Solo Scotland Trip - June 2020

[spud3]

Well, it's my turn to start a Headed-To-Scotland thread. After years of humming and hawing, I figured I ain't getting any younger and it was time to get over there. I'll be spending a week in St Andrews and East Lothian mid-June, after a ten day trip to Wales and Edinburgh with Mrs. Spud. It's an anniversary trip, and we both have family lineage in the area. The way I sold this was to mention to her that, if it was okay that I tag an extra week alone in Scotland playing golf, then I wouldn't be pouting about not playing while we were there. This miraculously worked, and she's heading back after our ten days walking around Wales and Edinburgh together. She's a gem, my missus. My thinking is that after that Trip Of A Lifetime, I'll get a bonus Golf Trip Of A Lifetime. I have my accomodations all reserved and a few of the rounds. I tried for the Singles Lottery for TOC, but was unsuccessful (feh). I found some matches on Ballot Buddy, so we'll try the two-day ballot, and failing that, I'm prepared to get in line at O-dark-thirty.

 

Here's the (pretty well) finalized schedule:

Saturday - train to St A, arrive early/mid-afternoon, walk-on St A course

Sunday - 36 at Crail, Craighead-9:10am & Balcomie-2:20pm (both reserved) since TOC is closed

Monday - TOC and/or Castle/New/Jubilee

Tuesday - TOC and/or Castle/New/Jubilee; train to NB 

Wednesday - 36 at Gullane, #2-11:04am & #1-4:00pm (both reserved)

Thursday - Muirfield or Kilspindie/Luffness

Friday - N Berwick - 1:36pm (reserved) optional Glen in the morning

Saturday - train to Glasgow, fly out

 

I'm leaving the days in St A very flexible, as I don't know which day I'll be playing TOC. What I've read in trip reports here (and confirmed by the good folks at the St A Trust) is walking on as a single on the other courses there isn't much of a problem. I'm going to try to alternate 18 and 36 hole days, as that's about what my 59 year old frame can handle these days. Muirfield is a longshot, but I'm on the waiting list and will call a couple days ahead of time to see if the gods have smiled on me. If that doesn't happen, then one or both of Kilspindie/Luffness will be the backup. I'm super excited that N Berwick will be my final round in Scotland. Other than TOC, it's the one I'm most excited about playing (and I'm excited about playing all of them).

 

I'm shipping clubs one way with ShipSticks so they will be waiting for me in St A, and we don't have to haul those around with us for the Wales portion of the trip. We're flying Iceland Air and taking advantage of their Extended Layover plan to spend a couple days in Reykjavik on the way. I have resolved not to buy a sweater while I'm there...

 

In St A, I'm staying at Five Pilmour Place, just around the corner from TOC. In East Lothian, I'll be at The Folly B&B in Berwick, and fully realize that I may be tempting fates staying at a place named as such. It's just a place to crash, and it's right across the street from the N Berwick clubhouse.

 

After much deliberation, I've decided not to rent a car for the trip. I'll be taking the train to St A from Glasgow, where my wife will be departing from, then a bus or taxi to Crail from St A. The rest of the courses in St A are walkable from the B&B or a short taxi, and all the clubs in Berwick are a short bus or taxi ride. The money saved is enough for another night's stay. I also opted not to go for Carnoustie or Kingsbarns, as I could play two or more courses for the cost of a single round at either. They will be in the rota if/when I get back.

 

More updates as things get more settled, but I'm pretty stoked about the whole thing.

 

[Max21]

Sounds awesome. I just planned my trip for September and I cannot stop thinking about it. Everyone is calling me crazy lol

[davep043]

Looks like a great schedule! We had a good experience with IcelandAir. The layover in Iceland is interesting, everyone flies in at essentially the same time, and then everyone flies out, so for a couple of hours the terminal is absolutely packed. But it worked out just fine, only a slight delay for our leg to Glasgow. You'll find a ton of places to eat and drink in both St Andrews and North Berwick, I won't suggest anything there, but between your rounds in Gullane I'd recommend the Old Clubhouse Inn, maybe 300 yards from the Visitors Clubhouse, and the 18th on Course 2.

