Scotland Golf Trip 101 (The Compass Guide)

[scott_Donald]

I remember playing the St Olaf a lot as a kid with my friend, his mother is still a member there, I just play Cruden Bay a couple times a year with my dad.

Surely you can just play some good loops round Cruden Bay the way it is laid out?

I am a member of Royal Aberdeen, we just got sent a new updated calendar for the year and looks ok.

[TheInfidel]

What would be on the hit list for Links golf in Wales? Newport, Porthcawl?

[duffer987]

Aberdovey is good fun, joined 3 members for a match and we lost on the 18th. Played it and Porthcawl (the more grownup of the two) over a weekend last September. Would definitely recommend them. They both have some plain bits, with a smattering of proper dunes thrown in.

Barmouth made an excellent base. Really good chippy in town, with a couple nice sitdown options.

[Chanceman]

The main ones are

South: Royal Porthcawl, Southerndown, Pennard, Tenby,

West: Aberdovey, Royal St Davids, Porthmadog, Nefyn & District

North: Conwy, Anglesey

I believe Nefyn is a wild clifftop course while Pennard has great wraps.

[TheInfidel]

Hey guys,

Quick heads up for UK based golfers and anyone who is making a trip north in the coming weeks or months.

Castle Stuart are currently offering an £80 green fee per golfer, but I don't think it's being widely advertised, if at all. I've booked a 4 Ball for later this month. Really looking forward to it.

Stay safe and play well.

[scott_Donald]

wow the must be really struggling, the course is certainly worth 80 but no the full price. to me the best things about golfing there was the clubhouse, and the views for 3 holes.

[duffer987]

I think being on the green fees page of their website makes it fairly obvious ;-) GREEN FEES | Castle Stuart Golf LinksIf I was a local, I'd be playing a lot of golf there in July!

[Hawkeye77]

Sounds like a great deal. I see The Old Course is making some times available, but looks to be another drawing kind of process. Guessing it relates to cancellations due to the closure.

[TheInfidel]

Thanks.

Just spoke with the booking team when taking our payment. They updated the website over the weekend to include the July offer. I arranged our time last week when it was the regular schedule of fees.

 

 

[duffer987]

Nice :-) Along with The European Club, I think CS is the 'best' modern UK/Ireland links I've played. Hopefully you get some fun/playable weather.

[flushem]

For the upcoming trip, is it better to buy a cheap push/pull cart in Scotland and dump, or to rent a push cart at courses?

[scott_Donald]

that's for my course -CADDY INFORMATION

Caddies on request - £50.00

Club hire - £45.00

Pull Trolley hire - £7.00

Electric Trolley - £15.00

Ride on Buggies - £75.00 We have a limited number of buggies which must be driven by a caddy, this cost is included in the price listed. (Medical certificate required all year round)

[hammergolf]

You're looking between 5 to 10 pounds per round to rent one. A cheap pull cart will run you about 40 - 50 pounds so you may save a few pounds.

[TheInfidel]

Where you flying into? I could lend you a 3 Wheeler.

[flushem]

Edinburgh. But not until next Spring. I guess I will rent trolley or hire a caddy. Thanx for the offer though. You are very kind. Certainly I will ask more questions later.

[TheInfidel]

Well if you need one and it saves you £50 of beer money I'll hook you up. I live 6 miles from the airport.

[flushem]

I shall keep that in mind.

Here are some questions:

is electric trolley remote controlled? what company offers better rental car? Arnold Clark or Hertz?is it better to buy golf supply locally such as golf balls?

[flushem]

 

I wonder what the likelihood of getting a tee time thru 48 hour ballot at TOC for a foursome next year.

[hammergolf]

If you are flexible and can pick several different days I would say 70%.

[hammergolf]

Depending on the model, some have a sensor that stays a certain distance from you, and others you have a throttle that you use.

I use Enterprise when I go since that is who I use here and I have points.

With the exchange rate you generally pay more for things there.

