Father son Scotland trip

[charles1990r]

Ah yes 2bgood we have nicola sturgeon as our first minister and at moment inside shops or restaurants its law we have to wear masks, my home club blairgowrie have just opened the clubhouse ..well tomorrow.

[scott_Donald]

Scotland is not closed, just currently you have to quarantine from the USA, which is peeing me off!!!Seems though that access will still be limited in y clubhouse ut its stupid old and traditional so narrow corridor etc.

After a month of masks here, I think it is a good thing to allow things to get back to normal. I visited Japan in February and we were saying wow all the non locals wearing masks, just looked wrong but in the end Japan; where masks are everyday item and they actually listen and obey rules - works.

[duffer987]

Can you blame them? ;-) There's noise it gets extended to coming up from South of the Border (the Hadrian wall one).

I'm going up to Canada next month and will have to spend two weeks at home before I go out and see my friends and then I'm thinking of a car hire so no one tries to run me and my US-plated car off the road or key it, lol not lol.

To the point about refunds, that's the good thing about the less touristed courses you don't need to do the outlay in the first place. And playing as a twosome makes it easier still to slot in somewhere. Get a couple marquee times sorted out and the rest really can be done just before knowing everything is good to go.

[jonnymc44]

My dad played Blairgowrie last year and loved it and have only seen and heard good things elsewhere. I keep meaning to play as I drive past on the A9. Had a voucher for reduced green fees to play but wasn't up in Scotland before it expired.

We've still not managed to open our clubhouse in England. They can't do it safely enough apparently. It's an old clubhouse without any seating outdoors with single entry/exit from the main door + entry/exit from changing rooms.

[2bGood]

Sorry, yes two week quarantine, which does not make most golf trips practical. My point is keep in mind potential disruptions to your travel plans

[scott_Donald]

agreed.

also right now you can't get back into the USA unless you are a citizen or green card.

I am stuck in Texas.

[Zski]

I’m taking a leap of faith that we have either herd immunity or a vaccine by next May. The U.K. will likely allow US tourism because of how much money it brings in.

if preswick ST Nicks and WK are a coin flip PStN is about 45 mins less drive time each way so that could determine it

[charles1990r]

Yeah im a member up blairgowrie and you can not go wrong the rosemount is the better course but all 3 courses are beautiful and flat too so no walking up hills. i played crail today and forgot how hilly balcomie was i am worn out and i flipping run and gym so beware of crail is nice thou. look if your coming all way to scotland people bloody play the old course and play north berwick the extra pennies are worth it and you only live once people. play north berwick which is half a hour ish form edinburgh and go up to play st andrews old or kingsbarns trust me you wont regret it.

[davep043]

As I remember, the toughest climb at Balcomie is from the 18th green up to the bar!

[Bargegolf]

Perhaps but the best moments for me at Balcomie are the driveable par 4 to start, followed by the the toughest par 4 in Scotland on the front nine, Then the Uphill par 3 Down hill par 4 sequence before drinking to Shivas Irons in the cAve

And then playing the Oceanside holes on the back nine. Best part, the generous welcome to the clubhouse from the Club captain and other members after the round. Great memories of Crail.

 

The Gil Hanse course is a must play as well.

[Zski]

We are staying at Turnberry for free using Marriott points so I kind of feel we have to play Ailsa which is incredibly expensive forcing some choices to play lower cost courses elsewhere. Ailsa is rated either #1 or 2 in Scotland in most rankings so if we don’t get on The old course at least we will had that

In my past trips I’ve found I’ve enjoyed the local private courses the best with my favorite in Scotland Dunbar and in Ireland Dooks so I don’t feel I’m giving up much by trying lesser know courses in doing this.

we will try the ballot for the old course on the days we are in Fife of course

I found North Berwick the stuffiest of the Clubs (I understand Muirfield is even more so) and I don’t want my teen son to be Uncomfortable so I am purposely skipping it.

[charles1990r]

North berwick.... stuffy... i see your point a lot of older members and clubhouse rules generally people are friendly and its a beautiful course, u must of been unlucky as north berwick is not muirfield by a long shot , north berwick is mainly friendly and easy going. dunbar is good too thou. yes trump put all the prices at turnberry up like 150% lol we are not a fan of your president here. turnberry is beautiful thou and trumps changes are good i admit. gleneagles if u like parkland after 3pm its 180 for a 2ball... not bad and you get on the ryder cup course?? gleneagles is about a hour and half from turnberry thou.

[charles1990r]

[duffer987]

Agreed. NB have been fab, both with our group of 6 and me ringing up and getting a next day round as a single.

Bar staff are a hoot and the secretary and starter have been grand. Similar experience at Prestwick and Western Gailes. Not to say other clubs haven't been decent or better - or that I particularly care, I just want to tee off :-) - but those 3 stand out in my experience.

[Schley]

I had a welcoming time at north Berwick as well. Ate in the clubhouse after and had a very nice caddie Pat.