Fife in April 2025 - help for first timer

[pbr2121]

I’m transitioning from day dream to reality and have settled on late April of next year. The nascent plan is to spend a day in Edinburgh then work our way around the coast to St. Andrews. Possible itinerary:

Elie

Craig - both courses, teo days 

day off for sightseeing 

old

new

castle/kingsbarns

 

I’ll be a single as my wife doesn’t play but is granting me the ultimate indulgence for my 50th. We’re relatively seasoned travelers and planners but this seems like a different animal. Thoughts and ideas appreciated. 

[jvincent]

That's a decent set of courses. Really there's so much choice in that area it comes down to how many "bucket" list courses you want. For example, you could add Carnoustie to your list if you wanted some history.

 

Since you have the Old on your list and you are a single your only option is to get into the queue the night before. Although according to their website they are introducing a new procedure for singles in mid-March, so look out for that.

 

BTW, I assume you meant Crail not Craig. Balcomie is a hoot to play.

[hammergolf]

11 hours ago, pbr2121 said:

I’m transitioning from day dream to reality and have settled on late April of next year. The nascent plan is to spend a day in Edinburgh then work our way around the coast to St. Andrews. Possible itinerary:

Elie

Craig - both courses, teo days 

day off for sightseeing 

old

new

castle/kingsbarns

 

I’ll be a single as my wife doesn’t play but is granting me the ultimate indulgence for my 50th. We’re relatively seasoned travelers and planners but this seems like a different animal. Thoughts and ideas appreciated. 

That’s a great plan! Honestly as JVincent said there are soooo many great options in Fife. Don’t overlook Jubilee, it’s a good one too.  You can get a 3 day ticket from St. Andrews Links on the day you arrive for unlimited golf based on availability for all 6 courses except TOC and save a little money. This lineup would be amazing:
Elie

Crail Balcomie

Jubilee

OFF

Walk up for TOC

Castle

New

[Hawkeye77]

Not sure what you mean by work your way around? I assume you’ll stay in one place once you leave Edinburgh, maybe you’re just talking about the golf. Stay in St. Andrews.  Have the best fish and chips available anywhere in Anstruther and take a boat to the island if Puffins are there in April.  It has a nice little 9 hole course, Anstruther, not the island. Maybe play 9 and skip the other Crail course and spend time with your wife. Balcomie is a must. Maybe Lundin instead of Elie. 
 

If you are there on Sunday and there’s no club event you can walk around The Old Course with the rest of the public and their dogs. 
 

If you play the Old and New or whatever two of the St. Andrews courses I’d call it good and play Kingsbarns - gorgeous course. 
 

Fun stuff to plan. A lot to take in at and near the castle in Edinburgh. Fun place to walk around. 
 

 

 

[pbr2121]

Thanks everyone. Lots to think about! I initially intended to stay a night in Elie then another in Crail before spending the remainder in St. Andrews but perhaps that isn’t necessary. 

[Bsarosi]

I, too, am heading to Scotland in April 2025 with my brother and father; we have a similar itinerary. 
 

Plan to fly direct to Edinburgh and spend arrival day and 2nd day there sight-seeing and adjust to time change. Then play the following:

 

D3: North Berwick

D4: Muirfield

D5: Kingsbarns

D6: Carnoustie

D7: TOC

D8: Castle

 

We’ll try for the Annual Private Advanced Tee Times this summer for TOC. If that doesn’t work, we’ll try for the 2-day ballot for Day 7/8. If we don’t get on it, we may play Dumbarnie. April seems like the best month to go if you want the best odds to get onto TOC.

 

[srs06d]

2 hours ago, Bsarosi said:

I, too, am heading to Scotland in April 2025 with my brother and father; we have a similar itinerary. 
 

Plan to fly direct to Edinburgh and spend arrival day and 2nd day there sight-seeing and adjust to time change. Then play the following:

 

D3: North Berwick

D4: Muirfield

D5: Kingsbarns

D6: Carnoustie

D7: TOC

D8: Castle

 

We’ll try for the Annual Private Advanced Tee Times this summer for TOC. If that doesn’t work, we’ll try for the 2-day ballot for Day 7/8. If we don’t get on it, we may play Dumbarnie. April seems like the best month to go if you want the best odds to get onto TOC.

 

Highly suggest playing Musselburgh Old with hickories on arrival day or day 2. You’ll be itching to play some golf and that would be a quick 9 holes so you could still fit in some sightseeing. Played it with my dad last April and had a blast.