Combined Ireland-Scotland Golf Trip?

[mpm1960]

Was asked recently if it was possible to play golf in both Ireland AND Scotland on the same trip ... didn't see a great deal of information available on an itinerary for both countries through an internet search, so I thought I'd post my question here.

Was wondering if this was feasible?

Friday - Depart from US

Saturday - Arrive in Dublin, Ireland

Sunday - Play Royal Dublin

Monday - Play County Louth

Tuesday - Play Portmarnock

Wednesday - Travel by air from Dublin to Edinburgh, then train to St. Andrews

Thursday - Play Crail

Friday - Play St. Andrews OLD

Saturday - Play Kingsbarns

Sunday - Train to Edinburgh, depart to US

Thanks for any/all responses ...

Mike

Ft. Mitchell, KY

[jas904]

I've been to Scotland three times. I have not been to Ireland yet but am in the planning stages for a September 2017 trip. To answer your question, it depends what you are looking to accomplish. I suppose that your itinerary is doable however I personally would caution against it. The reason I say this is because the town of St Andrews is so cool that you would only be skimming the surface. I just wonder that once you leave if you would be questioning yourself, wishing that you would have been able to do more. The three St Andrews courses you have listed are wonderful, absolutely must plays however there's tons more. One evening we hung out behind the 18th green at the Old Course watching the late golfers come in and placing bets on them. This was with a few groups of others like us from all over the U.S. Other evenings Dunvegans and Jigger Inn. It's fun hanging out with a bunch of guys from all over the world who are doing the same thing your are. We've met some great guys this was sharing stories about the courses you have played. Also, the cathedral/cemetery, castle ruins, St Andrews University. Not to mention the other courses; New, Jubilee, go to Anstruther for the "best fish and chips in the UK" and play Lundin, Elie, and Carnoustie. All these courses are part of the St Andrews trip.

 

I don't have any experience in Ireland but from what I have been reading it seems similar. Although it seems the pub experience may be even better. I guess it depends on what you want to accomplish. Do you want to say you have been there and check off a couple courses or do you want to really experience it?

[North Butte]

That looks like 10 days and several thousand dollars to play six rounds of golf. About the only reason to be so wasteful of time and money in my opinion is to say "I played in both Ireland and Scotland on one trip".

 

Apologize if this sounds insulting but it just seems a pretty silly plan to me. My advice is choose one or the other and go play golf there.

 

As the previous reply noted if you want to do Saint Andrews you can spend over a week there and never come close to exhausting all the help standing links golf possibilities.

 

Conversely if you want to experience golf in Ireland why limit yourself to three courses which arguably are not even in the top 10 best of Irish golf.

 

PS: I would suspect the train thing in Scotland will be rather limiting in your options. Hiring a car upon arrival is the way to go, that way you don't have to choose between playing only courses near a train station versus paying a fortune in long distance cab fares or something.

[jas904]

I didn't even think about the transportation issue. A car is a must. Driving is really no big deal, just bring with you an international GPS and remember to always keep your right shoulder in the center of the road. The train doesn't even stop in St Andrews. The closest train station is Leuchars which is 10 minutes away by car.

[North Butte]

One additional wrinkle. If you are traveling alone you can't just make a tee time for a given day and play the Old Course. Unless you have two people to go on the ballot it may take you several mornings of waiting around to get on alone, although probably not that bad most times.

 

It may also be tricky to get on the Dublin area private courses at weekends. And if you can get on the price will be higher than their already exorbitant visitor fees during the week.

[puttnforthe8]

Yes this a very doable schedule.

 

Only question is why are you not doing more golf? There is plenty of room for additional rounds. 36 at St Andrews should be a strong consideration.

 

Depending on when you get to Dublin and how you are feeling you could add a round there...I would consider the Island. Or Monday when you are out at Baltray(Co Louth) you could do your 2nd 18 at the Island.

[Trapperchamonix]

Elementally do able. The flight from Dublin to Edinburgh is less than 1 hour.

I agree with puttnforthe8, its well worth adding a couple of more courses in the Dublin Area, The Island (As a member I'm biased) and Portmarnock Links are well worth adding to your schedule. You need to be clear the difference between Portmornock GC opened in 1871 and the Bernard Langer designed Portmornock Links Opened circa 1990. If you are confident driving, you can stay in the centre of Dublin and have all that it offers. If you are less confident, base yourself in Malahide and you could organize a driver or taxis.