[Hawkeye77]

Cucina Amore - must eat place for dinner in North Berwick. The husband/wife that own and run it are awesome, server incredible.

Lobster Shack - it's pricey and we only ate there once, but it was worth it one time!

[Dr. Hack]

Sounds great! Well done!

[Sir Larry Wildman]

Where are you shipping your clubs? To the course or to the hotel?

[Superbrit]

The chances of getting on the TOC through the ballot is very slim, so don't get your hopes up on that, but queuing usually does get you on, eventually, i've known 23rd reserve get on, so if there are 20 people in the queue don't be put off, also in June it probably wont get dark till about 9.00 - 9.30, but will usually mean a long wait. obviously depending what time you get there to queue (ive seen people queue at 9 o'clock the night before!)

 

Good luck, it will be the best day of your golfing life!

 

 

[duffer987]

Good stuff Spud :-)

All the rounds at Bandon over the years will leave you in good stead. You're going to have a great time with TOC, N.B. and the rest! My only quibble would be Castle and not Eden. Not a Castle fan either way, but I think Eden is really neat, with some excellent holes out on the estuary. Have you played Tetherow? Can't help feeling that'd be a similar experience to Castle Course - basically DMK's trying to be clever phase.

[jimb6golf]

Getting excited about my own trip in July this year. Planning to play several of the St A's courses and then venture out to Carnoustie or some other course in the area. As it will only be tow of us playing we're tempting fate and just getting tee times when we get there I think and trying the 2 day lottery, or possibly waiting in line early in the morning, for TOC. Still lots to plan but it's looking like a fun trip to St A's and Edinburgh with my wife and another couple.

[spud3]

To the B&B in St Andrews. I'll bring them back on the plane with me coming home. Just wanted to make sure they got there and that I didn't have to lug them around for two weeks.

[spud3]

Good info. I have played Tetherow (before it was "softened") and found it a bit tricked up, but I do like DMK's course designs, generally. I have read a lot of differing opinions here on the Castle course, so I thought I'd check it out for myself. I wasn't excluding Eden specifically; given the uncertainty of playing TOC, the days in St A are essentially wide open. I'll let the Golf Gods determine which of the other Trust courses I get on.

[Dr. Hack]

Castle looks amazing as long as you don’t get hung up on counting your putts.

[babyfade]

You'll a find a lot of crazy and addicted people in the UK forum.

[philsRHman]

Awesome, sounds like my trip. I’m inside 10 weeks and freaking out a bit. Key difference is I’m opening in East Lothian and closing in SA, just worked out better with my timing.

[spud3]

Yeah, I had thought about reversing the order (EL first, then StA), but I had to get my singles ballot entry in and at the time that was the only dates I could count on. Kind of a bummer that you have to wait on the ballot results before you can really make reservations and such. There were several lodging options that basically need booking a year out, and I had to wait to find out if I had a guaranteed TOC time. Turns out I scored a big fat zilch on that, so it's Ballot Buddy and the long overnight queue for me. No matter.

 

I also have my name in the hat for the off chance that I can slide into Muirfield, which I would consider a major coup. Got a couple other EL courses at the ready if that doesn't happen. I love the fact that the way things worked out North Berwick is going to be my last round in Scotland. Other than TOC, I'm most excited about playing there.

 

 

Question for the field:

I know I will need to have my USGA Handicap proof on me. Is the USGA app enough, or do I need to print out my card?

[davep043]

I THINK the app should work. I KNOW that a printed copy of your card will work. Personally, I'd go with the printed version. If you've planned this much already, you'll know that they're really good about responding to emailed questions. If there's any doubt, ask them.

[Hawkeye77]

We had printed copies just to avoid all sorts of imagined issues with phone, lol. Too chicken to trust it. He definitely looked them over. Comp I played in last summer I sent a different course over there a screen shot of my card as it appeared on GHIN, no problem, so I'm sure if I'd shown up and used my phone it wouldn't have been an issue.

[Zigzog]

I doubt you will be asked to prove your handicap, I never have had to ever - but no harm in being safe I guess.

[davep043]

The only time I needed proof of my handicap was at the Old Course, but the starter there definitely took a good look

[duffer987]

Take a screenshot on your phone of your Index card from the GHIN app before you leave.