Scottish eye opener.

[buteman]

On a trip back home to Scotland I had the opportunity to play a couple of the " Open " courses namely Royal Troon and Carnoustie, at that time my handicap was seven and could play to that on most of the courses I played.

The average length of the courses I play would be around 6500 yards and my preference being as early a tee time as possible usually would find me on the course in the first or second group off and playing in perfect conditions.

At Troon the four of us decided to play the "Open " tees, yardage on the card was 7175,,a wee bit different,,low score of the day was 82 that was from my pal Eric a four handicap player, the wind had come up starting the back nine and one of the holes a long par 4 from an elevated tee the shot required a drive dead into the wind of 190 yards just to reach the fairway.

I was actually the low man after nine holes with a 39 helped with a chip in and a nice birdie on the par five, but that wind coming off sea blew me well away from Eric's score. It certainly is an indication as to how good the pros. really are, the thought of any mortal soul shooting 66 on that course simply boggles the mind.

A most enjoyable day we had and the folks at the golf club were as nice a folks as you could ever wish to meet, the certainly made us feel most welcome.

Carnoustie's championship course has been described as the toughest course in the world even by some of the better pros. we four teed off just after 8 am. on a lovely still September morning. We played off the championship tees and we each had local caddies ( greatest guys in the world ) the scoring was quite good thanks to the caddies they sure knew their stuff. And here it comes,,,first a wee breeze and then,,,look out, the 15th. a nasty 460 yard par four was simply a nightmare and I do recall hitting a rocket of a three metal straight into the wind on the par 3 sixteenth,,,and got nowhere near the green.

It was a fun time and it gave us an opportunity to experience what the pros. encounter, my caddy by the way had caddied twice for Sergio Garcia during practice rounds. Anyway the beer in the grill room was great and the fish and chips we all had for lunch was by far the best we ever tasted.

[scotchblade]

I'm ready to move there.

[knothead63]

Next time you visit, you really need to go up and play Royal Dornoch.
Best course in Scotland IMO.

[Cfd74]

Next time you visit, you really need to go up and play Royal Dornoch.
Best course in Scotland IMO.


Agreed.....Special, special place!

[Shemp]

I played both courses last May. Troon was in 30 - 40 mph winds and Carnoustie 20mph. I'm an 8, broke 90 on both courses and considered myself lucky. The 15th through 18th at Carnoustie are insane. Best fish and chips we had were at Turnberry Clubhouse. Worst lunch we had was at Old Prestwick. Lunch at Troon wasn't much to write home about either.

[Herm33]

I'm in the midst of planning a trip to Scotland in April '13 with some close friends and love to read stuff like this. We're not hitting the west coast but are planning on playing all the heavy hitters from north and down through St. Andrews and East Lothian, including Dornoch, Castle Stuart, Old Course, Muirfield, N. Berwick, Kingsbarns, and others. 15 months from now can't get here soon enough!!

[golf_bhoy]

Played Carnoustie on my honeymoon in 2007, by far the best golfing experience of my life. Took the score on the chin though, which was all good. The place is magic.

[ping45]

Although I've been reading on here for a long time, this may well be my first post. Rec'd a call from my youngest son back in Ohio today...he's taking me over to Sctland to try to fullfill my lifelong dream...(I'm 73 years old)...same one most all golfers have...of playing St.Andrews. Because neither of us is very well versed in the proper method (if there is one) of securing a tee time on that specific couse, I thought I would ask some of you who may have some words of wisdom. I play to a 12 and he probably is close to me. Does anyone have any ideas on how to approach this trip? NOTE: he's going on his honeymoon in Feb. so he won't have time available till next year. Thoughts? Any help would be appreciated guys.
Doc in Ca. (Ping45)

[Thrillhouse]

We have something called a "scottish eye opener" around here too! Unfortunately the last guy that tried that on his wife is serving three years in county.

