Last Advice: Old Course/Carn/Castle/Kingsbarns vs Muirfield/Carn/Turnberry/RCD

[swo83]

I might have a chance to play the Old Course next year.  I was originally planning an itinerary around Muirfield/Carnoustie/Turnberry/Old Course ballot/RCD but may have this opportunity with a guaranteed time.  With that, we would be forfeiting some a few great courses to lock in an Old Course Tee Time since we'd have to play the Castle Course, but could play Kingsbarns and Carnoustie (not Muirfield, Turnberry, and Royal County Down).  

 

I guess my question is: does one take this opportunity to guarantee play at the Old Course?  On my original plan we'd spend a few days around fife and Muirfield to give ourselves an opportunity through the ballot.  

 

Curious what the consensus would be.  Thanks for any input.

[swo83]

Also, the St Andrews trip would be in July whereas the original plan would be in November

[jvincent]

If you have never played the Old before, take the guaranteed time at the Old and work around it.

 

IMHO I would skip Kingsbarns and go for something like Crail or Elie. Castle isn't as bad as some people make it and if that's the price of a guaranteed time on the Old then so be it.

[tiderider]

far as the castle course is concerned, you don't have to play it  ... you have to pay for it ... semantics, but i skipped it last time i was over just to have a rest day ... if you get a tt at toc, then you can use the day for castle to play carnoustie, or something else you may can get on ... people may not want to throw away the money that they pay extra for the castle, but to my way of thinking, that's a small percentage of your overall spending ... i'd simply do away with it, esp since it's so polarizing ... 

 

you say you were planning on an itinerary that includes muirfield ... is that a guaranteed tee time somehow? ... 

[hbrar99]

Can't speak to your second option, but when we went a few years ago we played Old Course (x2), New Course(x2), Jubilee, Carnoustie, Elie Fife and Kingsbarns (x2). Played our second round at the old course in the afternoon, just walked up and asked while we were having drinks because we didn't see anyone going off. They gave us twilight rate. Being in town and around the course made that possible. 

 

It was awesome trip. We were able to stay at Rusack's, so being in town was great. Highly recommend it. Either way, I don't think you can go wrong.

 

Also, I am not sure if it was a mistake, but Kingsbarns charged us half price for the second round we played during our trip. It was a few days later. For our group coming from California, definitely had a pebble beach meet scottish links feel for us. It was a favorite of our group. 

[hammergolf]

Absolutely take the guaranteed time at TOC. I like the Castle course because it has hilly terrain and very challenging greens. However, many don’t like it because the greens are very undulating. I find it very similar to Kingsbarns at 1/3 of the price. I would add Muirfield (1.5hr) and Carnoustie (45 mins) to TOC and Castle since both are reasonable driving distance. 

Edited August 15, 2022 by hammergolf

[hammergolf]

8 minutes ago, hbrar99 said:

Can't speak to your second option, but when we went a few years ago we played Old Course (x2), New Course(x2), Jubilee, Carnoustie, Elie Fife and Kingsbarns (x2). Played our second round at the old course in the afternoon, just walked up and asked while we were having drinks because we didn't see anyone going off. They gave us twilight rate. Being in town and around the course made that possible. 

 

It was awesome trip. We were able to stay at Rusack's, so being in town was great. Highly recommend it. Either way, I don't think you can go wrong.

 

Also, I am not sure if it was a mistake, but Kingsbarns charged us half price for the second round we played during our trip. It was a few days later. For our group coming from California, definitely had a pebble beach meet scottish links feel for us. It was a favorite of our group. 

They have a special rate for a second round within 7 days.

[swo83]

Muirfield won't be an option.  Muirfield is on the November calendar because I was able to get a confirmed tee time on November 2.  They're sold out for a majority of 2023 minus early April and November.  

[hammergolf]

34 minutes ago, swo83 said:

Muirfield won't be an option.  Muirfield is on the November calendar because I was able to get a confirmed tee time on November 2.  They're sold out for a majority of 2023 minus early April and November.  

It will be better in the summer as well since you won’t have to play off mats at most courses.

[cardia10]

I may get hammered for this, but skip Turnberry as it is quite out of the way for most of your trip. Yeah, it is fun and super scenic, but it is too far to drive for just it. You will pay more to play Turnberry than the Old Course and you won't want to rush Turnberry as the pitch and putt there is a must too.  Wait until the next trip and base a trip out of Troon and you can plan a whole fun trio out of the west coast. 

Edited August 17, 2022 by cardia10

[ND2005]

On 8/15/2022 at 3:28 PM, hammergolf said:

It will be better in the summer as well since you won’t have to play off mats at most courses.

 

I would in fact verify with Muirfield about mats before committing to the November trip. I have no interest in paying that much/traveling that far to hit off mats...

[hammergolf]

17 minutes ago, ND2005 said:

 

I would in fact verify with Muirfield about mats before committing to the November trip. I have no interest in paying that much/traveling that far to hit off mats...

Yeah me neither.

[MVD]

Having just returned from playing TOC, Castle, Kingsbarns, Carnoustie & Panmure, I would definitely take the guaranteed time at TOC and work around it. I'm going again next year and will forego Carnoustie & Panmure but play the other 3 again as well as Muirfield, Turnberry and Dumbarnie. I thoroughly enjoyed Castle and KB. If you have an opportunity to request a caddie at TOC & Castle request Tom Stevenson or Kevin Fogarty. Two of the best caddies there. Cheers (as they say).

[Raziren]

On 8/17/2022 at 5:56 PM, cardia10 said:

I may get hammered for this, but skip Turnberry as it is quite out of the way for most of your trip. Yeah, it is fun and super scenic, but it is too far to drive for just it. You will pay more to play Turnberry than the Old Course and you won't want to rush Turnberry as the pitch and putt there is a must too.  Wait until the next trip and base a trip out of Troon and you can plan a whole fun trio out of the west coast. 

On this basis you can probably also rule out Royal County Down (as it's in a different country)

[kevinricci]

Take the guarantee on the Old! You must play Elie the Golf House, and the two courses at Crail are very good, as is Lundin. Turnberry is a long drive from your other choices. Although excellent, Dumbarnie is $360 green fee, Muirfield is $400 green fee, Kingsbarns is more (without a caddy). And in my humble opinion, the Castle course is clown's mouth golf. I will never play there again. The New, Jubilee and Eden are better. I did not get to play Carnoustie or Ladybank.