an American, one thing I liked about the New and several other courses I played (the Old, Carnoustie, both courses at Troon) is that they feel like Scotland. Kingsbarns and to a lesser extent Jubilee don't feel as much like Scottish links golf because they are newer. They are both great courses that I enjoyed playing, but if I'm going to Scotland, I want to feel like I'm on a 200 year old course. I don't want to feel like I'm playing golf in America in the late fall.

 

Take that for what it's worth. But when I go back to Scotland, I'll be seeking out more courses that feel like Scotland because that's what I can't get in the states.

[Argonne69]

Thanks everyone! The Castle course is included in the single lottery package with the Old Course. I'll probably stick close and play New and Jubilee. If I have gas in the tank, I'll finish with Eden.

 

No East Lothian for me.

 

Anybody take the train from Glasgow to Leuchars Station? Is buying a ticket ahead of time a good idea, or can I simply purchase it at the Glasgow Station?

[Matt J]

Thanks everyone! The Castle course is included in the single lottery package with the Old Course. I'll probably stick close and play New and Jubilee. If I have gas in the tank, I'll finish with Eden.

 

No East Lothian for me.

 

Anybody take the train from Glasgow to Leuchars Station? Is buying a ticket ahead of time a good idea, or can I simply purchase it at the Glasgow Station?

 

What's a single lottery package? Only lottery I see on the Links Trust site is for at least 2 players?

[Argonne69]

Thanks everyone! The Castle course is included in the single lottery package with the Old Course. I'll probably stick close and play New and Jubilee. If I have gas in the tank, I'll finish with Eden.

 

No East Lothian for me.

 

Anybody take the train from Glasgow to Leuchars Station? Is buying a ticket ahead of time a good idea, or can I simply purchase it at the Glasgow Station?

 

What's a single lottery package? Only lottery I see on the Links Trust site is for at least 2 players?

 

The singles ballot/lottery is held in the fall. It closes in October for the upcoming season.

[duffer987]

Thanks everyone! The Castle course is included in the single lottery package with the Old Course. I'll probably stick close and play New and Jubilee. If I have gas in the tank, I'll finish with Eden.

 

No East Lothian for me.

 

Anybody take the train from Glasgow to Leuchars Station? Is buying a ticket ahead of time a good idea, or can I simply purchase it at the Glasgow Station?

If you want to save a few quid, definitely ahead of schedule. For instance book a ticket for Thurs morning vs Thurs morning two weeks from now and betcha it's 1/2 the price.

The exact days in advance it goes up I don't know off the top of my head, but there's definitely a big difference versus on the day.

 

Edit: I just had to check and it is, lol

[Hawkeye77]

Wife and youngest daughter took train from Kirkcaldy to Glasgow and back for an extended day trip - just asked the wife what she thought, she looked at me curiously and said, "it's a train."

 

Okay then.

[Walter]

I'm booked for Kingsbarns on the Monday of my trip, the Castle course on Tuesday, and the Old Course on Wednesday. I won't have a rental car, so are they any recommended courses within cab distance from St Andrews? Is the New, Eden, or Jubilee courses worth playing, or should I look out of town?

Kingsbarns Will be a great Monday opening round!

Are you Arriving on Sunday ? Because that gives a great opportunity to stroll/ walk on the old course since course is closed for golfers that day But open dor public..

I Would recomend Crail for a course close to st Andrews .

 

[Argonne69]

I'm booked for Kingsbarns on the Monday of my trip, the Castle course on Tuesday, and the Old Course on Wednesday. I won't have a rental car, so are they any recommended courses within cab distance from St Andrews? Is the New, Eden, or Jubilee courses worth playing, or should I look out of town?

Kingsbarns Will be a great Monday opening round!

Are you Arriving on Sunday ? Because that gives a great opportunity to stroll/ walk on the old course since course is closed for golfers that day But open dor public..

I Would recomend Crail for a course close to st Andrews .

 

I arrive in Glasgow around noon I believe, as I have to change planes in London. Another 90 minutes on the train, and then the bus from Leuchars, and I'll get in around 3 or 4 pm, so I doubt I'll have time to see much of the town. Since I'm only playing one round a day, instead of my usual two, I should have plenty of time to see the sights over the next four days.

[Walter]

I'm booked for Kingsbarns on the Monday of my trip, the Castle course on Tuesday, and the Old Course on Wednesday. I won't have a rental car, so are they any recommended courses within cab distance from St Andrews? Is the New, Eden, or Jubilee courses worth playing, or should I look out of town?

Kingsbarns Will be a great Monday opening round!

Are you Arriving on Sunday ? Because that gives a great opportunity to stroll/ walk on the old course since course is closed for golfers that day But open dor public..

I Would recomend Crail for a course close to st Andrews .