 

[Shemp]

[quote name='ping45' timestamp='1327265986' post='4135583']
Although I've been reading on here for a long time, this may well be my first post. Rec'd a call from my youngest son back in Ohio today...he's taking me over to Sctland to try to fullfill my lifelong dream...(I'm 73 years old)...same one most all golfers have...of playing St.Andrews. Because neither of us is very well versed in the proper method (if there is one) of securing a tee time on that specific couse, I thought I would ask some of you who may have some words of wisdom. I play to a 12 and he probably is close to me. Does anyone have any ideas on how to approach this trip? NOTE: he's going on his honeymoon in Feb. so he won't have time available till next year. Thoughts? Any help would be appreciated guys.
Doc in Ca. (Ping45)
[/quote]


I'd recommend going through a tour operator. We use Ron Smartt @ Traveling the Fairways, but there are many others. That way you are assured of tee times, caddies and great accomodations. I also recommend playing Kingsbarns annd Carnoustie while you're at St Andrews.

[eers2u]

[quote name='ping45' timestamp='1327265986' post='4135583']
Although I've been reading on here for a long time, this may well be my first post. Rec'd a call from my youngest son back in Ohio today...he's taking me over to Sctland to try to fullfill my lifelong dream...(I'm 73 years old)...same one most all golfers have...of playing St.Andrews. Because neither of us is very well versed in the proper method (if there is one) of securing a tee time on that specific couse, I thought I would ask some of you who may have some words of wisdom. I play to a 12 and he probably is close to me. Does anyone have any ideas on how to approach this trip? NOTE: he's going on his honeymoon in Feb. so he won't have time available till next year. Thoughts? Any help would be appreciated guys.
Doc in Ca. (Ping45)
[/quote]

If you can plan in advance, you can request a tee time on the day you want to play the following year by completing a request and emailing it to the Links Trust on or after 10:00 AM on the first Wed. in September (if memory serves me right). Requires you to commit to a day the following year (reserve this September for play in 2013). If you know your travel dates, it's the way to go. You can also enter the daily ballot or show up early to pick up available spots in threesomes, etc.. Using a tour operator will free you of making a lot of decisions, but will cost you approximately double what you can do it for on your own if you (or your son) don't mind doing your own planning. Planning your own trip is really not that difficult at all. I recommend you buy Allan Fergusons book Golf in Scotland.

Here is the site for info on booking: http://www.standrews.org.uk/Playing-in-St-Andrews/Book-Online/How-to-book.aspx

[charl rogers]

im from scotland and get free membership to all st andrews courses well not much like £200 for a year. but the best in scotland is kingsbarns and loch lomond by a mile. for people with price budget the castle course st andrews has some awesome greens very undulating, castle stuart is good, i dont know about dornoch i didt like it when i played it. dundonald is good and ive played it in the qualifiying school. gleneagle is treted like a king. so many but if i had to choose two would be loch lomond and kingsbarns on a nice sunny day.

[charl rogers]

[quote name='ping45' timestamp='1327265986' post='4135583']
Although I've been reading on here for a long time, this may well be my first post. Rec'd a call from my youngest son back in Ohio today...he's taking me over to Sctland to try to fullfill my lifelong dream...(I'm 73 years old)...same one most all golfers have...of playing St.Andrews. Because neither of us is very well versed in the proper method (if there is one) of securing a tee time on that specific couse, I thought I would ask some of you who may have some words of wisdom. I play to a 12 and he probably is close to me. Does anyone have any ideas on how to approach this trip? NOTE: he's going on his honeymoon in Feb. so he won't have time available till next year. Thoughts? Any help would be appreciated guys.
Doc in Ca. (Ping45)
[/quote]

golfing tours form www.yourgolftravel.com are good. also just go onto st andrews.org and you can book there. hotels you should stay is is the new hotel where players stay in st andrews or rusacks. bets in cameron house in loch lomond thou if you have access to play it and travel to the courses.

[Adidassler]

First post on these boards so be nice!

I live in Edinburgh and I'm lucky enough that I've played all the courses mentioned.My suggestion would be to play St.Andrews if you can ( the ways to get a time have been noted already) but if you can't there are lots of gems nearby that are easily booked and will reward any travelling golfer.