[scott_Donald]

I would say the opposite; being Scottish and living in Texas, it is far more expensive here. If I have to use my UK credit cards then everything works out far more expensive. at 1.50 to the pound America was cheap but because of stupid Brexit everything has crashed!

[hammergolf]

Just looked at prices for Pro V1. They are £42.50 in Scotland which is about $55 plus any foreign transaction fee that may be applicable. They are $48 here.

[flushem]

As usual, thank you for the feedback. They are so valuable and precious.

[scott_Donald]

Tax is always has to be added to the US price.

Loaf of bread in US - 5.99$ plus tax for a decent non crappy ingredient bread - in the UK 1.10 pounds including tax.

80 range balls at public course I go to most days to practice here - 9$, my local range in Scotland; 100 balls for 6.50 pounds.

Dinner for two people in US - 70$; dinner for 2 in UK 50 pounds.

In the last 3 years the exchange rate has gone fro 1.54 to 1.15 and up and down from 1.30. right now if you use paypal using a UK credit card in the US you get 1.18 to the pound. UK is cheap for Americans. I live with the exchange rate every day!

[hammergolf]

Fj weathersof glove in Scotland is 10 pounds, which is $13 PLUS any international fees on a credit or debit card. The same glove in the US is around $11.50 INCLUDING sales tax. A pair of FJ Tour S shoes in Scotland is 112 pounds, which is $146 plus any international transacation fee, The same shoe here is $116 including tax. Once again, I'm just answering OP's question about should he buy his golf supplies here or in Scotland. It's obviously cheaper to buy them here than Scotland.....

[flushem]

gentlemen good info.

 

few bucks/pounds would not kill the deal. I don't wanna pay extra airline fees for a stupid dozen of balls. every ounce and pound counts.

[scott_Donald]

Secret is to earn pounds and use them in the UK. Earn dollars and use them in the US.

I would always buy balls locally, I have balls in Texas and balls in Scotland to use.

I just wish the exchange rate would go back to pre Brexit 1.50!

If you can get a pre set card without fees and actually give you a good exchange rate then you will be fine.

[duffer987]

I feel your pain having a toe dipped in accounts in different locales, but now as a USDer Brexit has been fantastic for my hols budget ;-)

That said I think it directly impacted the tourist trail courses in the UK and Ireland to the detriment of anyone in Europe/UK who wants to play them, as they upped their rates more than usual the past 5 years.

[flushem]

I secured tee times at Muirfield and Carnoustie during my 6 golf day journey in St Andrews area.   I will have to go through 48 hr ballot at TOC.  

Then I will have to choose good 4 courses.....  so many choices to choose from.

[hammergolf]

21 hours ago, flushem said:

I secured tee times at Muirfield and Carnoustie during my 6 golf day journey in St Andrews area.   I will have to go through 48 hr ballot at TOC.  

Then I will have to choose good 4 courses.....  so many choices to choose from.

Awesome! What days of the week are you playing Muirfiled and Carnoustie? Hopefully you are playing on a Tuesday at Muirfield so you'll have Thursday free. With the exception being Muirfield you can apply for the ballot every day and if you win it on the day you are scheduled, Carnoustie are usually helpful in swapping your time if they have space available on another day. if you enter the ballot 5 times you will have a very good chance of getting TOC. Just rember when you do enter, make sure to get a caddie for each player. Not sure if it's really true, but it seems to help the odds. Thursday is your best chance of getting TOC since almost all of the times that day are for ballot requests. If you are going to be in St. Andrews your have plenty of options. Might not be a bad idea to get a 3 day ticket for the St. Andrews courses. You have The New, Jubilee, and Castle which are all good, plus the Eden. It's really reasonable too, depending on the time of year it's anywhere from 150 pounds to 250 pounds for unlimited golf and if you have a group of two or more you can get 1 guaranteed time per day. This gives you 7 days to use the 3 play days so it would work in perfect for your time there.

Edited August 25, 2020 by hammergolf