 

I arrive in Glasgow around noon I believe, as I have to change planes in London. Another 90 minutes on the train, and then the bus from Leuchars, and I'll get in around 3 or 4 pm, so I doubt I'll have time to see much of the town. Since I'm only playing one round a day, instead of my usual two, I should have plenty of time to see the sights over the next four days.

Sounds like a great relaxing trip!!! i'm a strong Crail Balcomie fan, and also don't forget to do the Himalaya's putting green, as it seems you will have plenty of time, best 3 pounds spent on my first trip !

[Hawkeye77]

Big Crail fan here as well. We did play the New and enjoyed it very much. We had been "assigned" the Castle but early in the game they substituted a round on the New for that after an email. No experience with Jubilee or Eden.

[Argonne69]

It appears that St Andrews doesn't give reserved tee times to singles on the other courses, even when one is booked on the Old Course through the singles lottery. That definitely throws a wrinkle into the plans. I can show up in the morning and hope to get on, or look elsewhere. I'll look at Crail for one of the rounds at least.

[az2au]

It appears that St Andrews doesn't give reserved tee times to singles on the other courses, even when one is booked on the Old Course through the singles lottery. That definitely throws a wrinkle into the plans. I can show up in the morning and hope to get on, or look elsewhere. I'll look at Crail for one of the rounds at least.

I've honestly never had a problem getting on as a single when I've been there. That's 5 different trips across as many years.

[Schley]

It appears that St Andrews doesn't give reserved tee times to singles on the other courses, even when one is booked on the Old Course through the singles lottery. That definitely throws a wrinkle into the plans. I can show up in the morning and hope to get on, or look elsewhere. I'll look at Crail for one of the rounds at least.

I've been twice as a single in the summer high season and didn't have a problem at all as I was flexible each day. I think St. Andrews is a great place for a single golf trip as there are so many options so close and being opportunistic each day was part of the fun each day for me.

[Argonne69]

Thanks, everyone. I guess I'll play it by ear for my final two days. With only one round to play each day, and a flexible schedule, I assume I'll be able to get on at some point.

[az2au]

Thanks, everyone. I guess I'll play it by ear for my final two days. With only one round to play each day, and a flexible schedule, I assume I'll be able to get on at some point.

Just walk over to the links clubhouse first thing in the AM and you’ll have options.

[tiderider]

i'd bet the bank you'll be able to get on ...

[duffer987]

Thanks, everyone. I guess I'll play it by ear for my final two days. With only one round to play each day, and a flexible schedule, I assume I'll be able to get on at some point.

Be interesting to see if you stick to that "one a day" plan ;)

If you get a stretch of good weather, it's pretty near impossible to resist the call of the links... well unless one too many pints is had at lunch, then that's a fairly strong call too.

As pointed out already, TOC, New, Jubilee, Eden are all cheek by jowel and easy walks. If you can stroll around town for the afternoon, walking those courses is pretty much the same.

[Argonne69]

Thanks, everyone. I guess I'll play it by ear for my final two days. With only one round to play each day, and a flexible schedule, I assume I'll be able to get on at some point.

Be interesting to see if you stick to that "one a day" plan ;)

If you get a stretch of good weather, it's pretty near impossible to resist the call of the links... well unless one too many pints is had at lunch, then that's a fairly strong call too.

As pointed out already, TOC, New, Jubilee, Eden are all cheek by jowel and easy walks. If you can stroll around town for the afternoon, walking those courses is pretty much the same.

 

Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if I doubled up on Thursday. The high point of the trip is my round on the Old Course on Wednesday. I tee off at 11:20 am, which is similar to my round at Pebble Beach in 2017. I plan to make a full day of it. I have an 11:00 am round on Tuesday at the Castle course, so it's doubtful that I'd be able to get in two rounds that day unless I teed off at sunrise. I expect I'll still be jet lagged, so rising before dawn is highly unlikely. I play Kingsbarns on Monday at 8:30 am. I was planning to spend the rest of the day strolling through town. Friday afternoon I'm heading back to Glasgow by train after a morning round, so again it's doubtful I'll play two that day.

[duffer987]

After marching up and down The Castle Course - if there was a day to definitely not play 36 that'd be it :) After KB, you'd definitely be able to get a round in on one of the Trust courses in town.

My first round on TOC came with 10mins notice (we were there to drop our names in the ballot and said we could join at twosome that was second up) so I didn't get that night before/morning build up you will. That'll seem like a long wait on the day, but in a neat Xmas eve way I am sure.

[mci711]

Has anyone shipped their clubs back to the US from St. Andrews? I am shocked that this isn't a service they provide. They recommended looking into "Mail boxes etc" does anyone have experience with this?

 

I am headed to Greece for a week after Scotland and can't bring the clubs.

[jvincent]

Shipsticks will run you just over a couple hundred bucks to St Andrews from most places in the states. If you can't take them with you then that's probably your best option.