 

North Butte is right that the courses mentioned are member courses and so at the weekend the tee times are usually reserved for members. However you can see on a separate link a way you can play a public links in the morning to get you warmed up and then play a 2nd course in the afternoon. See this link

http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/1299376-need-1-more-course-in-ireland-portmarnock/

 

 

As an alternative you could base yourself in Belfast and play a mixture of Portrush, Portstewart, Ardglass and the wonderful Royal County Down. Then take a ferry to the West Coast of Scotland and choose from a host of courses ( Turnberry Troon Prestwick Western Gailes, Glasgow Gailes etc).

 

If you really want to be adventurous you can get a ferry from Northern Ireland to Scotland (Ballycastle to Campbelltown) and play Machrihanish and Machrihanish Dunes. Not for the faint hearted

or those prone to seasickness :taunt:

[Shemp]

I've done it. Direct flight Newark to Edinburgh. Picked up by our guide.. direct to North Berwick for a noontime round. Stayed in Edinburgh for 3 nights, at the Hotel Du Vin. Monday, Gullaine. Tuesday Muirfield. Wednesday depart Edinburgh play Kings Course at Gleneagles, dinner at a chippie on Troon Harbor then catch a ferry to Belfast. Check into hotel visit the Titanic Experience north to Royal Portrush. Thursday night back in Belfast (Malmaison Hotel... quite good). Friday Royal County Down. Fly home Saturday morning from Belfast to Newark. Great trip.

[Trapperchamonix]

I've done it. Direct flight Newark to Edinburgh. Picked up by our guide.. direct to North Berwick for a noontime round. Stayed in Edinburgh for 3 nights, at the Hotel Du Vin. Monday, Gullaine. Tuesday Muirfield. Wednesday depart Edinburgh play Kings Course at Gleneagles, dinner at a chippie on Troon Harbor then catch a ferry to Belfast. Check into hotel visit the Titanic Experience north to Royal Portrush. Thursday night back in Belfast (Malmaison Hotel... quite good). Friday Royal County Down. Fly home Saturday morning from Belfast to Newark. Great trip.

 

That's a particularly high quality list of Golf courses. You should go to the head of the class.

[Cwing]

Hey neighbor (Florence, Ky), any luck with your trip?

[mpm1960]

Hey neighbor (Florence, Ky), any luck with your trip?

 

Howdy, neighbor! No luck yet ... still trying to figure out where we want to play "across the pond." At times, we're focused on Ireland, and at other times we're talking about Scotland. The reason for my first post was that I have one buddy who insists on promoting the idea of visiting both places so we can experience the best of both countries. There's been several revisions to the itinerary that I shared in my first post, but nothing to-date has been determined.

 

BTW, just played Lassing Pointe last Friday ... carts were on the paths because of the heavy rain that fell on Thursday, but the course was in great shape. The pin on 18 was in the back, which is the first time I've seen it placed way back there. We finished 18 and then headed to the clubhouse, which was a good idea because the thunderstorm was rolling in about that time. :-)

 

Thanks for asking!

 

Mike

Ft. Mitchell, KY

[buckI]

The trip you suggest is doable but personally I would recommend going to one or the other. There are so many great courses and areas of each country that you can enjoy and wish you had more time. I'd take the days and hit multiple sections of Ireland or add in Northern Ireland or do multiple areas of Scotland and add in some time to see the sights. If you have never been to either, I'd pick the country you really want to go do and plan a great itinerary for that.

[katbird]

I'm driving around in just Scotland for 3 weeks....5 days south of Glasgow, before heading north for a weekend in Aviemore (mid-highlands for photography mostly), on the way to 5 days north in Golspie (early life area of Donald Ross) for some more photography in the deep north, and golf, of course....and then back south again to Stirling, an hour from Glasgow and Edinburgh, for 3 days of blues and jazz in Callander and 7 more days to tour/golf.

I figure to get in 8 days of rounds and a lot of hiking off the courses as well....So much to do off the course there to consider Ireland....

[thecraw]

No rush, our courses will still be here on your return visit. Don't forget to visit Argyll.