Recommendations: 1 round ea. Edinburgh, St. Andrews, Dublin, Killarney as a single

[ChaosTheory]

I've been living vicariously through the current threads about Scotland and Ireland.  Now it's my turn. 🙂

 

My non-golfing wife and I are taking a bit of a touring vacation next month with 3-4 days in each of the four towns mentioned.  No car, although I could rent/hire for a day if it's really needed.  More likely I would use Uber or equivalent.  We are staying in nice hotels and I would think they could arrange transport for me if needed.  I am going to be renting clubs because of the nuisance factor of our traveling.   I'm looking for recommendations for a fun golf course near each of the towns, where I can reasonably expect to get on as a single.  If anyone has club rental ideas, for St. Andrews at least, that would have better choices than renting at the course, I'm all ears.  But in the end, this is golf for fun, and I'll play the clubs I can find.  And I would certainly appreciate advice on how singles are handled, other than at TOC, which I know about.

 

I don't feel the need to play the biggest names, but I will if I can feel fairly certain of getting on.  Otherwise I'm happy just playing a fun course, especially with good views.  I like the idea of hidden gems, but without a car, that could be a problem.  Tell me what you think, and I'll look into them, contact them to see what's involved, etc. 

 

My St. Andrews dates are open for public play on TOC, New, Jublilee, and Castle.  I will most likely enter TOC lottery.  But I need a backup plan, obviously.

 

So... courses, single booking advice, club rentals...

 

Thanks!

🙂 🙂 🙂

[sabram]

58 minutes ago, ChaosTheory said:

 I'm looking for recommendations for a fun golf course near each of the towns, where I can reasonably expect to get on as a single.  

 

I don't feel the need to play the biggest names, but I will if I can feel fairly certain of getting on.  Otherwise I'm happy just playing a fun course, especially with good views.  I like the idea of hidden gems, 

 

My St. Andrews dates are open for public play on TOC, New, Jublilee, and Castle.  I will most likely enter TOC lottery.  But I need a backup plan, obviously.

 

 

For many, if not most, of the courses you can call or e-mail  the club secretary as listed on their respective websites and book times as a single. Most will also rent clubs and have good sets available as well as pull carts (called trolleys in the UK)

 

In St Andrews, the New is a good alternative to TOC. However, if you are looking for really fun courses, I'd suggest Crail's Balcomie Links or Elie which are a short drive from St Andrews. Crail Balcomie has lots of good views.

 

Near Edinburgh, Musselburgh Old is one of the oldest courses in the world. It's only 9 holes, but worth a play and close to Edinburgh. If you want the most memorable course in the area play North Berwick West Links which is about 45 minutes away. Other options are any of the three courses at Gullane. If you want less expensive options with good views, Luffness New and Kilspindie are decent choices.

 

Near Dublin, I'd suggest the Island Golf Club. It's an excellent course and easy to get to from the city. If you want something even closer to the city, Royal Dublin is a good option. If you want a lesser know and less expensive option play Corballis links. It's very fun and scenic.

 

In Killareny the Killarney golf club has two good courses: the Kileen and Mahoney's point. Very close by with better views is Dooks, which is a good bargain. However, if you really want the best of the best, play Ballybunion Old, Tralee or Waterville which are world class courses. Tralee is closest (after Dooks).  Ballybunion Old is the best, but expensive.

 

Here's one photo from each area

 

 

Crail Balcomie (Near St Andrews)

 

 

North Berwick West Links (near Edinburgh)

 

 

Corballis Links (Near Dublin)

 

 

Dooks (Near Killarney)

Edited Sunday at 03:56 PM by sabram

[sheppick.dan]

2 hours ago, ChaosTheory said:

I've been living vicariously through the current threads about Scotland and Ireland.  Now it's my turn. 🙂

 

My non-golfing wife and I are taking a bit of a touring vacation next month with 3-4 days in each of the four towns mentioned.  No car, although I could rent/hire for a day if it's really needed.  More likely I would use Uber or equivalent.  We are staying in nice hotels and I would think they could arrange transport for me if needed.  I am going to be renting clubs because of the nuisance factor of our traveling.   I'm looking for recommendations for a fun golf course near each of the towns, where I can reasonably expect to get on as a single.  If anyone has club rental ideas, for St. Andrews at least, that would have better choices than renting at the course, I'm all ears.  But in the end, this is golf for fun, and I'll play the clubs I can find.  And I would certainly appreciate advice on how singles are handled, other than at TOC, which I know about.

