St. Andrews pilgrimage advice and tips for planning

jkumpire · September 17, 2019

> @scott_Donald said:

> > @jkumpire said:

> > Hello! Sorry to stick my nose in here, but is March too early to play in Scotland? I know that most people say the shoulder season starts in April, but I live and work sports outside in Ohio in March and play golf when I can then too.

> >

> > This is probably a once in a lifetime shot, so I don't want to blow it and a ton of ff miles on watching the ocean for a week. Thanks!

>

> Personally yes. I would have only played 2 times or so on the course by March. there is no real growth by then at all.

>

Scott,

Thanks for the reply, but to make sure what you are saying let me ask: Are you saying that the grass and other plants have not started growing yet, so the course is not what it usually is?

jkumpire · September 17, 2019

> @Hawkeye77 said:

> March in Scotland is probably better than March in Ohio!

That wholly depends on whether Ohio State can beat Iowa in the Fall. A couple of years ago it was a terrible March, though the WR team beat Iowa in the dual... :D

scott_Donald · September 17, 2019

> @jkumpire said:

> Scott,

>

> Thanks for the reply, but to make sure what you are saying let me ask: Are you saying that the grass and other plants have not started growing yet, so the course is not what it usually is?

yes. There is no real growth yet. this year it was cold through May so when I was back for golf in May the courses were not great yet. Normally from Mid April everything starts to grow fast.

June/July this year was wet and semi warm so everywhere grew stupidly fast and the rough was sooooo long.

If I was coming to golf and spending lots of money on a golf trip from the US, I would come any time between the start of May and the end of September.

I think my first trip home next year will be May and I plan to golf every day. Having said that I am still tempted to try and do the old course in December when I am home for Christmas. I do normally play on Boxing Day December 26 on what is a shortened course at Royal Aberdeen and this year seems no matts.