Most visitors to Scotland want to experience links golf, and between Fife & East Lothian there are some crackers.Lundin Links in Fife might not have the fame of Kingsbarns, but it's a terrific track in the east neuk.
Being an Edinburgh lad my golfing heart is in East Lothian, the best area of golf in The UK starts off at Longniddry taking in Craigielaw,Kilspindie,Gullane 1 2 & 3,Muirfield ( visitors can play every Thursday, but be quick!),Renaissance,Archerfield,North Berwick (both courses) and Dunbar.Come in the spring or late summer and play golf to the end of the day, there is nothing finer.

Take a trip further north to Scotland finest course at Royal Dornoch if time allows.

I'm not a huge fan of inland golf, so I'm not the one to sell Gleneagles or Loch Lomond, but a more reasonable option would be boat of garten, a real gem and more authentic Scottish...I sometimes feel American visitors come to Scotland looking for the real thing and get a more sanitized version, when I reckon they'd love the real deal more.If that's the case, avoid Kingsbarns,Loch Lomond and Trump.

Haste ye back.

[teejaywhy]

im from scotland ... but the best in scotland is kingsbarns and loch lomond by a mile.

 

 

You would love it here in the USA, we've got tens of thousands of Loch Lomond courses.

 

And Budweiser too!

 

 

[Adidassler]

Thought I'd add some links to the courses I've mentioned above-my personal favourites are Gullane (2) and The Glen

[url="http://www.lundingolfclub.co.uk/"]http://www.lundingolfclub.co.uk/[/url]
[url="http://www.longniddrygolfclub.co.uk/fx.longniddry/scheme/default-en.aspx"]http://www.longniddrygolfclub.co.uk/fx.longniddry/scheme/default-en.aspx[/url]
[url="http://www.craigielawgolfclub.com/"]http://www.craigielawgolfclub.com/[/url]
[url="http://kilspindiegolfclub.co.uk/"]http://kilspindiegolfclub.co.uk/[/url]
[url="http://www.gullanegolfclub.com/"]http://www.gullanegolfclub.com/[/url]
[url="http://www.luffnessgolf.com/"]http://www.luffnessgolf.com/[/url]
[url="http://www.muirfield.org.uk/page/Home.aspx"]http://www.muirfield.org.uk/page/Home.aspx[/url]
[url="http://www.trcaa.com/"]http://www.trcaa.com/[/url]
[url="http://www.archerfieldgolfclub.com/"]http://www.archerfieldgolfclub.com/[/url]
[url="http://www.northberwickgolfclub.com/"]http://www.northberwickgolfclub.com/[/url]
[url="http://www.glengolfclub.co.uk/"]http://www.glengolfclub.co.uk/[/url]
[url="http://www.dunbargolfclub.com/"]http://www.dunbargolfclub.com/[/url]

[Shemp]

[quote name='Adidassler' timestamp='1328710961' post='4237225']
First post on these boards so be nice!

I live in Edinburgh and I'm lucky enough that I've played all the courses mentioned.My suggestion would be to play St.Andrews if you can ( the ways to get a time have been noted already) but if you can't there are lots of gems nearby that are easily booked and will reward any travelling golfer.

Most visitors to Scotland want to experience links golf, and between Fife & East Lothian there are some crackers.Lundin Links in Fife might not have the fame of Kingsbarns, but it's a terrific track in the east neuk.
Being an Edinburgh lad my golfing heart is in East Lothian, the best area of golf in The UK starts off at Longniddry taking in Craigielaw,Kilspindie,Gullane 1 2 & 3,Muirfield ( visitors can play every Thursday, but be quick!),Renaissance,Archerfield,North Berwick (both courses) and Dunbar.Come in the spring or late summer and play golf to the end of the day, there is nothing finer.

Take a trip further north to Scotland finest course at Royal Dornoch if time allows.

I'm not a huge fan of inland golf, so I'm not the one to sell Gleneagles or Loch Lomond, but a more reasonable option would be boat of garten, a real gem and more authentic Scottish...I sometimes feel American visitors come to Scotland looking for the real thing and get a more sanitized version, when I reckon they'd love the real deal more.If that's the case, avoid Kingsbarns,Loch Lomond and Trump.