[mci711]

Shipsticks will run you just over a couple hundred bucks to St Andrews from most places in the states. If you can't take them with you then that's probably your best option.

 

That is the plan. But where do I get them picked up from? Every time I have used shipsticks the club took care of making sure they got picked up and storing them until they did. I guess I could check with The Golf Inn where I am staying.

[davep043]

Shipsticks will run you just over a couple hundred bucks to St Andrews from most places in the states. If you can't take them with you then that's probably your best option.

 

That is the plan. But where do I get them picked up from? Every time I have used shipsticks the club took care of making sure they got picked up and storing them until they did. I guess I could check with The Golf Inn where I am staying.

There are facilities for Fedex and UPS (both using Mail Boxes Etc) and DHL in Market Street, St Andrews. I believe Shipsticks will use one of those. I'm certain The Golf Inn can also help, but I'd suggest you'll get the best info about Shipsticks by contacting Shipsticks directly. If its me, I might feel better about dropping them off myself directly with the courier.

[Hawkeye77]

Has anyone shipped their clubs back to the US from St. Andrews? I am shocked that this isn't a service they provide. They recommended looking into "Mail boxes etc" does anyone have experience with this?

 

I am headed to Greece for a week after Scotland and can't bring the clubs.

 

Maybe if you were staying there the hotel might, but not at all surprised in general the course doesn’t want to get involved in worrying about a bunch of random golf bags.

[Hawkeye77]

Airport probably an obvious drop as well.

[mci711]

Has anyone shipped their clubs back to the US from St. Andrews? I am shocked that this isn't a service they provide. They recommended looking into "Mail boxes etc" does anyone have experience with this?

 

I am headed to Greece for a week after Scotland and can't bring the clubs.

 

Maybe if you were staying there the hotel might, but not at all surprised in general the course doesn't want to get involved in worrying about a bunch of random golf bags.

 

Just about every major course I have ever played in the United States will take care of this for you. It is a surprisingly easy service to provide you have a room that stores packed clubs and the carrier picks them up. It is actually very surprising they don't, considering the amount of traveling players they have. I'll just chalk it up to the old school charm though, no big deal.

[davep043]

Has anyone shipped their clubs back to the US from St. Andrews? I am shocked that this isn't a service they provide. They recommended looking into "Mail boxes etc" does anyone have experience with this?

 

I am headed to Greece for a week after Scotland and can't bring the clubs.

 

Maybe if you were staying there the hotel might, but not at all surprised in general the course doesn't want to get involved in worrying about a bunch of random golf bags.

 

Just about every major course I have ever played in the United States will take care of this for you. It is a surprisingly easy service to provide you have a room that stores packed clubs and the carrier picks them up. It is actually very surprising they don't, considering the amount of traveling players they have. I'll just chalk it up to the old school charm though, no big deal.

It might also be an issue with the sheer volume of visiting players, and having 6 courses under their management. I've never used Shipsticks, but I bet most of the hotels in town have experience, and the local offices for the major courier services certainly have experience. I've never looked into it, but I wonder if you could save a couple of dollars by dealing directly with Fedex or UPS.

[mci711]

Has anyone shipped their clubs back to the US from St. Andrews? I am shocked that this isn't a service they provide. They recommended looking into "Mail boxes etc" does anyone have experience with this?

 

I am headed to Greece for a week after Scotland and can't bring the clubs.

 

Maybe if you were staying there the hotel might, but not at all surprised in general the course doesn't want to get involved in worrying about a bunch of random golf bags.

 

Just about every major course I have ever played in the United States will take care of this for you. It is a surprisingly easy service to provide you have a room that stores packed clubs and the carrier picks them up. It is actually very surprising they don't, considering the amount of traveling players they have. I'll just chalk it up to the old school charm though, no big deal.

It might also be an issue with the sheer volume of visiting players, and having 6 courses under their management. I've never used Shipsticks, but I bet most of the hotels in town have experience, and the local offices for the major courier services certainly have experience. I've never looked into it, but I wonder if you could save a couple of dollars by dealing directly with Fedex or UPS.

 

True. In my experience dealing directly with them has been more expensive actually. I guess they have some sort of deal with Shipsticks and they are able to offer a cheaper price. Plus they run 15-20% off deals quite often. Worst case scenario I leave my clubs in Scotland and have to go back and get them at a later time....and play all of the courses again.

[az2au]

Shipsticks will run you just over a couple hundred bucks to St Andrews from most places in the states. If you can't take them with you then that's probably your best option.

 

That is the plan. But where do I get them picked up from? Every time I have used shipsticks the club took care of making sure they got picked up and storing them until they did. I guess I could check with The Golf Inn where I am staying.

I had to go to India for work the week after my last trip so I shipped my clubs back home instead of taking them. They were picked up from the Hilton in Edinburgh (where I stayed the night before I left) with no issue and were already back at my club before I left India.