OPB'S East Lothian and St Andrews adventures (pic heavy)

[Stall]

If it was me, I would swap out one of your Fairmont courses for the Jubilee course. Or even play Crails other course - Craighead. I really don't have any love for the Fairmont courses, but thats me.

 

I say that as a Scottish native who has played them all plenty of times. Old/New/Jubilee and Kingsbarns are my top 4 in the St Andrews area.

[duffer987]

If it was me, I would swap out one of your Fairmont courses for the Jubilee course. Or even play Crails other course - Craighead. I really don't have any love for the Fairmont courses, but thats me.

 

I say that as a Scottish native who has played them all plenty of times. Old/New/Jubilee and Kingsbarns are my top 4 in the St Andrews area.

 

I'd swap them both out :)

It's 5 miles or less from the Fairmont to the first tees at Old/New/Eden/Jubilee.

[One_Putt_Blunder]

I stayed at the Fairmont had a look at the courses, Is playing their two courses a must? Both Gullane no 1 or 2 and N Berwick would be a much more memorable 36 than the 2 Fairmont. Downside is that is easier said than done depending on your transportation options, morning traffic etc. Good luck in the lottery too.

 

I am working on the rota for my next trip, I loved both those courses so much I am trying to find a way to make them fit in the itinerary, but it would mean denying the 3 guys I would go with the chance to play TOC for their 1st time, or all of us missing Dornoch/Brora and I do not want to do that.

 

Yeah honestly on this trip - or any really - I don't have any interest in spending all that time in the car. Berwick is @ a 5 hour round trip from there - without serious traffic - or so I'm told by the guy who's booking all of this for us. That's @ a full round of golf we'd miss out on. The Fairmont courses will work fine, we're scheduled to play them on our arrival day and the morning after so they will be good warmups.

 

Its a balancing act. Honestly I'm thrilled I was able to get 4 people to agree to the same dates at a particular pricepoint and with a loose outline of courses. LOL its a lot harder than I thought it would be. But we all agreed that we'd stay in one spot this time around if we could and frankly that's the way I prefer to do these kinds of trips anyway.

 

BTW that's not to say NB isn't amazing, by all accounts it is. If we had two weeks instead of one we probably would have worked it in. We even inquired about taking a helicopter down for the day but that was (cough) not really in anyone's pricepoint.

 

How was the hotel overall?

 

Hotel was itself is very very nice, the bell staff is first rate, room was big comfortable and very nice. Not afraid to admit I more than appreciated the large soaking tub in the bathroom. Felt great to get a nice hot soak after 36 hole days. Downside is food meh, breakfast was ok, the Italian place in there was kinda bland, pizza better than the pasta their charcuterie table looked like it might be the best bet. Also they close fairly early like 9:30ish so if can not make it back in the hotel after golf by 9-9:15 make sure you get a bite to eat in town. The do make and deliver pizza via room service up until 10pm.

 

Cab fare to and from St Andrews city center is about 10 pounds each way and while the hotel has a free shuttle it stops at 5 or 6 pm so if you head into town for dinners or pubs etc plan on quite a few cab trips.

[One_Putt_Blunder]

Folks stayed over longer and now that their back mom emailed these to me.

[beluga99]

Fantastic thread. Amazing photos and insights. Sort of like a Lonely Planet guide to golf in Scotland. Thanks for taking to time to document it all, along with the recommendations and additional non golfing tips and tricks.

[flog2]

Dunhill Trophy starts tomorrow there so a topical thread, again.

[One_Putt_Blunder]

Fantastic thread. Amazing photos and insights. Sort of like a Lonely Planet guide to golf in Scotland. Thanks for taking to time to document it all, along with the recommendations and additional non golfing tips and tricks.

 

Thank you and thanks for the thread bump gave me a chance to go back through the pics again and kill some time at work lol

[Walter]

Wow I only found your thread now !

I went overthrew last year the week after you and your family :-).

I also played Kingsbarns, Crail Balcomie and Carnoustie, we stayed at Hotel Du Vin behind the R&A Clubhouse.

Great memories to relive .

 

All the best

[One_Putt_Blunder]

Wow I only found your thread now !

I went overthrew last year the week after you and your family :-).

I also played Kingsbarns, Crail Balcomie and Carnoustie, we stayed at Hotel Du Vin behind the R&A Clubhouse.

Great memories to relive .

 

All the best

 

Thank you and thanks for the bump to remind me of this thread so I could go back and relive some of these memories this morning.

[Walter]

Wow I only found your thread now !

I went overthrew last year the week after you and your family :-).

I also played Kingsbarns, Crail Balcomie and Carnoustie, we stayed at Hotel Du Vin behind the R&A Clubhouse.

Great memories to relive .

 

All the best

 

Thank you and thanks for the bump to remind me of this thread so I could go back and relive some of these memories this morning.

My pleasure Sir ??

 

Wow I only found your thread now !

I went overthrew last year the week after you and your family :-).

I also played Kingsbarns, Crail Balcomie and Carnoustie, we stayed at Hotel Du Vin behind the R&A Clubhouse.

Great memories to relive .

 

All the best

 

Thank you and thanks for the bump to remind me of this thread so I could go back and relive some of these memories this morning.

My pleasure Sir ??

[BUCKEYERBALL88]

Is skipping muirfield a mistake?

[Gem]

Mirfield is fantastic and worth playing but is expensive.

 

I don't mind the Fairmount courses but they wouldn't be picks if travelling for a proper golf trip.

Better to look elsewhere. I'd try Ladybank, Blairgowrie or even Scots Craig. Nice heathland tracks.

[One_Putt_Blunder]

Is skipping muirfield a mistake?

 

I had no regrets, had one of my acquaintances telling me story about him being refused play unless they bought new trousers because there's were slightly wrinkled(they went straight to Muirfield upon landing in Edinburgh) I read over their rules etc, it all just seemed like way to much pomp and circumstance for a pleeb like myself.

[Gem]

Is skipping muirfield a mistake?

 

I had no regrets, had one of my acquaintances telling me story about him being refused play unless they bought new trousers because there's were slightly wrinkled(they went straight to Muirfield upon landing in Edinburgh) I read over their rules etc, it all just seemed like way to much pomp and circumstance for a pleeb like myself.

 

I couldn't blame anyone for taking this view either but it is an amazing course if you do put up with their pomp.