Scotland trip help!

[hammergolf]

14 hours ago, tj1391 said:

so how does it work? I was planning to reserve the other tee times? Do I just shift them around? Are they ok w that? 
looking at 

Carnoustie 

dumbarnie

kingdbarns

new and old course

IF, and that’s a big if, the courses near St. Andrews have any availability they will work with you in switching your times. However, if they don’t have any times available you’re out of luck. Carnoustie on the other hand might not be willing to help. I would just contact the courses a week or so before your trip and explain to them you will be entering the ballot and ask them what the tee sheet looks like.

[Neilvice]

In Scotland now and About to wrap up a week here. 
We spent some time in the highlands and then drove down here to Dundee. 
So far we’ve played:

Castle Stuart. 
Nairn 

Royal Dornoch (

carnoustie

Kingsbarns

New Course today. 
castle course tomorrow + lottery. 
 

My groups unanimous opinion in order of preference:

Royal Dornoch 

Castle Stuart

Carnoustie

kingsbarns 

new course 

nairn. 

We checked with the old course after our round at the new course today at 11:30 and they said there’s a surprising amount of free spots tomorrow so better than average chance of success. 
today he said we could go out at 5:40 if we wanted (Couldn’t.  Wives had plans)

You never know your chances. 
Btw: Without exception everyone here has told us not to bother with the old course. Outside of pilgrimage factor it’s way overrated. 😆
 

 

[ThermalDan]

36 minutes ago, Neilvice said:

Btw: Without exception everyone here has told us not to bother with the old course. Outside of pilgrimage factor it’s way overrated. 😆
 

Sounds like people just trying to run off the competition for those remaining spots.  

 

 

[Neilvice]

It was the locals and caddies who told us. 

We’re still trying to play there for sure because its a pilgrimage course (duh) but it takes the sting out knowing that if we don’t, we played a course that’s just as enjoyable. 

[hammergolf]

2 hours ago, Neilvice said:

In Scotland now and About to wrap up a week here. 
We spent some time in the highlands and then drove down here to Dundee. 
So far we’ve played:

Castle Stuart. 
Nairn 

Royal Dornoch (

carnoustie

Kingsbarns

New Course today. 
castle course tomorrow + lottery. 
 

My groups unanimous opinion in order of preference:

Royal Dornoch 

Castle Stuart

Carnoustie

kingsbarns 

new course 

nairn. 

We checked with the old course after our round at the new course today at 11:30 and they said there’s a surprising amount of free spots tomorrow so better than average chance of success. 
today he said we could go out at 5:40 if we wanted (Couldn’t.  Wives had plans)

You never know your chances. 
Btw: Without exception everyone here has told us not to bother with the old course. Outside of pilgrimage factor it’s way overrated. 😆
 

 

So wait a minute, you turned down a time on TOC because of Wives plans? 

[Neilvice]

It gets worse.  Only have a small window to make the lottery before we have to meet with the wives again for dinner. 😬😬

[hammergolf]

12 minutes ago, Neilvice said:

It gets worse.  Only have a small window to make the lottery before we have to meet with the wives again for dinner. 😬😬

🤦‍♂️

[North Butte]

I agree with the "pilgrimage" notion regarding TOC. My one time in Scotland some friends tried to talk me into rejiggering my planned itinerary and instead arrange to spend at least a couple days (or more) in St. Andrews hoping to get on for a round while I was there. I stuck to my original plans and my behavior seemed puzzling to my friends.

 

As far as they were concerned, once you cross the ocean and arrive in Scotland the only real priority is doing whatever is necessary to get on The Old Course at least once. To me it's a fairly interesting golf course but no more than that. The whole history/pilgrimage thing just doesn't move the needle much for me. 

 

And there are  LOT of truly excellent golf courses in Scotland where you just book a tee time, pony up a green fee and off you go. 

 

P.S. I knew nothing about golf growing up and came to the game well into adulthood. So that may be why I don't seem to be as focused on "bucket lists" and all the lore that goes with certain historic courses. I didn't grow up watching Jack Nicklaus or Tom Watson or reading about Bobby Jones. 

[buckI]

5 hours ago, hammergolf said:

So wait a minute, you turned down a time on TOC because of Wives plans? 

Guess we know who in those households plays the back tees and who doesn’t😁😁😁

[MDG5161]

We did a trip in August 2022 with 8 guys and booked through ProScot Tours. I would recommend the guide option every time, specifically ProScot. There was no stress, and John Scot knows basically everyone at every course, you get a little better treatment and it feels as though you’re a part of the locals with John. We also learned so much as he drove us around from course to course - local knowledge, golf jokes, etc etc. 
 

He made dinner reservations, suggested evening activities, and even brought us a bottle of delicious Scotch Whiskey while we waited overnight at the Old Course que.

 

There was no guaranteed tee time, and we missed the lottery twice, but his advice and timing is the reason all 8 guys on our trip got on the Old Course as twosomes. The memory of waiting overnight, seeing the sunrise at St Andrews, and putting on the 18th green by phone flashlight at 2am with a whiskey may have been the most memorable part of the trip. 

https://www.proscotgolf.com

 

[Neilvice]

In que now. 5:45 am. 
Sun’s been up for over an hour. 
 

[NDSwim]

So……did we get on?

[Neilvice]

Did not.
We were 41 on standby and we had a set time at the castle course so we didn’t stick around.
I loved the Castle course anyway so still a great day. 

[hammergolf]

15 hours ago, Neilvice said:

Did not.
We were 41 on standby and we had a set time at the castle course so we didn’t stick around.
I loved the Castle course anyway so still a great day. 

And you turned down a guaranteed time for dinner….. smh. Some things will remain a mystery to me.

[Neilvice]

Had plans. Some things are more important. 

[scott_Donald]

10 hours ago, Neilvice said:

Had plans. Some things are more important. 

 

Wow, congratulations! a perfect day for you both weather wise and proposal wise I hope! I would have snuck out to golf after though!

 

I played Turnberry in the morning of my wedding!

[hammergolf]

23 hours ago, Neilvice said:

Had plans. Some things are more important. 

Well, if she ever doubts your feelings say no more than that you gave up a tee time at TOC to propose…. Congrats! But I still would have played at least 9…. 😉

[buckI]

On 5/28/2023 at 5:26 PM, Neilvice said:

Had plans. Some things are more important. 

Congratulations!   Great place to pop the question.   As golfers we all wanted to see you play TOC.    
 

As many year anniversary husbands, we know that skipping TOC for your engagement and expecting her to remember ain’t going to happen!

 

Seriously though hope you two have a long loving life together!

[AltC]

Very cool - best of luck and happiness together!