Can you wing it in Ireland or Scotland in August?

[ChaosTheory]

I'm looking at going on an pre-organized golf trip to Northern Ireland at the beginning of this August.  We would be playing some big name courses.  My wife would be with me, but doing the non-golfer stuff that is offered.  We'd like to stay another week or three to see more of Ireland, then Scotland, whatever works for us.  I don't feel like trying to organize much golf myself, but I'd still like to play a couple of times a week.   Maybe once we got our basic itinerary set, then I'd try to nail down some golf reservations.  There's a whole chicken or egg thing here, too, what with destination and lodging decisions.  As long as we go to interesting places, golf will be secondary but still a part of it.

 

I would be more than happy to play fun courses that aren't the top 20 or 30.  Let's say you are going to suddenly find yourself in St. Andrews for a week in August.  Or Aberdeen, or Edinburgh.  Or Killarney.  How hard would it be to scare up a tee time somewhere that is not TOC or Royal something yet still has interesting golf?  It doesn't have to be breathtaking, just decent.  And I'm not ruling out paying through the nose to a broker or whatever they call the middlemen who get times at TOC etc.  

 

 

[jvincent]

How many people?

 

I just booked 6 rounds at all of the top courses in / around Dublin for April and there were a ton of tee times. All of them booked directly online.

 

August might be a little bit harder but if you are willing to make some bookings now-ish you should be able to get some decent ones. Stating the obvious, the longer you wait, the harder it will be.

[ChaosTheory]

2 minutes ago, jvincent said:

How many people?

 

I just booked 6 rounds at all of the top courses in / around Dublin for April and there were a ton of tee times. All of them booked directly online.

 

August might be a little bit harder but if you are willing to make some bookings now-ish you should be able to get some decent ones. Stating the obvious, the longer you wait, the harder it will be.

Just me as a single.  Can I even book in advance as a single at most places?  

[jvincent]

1 minute ago, Snowman9000 said:

Just me as a single.  Can I even book in advance as a single at most places?  

 

It's hit and miss as a single but for the places that take online bookings you'll know right away. IIRC most of the places I looked at offered single spots.

[Break68]

I was at St. Andrews, The Old Course over Christmas. You will have to know a member or put your name in for the 48 hour Ballot, as in it's a lottery. You can call the clubhouse or do it online. Good Luck!

FYI-They told me that The Old Course rates will be 295 pounds per round in the summer 2023.

Edited January 6, 2023 by Break68

[cardia10]

13 hours ago, Snowman9000 said:

Just me as a single.  Can I even book in advance as a single at most places?  

I'd say your odds are very good. There are always 2 somes or 3 somes with an opening. I'd bet you can get on anywhere, even the Old Course, if you are willing to get down to the shack early enough (or late enough the prior evening.)

[snpcrk121]

I planned a trip to Irleand and Scotland as a single in September 2016 with one week notice due to some work stuff. I was able to make bookings as I single pretty much everywhere I wanted to play (short of TOC).

 

In Ireland I played Doonbeg, Lahinch, Ballybunion, Tralee, Dingle, and Dooks. I was also able to sneak in a couple 9 hole rounds at Ballyheigue and Castlegregory. These little 9 holers were very low key, no tee times required, and the courses were a ton of fun (and cheap). So if you are truly winging it that could also be an option.

 

In Scotland I played Elie, Crail, Kingsbarns, and The Old Course. If I had been able to extend my trip a day I would have been able to play Carnoustie as well. The Old Course was the only difficult one as I had to get up at 2a to get in the walk on lineup, but it was a great experience and totally worth it to play TOC.

 

This was obviously pre-covid, and I know golf boom is on, so maybe things will be tougher, but I imagine as a single you should be able to find somewhere to tee it up, especially if you aren't wedded to playing any specific course. There are just so many courses in the area that you will surely be able to find somewhere to get our for a round.

[eboettne]

37 minutes ago, snpcrk121 said:

I planned a trip to Irleand and Scotland as a single in September 2016 with one week notice due to some work stuff. I was able to make bookings as I single pretty much everywhere I wanted to play (short of TOC).

 

In Ireland I played Doonbeg, Lahinch, Ballybunion, Tralee, Dingle, and Dooks. I was also able to sneak in a couple 9 hole rounds at Ballyheigue and Castlegregory. These little 9 holers were very low key, no tee times required, and the courses were a ton of fun (and cheap). So if you are truly winging it that could also be an option.

 

In Scotland I played Elie, Crail, Kingsbarns, and The Old Course. If I had been able to extend my trip a day I would have been able to play Carnoustie as well. The Old Course was the only difficult one as I had to get up at 2a to get in the walk on lineup, but it was a great experience and totally worth it to play TOC.

 

This was obviously pre-covid, and I know golf boom is on, so maybe things will be tougher, but I imagine as a single you should be able to find somewhere to tee it up, especially if you aren't wedded to playing any specific course. There are just so many courses in the area that you will surely be able to find somewhere to get our for a round.

 

Did you book these rounds the day of or when did you lock these in? I'm looking to play Ballybunion and Tralee in September as a single but don't want to lock in the days yet should our plans change.

[snpcrk121]

17 minutes ago, eboettne said:

 

Did you book these rounds the day of or when did you lock these in? I'm looking to play Ballybunion and Tralee in September as a single but don't want to lock in the days yet should our plans change.

I just looked back through my emails. Ballybunion was booked on 8/29 for a round on 9/2 (4 days) and Tralee was booked 8/28 for a round on 9/3 (6 days). I also had to change my tee time at Ballybunion due to some travel issues and they were extremely helpful and accommodating, actually slotting me out during the member tee times due to me just being a single. I had the same thing happen at Lahinch. If you can't find exactly what you need online, it could certainly be worth a call or email to the course. Being a single can stink sometimes, but it also affords some benefits due to the flexibility of being just one person.

 

That being said, this was only my personal experience for a trip 7 years ago, so I would not take anything I say as gospel!

[sabram]

If you are flexible about days, times and courses, you'll be able to get out at some very memorable courses. I'd suggest focusing on some of the lesser known gems. They are generally less expensive. less crowded and lots of fun. Many of the most famous clubs have a second course that is easier to get a last minute tee time than its more famous sister course. Just as an example, you can visit Aberdeen and the Highlands and likely get on most of the following courses: 

 

The St Olaf Course at Cruden Bay

The Silverburn Course at Royal Aberdeen

Fraserbugh

Cullen

Covesea

Moray

Tain

Golspie

The Struie course at Royal Dornoch

[mshills]

My thinking is a single golfer SHOULD wing it and would have a great time. You can play great golf courses that simply aren’t known around the world, and you’ll have more fun than someone tearing a** point to point to collect the bag tags. 
 

Wish I could make a trip like that this year but family obligations make it unlikely. 

[BEND OF THE RIVER GC]

I am seriously thinking about doing this next summer!