Haste ye back.
[/quote]




I'm coming back in May. Last year we played (in order of my favorites) Turnberry, Kingsbarns, The Old Course, Troon, Carnoustie, Prestwick. This year we're playing Gullane, North Berwick, Muirfield, Gleaneagles, then hopping a ferry to Belfast and playing Royal County Down and Royal Portrush.

[Arthur Jennings]

Take plenty of balls to Portrush! If you have a spare day you HAVE to get over to either Rosapenna or Ballyliffin. You will not regret it.

[quote name='Shemp' timestamp='1328979251' post='4260563']
[quote name='Adidassler' timestamp='1328710961' post='4237225']
First post on these boards so be nice!

I live in Edinburgh and I'm lucky enough that I've played all the courses mentioned.My suggestion would be to play St.Andrews if you can ( the ways to get a time have been noted already) but if you can't there are lots of gems nearby that are easily booked and will reward any travelling golfer.

Most visitors to Scotland want to experience links golf, and between Fife & East Lothian there are some crackers.Lundin Links in Fife might not have the fame of Kingsbarns, but it's a terrific track in the east neuk.
Being an Edinburgh lad my golfing heart is in East Lothian, the best area of golf in The UK starts off at Longniddry taking in Craigielaw,Kilspindie,Gullane 1 2 & 3,Muirfield ( visitors can play every Thursday, but be quick!),Renaissance,Archerfield,North Berwick (both courses) and Dunbar.Come in the spring or late summer and play golf to the end of the day, there is nothing finer.

Take a trip further north to Scotland finest course at Royal Dornoch if time allows.

I'm not a huge fan of inland golf, so I'm not the one to sell Gleneagles or Loch Lomond, but a more reasonable option would be boat of garten, a real gem and more authentic Scottish...I sometimes feel American visitors come to Scotland looking for the real thing and get a more sanitized version, when I reckon they'd love the real deal more.If that's the case, avoid Kingsbarns,Loch Lomond and Trump.

Haste ye back.
[/quote]




I'm coming back in May. Last year we played (in order of my favorites) Turnberry, Kingsbarns, The Old Course, Troon, Carnoustie, Prestwick. This year we're playing Gullane, North Berwick, Muirfield, Gleaneagles, then hopping a ferry to Belfast and playing Royal County Down and Royal Portrush.
[/quote]

[J Jack]

[quote name='Adidassler' timestamp='1328710961' post='4237225']
First post on these boards so be nice!

I live in Edinburgh and I'm lucky enough that I've played all the courses mentioned.My suggestion would be to play St.Andrews if you can ( the ways to get a time have been noted already) but if you can't there are lots of gems nearby that are easily booked and will reward any travelling golfer.

Most visitors to Scotland want to experience links golf, and between Fife & East Lothian there are some crackers.Lundin Links in Fife might not have the fame of Kingsbarns, but it's a terrific track in the east neuk.
Being an Edinburgh lad my golfing heart is in East Lothian, the best area of golf in The UK starts off at Longniddry taking in Craigielaw,Kilspindie,Gullane 1 2 & 3,Muirfield ( visitors can play every Thursday, but be quick!),Renaissance,Archerfield,North Berwick (both courses) and Dunbar.Come in the spring or late summer and play golf to the end of the day, there is nothing finer.

Take a trip further north to Scotland finest course at Royal Dornoch if time allows.

I'm not a huge fan of inland golf, so I'm not the one to sell Gleneagles or Loch Lomond, but a more reasonable option would be boat of garten, a real gem and more authentic Scottish...I sometimes feel American visitors come to Scotland looking for the real thing and get a more sanitized version, when I reckon they'd love the real deal more.If that's the case, avoid Kingsbarns,Loch Lomond and Trump.

Haste ye back.
[/quote]


I'm heading to Scotland in a couple of weeks: I won't have a car, so I was wondering if any of those courses can be reached fairly easily by public transport? I'm staying in Glasgow and also Edinburgh.

Thanks

Also, to the OP - as a twosome you can enter the lottery for open slots two days in advance (used to be one day). In high season I've heard that you have a 35% chance per day of getting on.