 

I don't feel the need to play the biggest names, but I will if I can feel fairly certain of getting on.  Otherwise I'm happy just playing a fun course, especially with good views.  I like the idea of hidden gems, but without a car, that could be a problem.  Tell me what you think, and I'll look into them, contact them to see what's involved, etc. 

 

My St. Andrews dates are open for public play on TOC, New, Jublilee, and Castle.  I will most likely enter TOC lottery.  But I need a backup plan, obviously.

 

So... courses, single booking advice, club rentals...

 

Thanks!

🙂 🙂 🙂

Obviously TOC if you can get on. Dad was number 27 and got on by 9:50 from the waitlist. 
 

we weren’t huge fans of the new course. 
 

castle course looked great but was booked. Kingsbarns is a great course and good views all around. 
 

 

My dad says kingsbarns over TOC in his opinion. 

[hammergolf]

If you have access to transportation here are my recommendations:

 

Edinburgh

Muirfield (only Tues or Thur) 40 min drive

North Berwick (any day but Sat) 45 min drive

Gullane #1 (anytime weekdays, only after 3pm on weekends) 35 minute drive

 

St. Andrews

Obviously The Old Course via singles draw

Kingsbarns 15 min drive

Crail Balcomie 25 min drive

Jubilee 

 

Dublin

The Island 40 min drive

Druids Glen 50 min drive (This is a parkland course, not links)

Corballis ( might be the best bang for the buck golf course in the world) 40 min drive

 

Killarney

Tralee 45 min drive

Waterville 1.5 hours drive

Dooks 35 min drive

 

All of these locations will have nice rental clubs.

Edited Sunday at 06:26 PM by hammergolf

[sabram]

2 hours ago, sheppick.dan said:

Kingsbarns is a great course and good views all around. 

I've played Kingsbarns and it's a fine course, but at 418 GBP per round I won't return.

 

Crail Balcomie is 160 GBP and Elie is 135 GBP. Two excellent, fun  courses that I'll play each time I visit Fife.

[sabram]

1 hour ago, hammergolf said:

Muirfield (only Tues or Thur) 40 min drive

Does Muirfield now accept bookings for singles? They didn't when I played there.

[hammergolf]

1 minute ago, sabram said:

Does Muirfield now accept bookings for singles? They didn't when I played there.

You can’t book a tee time, but if you contact the Club Secretary they will make the effort to pair you with a group.

[scott_Donald]

2 hours ago, hammergolf said:

If you have access to transportation here are my recommendations:

 

Edinburgh

Muirfield (only Tues or Thur) 40 min drive

North Berwick (any day but Sat) 45 min drive

Gullane #1 (anytime weekdays, only after 3pm on weekends) 35 minute drive

 

St. Andrews

Obviously The Old Course via singles draw

Kingsbarns 15 min drive

Crail Balcomie 25 min drive

Jubilee 

 

Using this as too lazy to start from scratch.

 

For Edinburgh, I agree with the order. You can train from central Edinburgh to the towns very easily.

 

For St Andrews, OLD is really your main aim there and enjoy the town. If you don't get the Old then I would for ease do New or Jubilee both are good. Kinsbarns is stupid expensive but good for a once, the smaller close town courses I have never played.

 

[ChaosTheory]

Is it fairly easy to get on New or Jubilee as a single?  Just walk up, or check in first thing to get assigned sometime later?

[hammergolf]

21 minutes ago, ChaosTheory said:

Is it fairly easy to get on New or Jubilee as a single?  Just walk up, or check in first thing to get assigned sometime later?

Best bet is to go to the starter the day before you want to play and ask what spots are open. You should be able to get either.

[carrera]

As an aside, when we (my two sons and I) played Ballybunion last month, we were paired with a single American guy who basically did the same trip as you.  He rented clubs (nice TaylorMade set) at BB for roughly 70 euro.  

[sheppick.dan]

4 hours ago, ChaosTheory said:

Is it fairly easy to get on New or Jubilee as a single?  Just walk up, or check in first thing to get assigned sometime later?

Ya the new is all walk up. So you show up day of and they tell you when you will go off. Might be 5 minutes might be 2 hours.