[bennet00]

I am thinking of getting a group of friends together for a Scotland golf trip. It would be around a year, to two years away, as we all have "obligations" and would need the time to ensure it fit everyone's schedule. For those of you out there who have done it, any tips on the planning? I am open to doing all of the planning and reservations myself, as well as the possibility of using a travel agency.

Best time of year?

Must see courses?

Non-golf related must see/do items?

Thanks for your thoughts.

[Debarra22]

I've done 3 week long trips to Scotland over the last 10 years, booked them all myself. I dont know if the travel agents get any real discounts on green fees. All the times can be booked directly with the clubs but for the better ones you will need the full year to get the times you want. I booked Muirfield 15 months before one of my trips and was offered 9.10 or 9.20 on the Tuesday of the week I was looking for!
There are so many great courses its hard to do them in a week you might need to decide on the east or west coast.

Having played about 20 courses there I would suggest the following as an itinerary;

Muirfield - a must - book for the day (4somes in the afternoon) the lunch is spectacular a throwback to the old days, full carvery, cheap and wonderful wine. You will have the course to yourself in the afternoon as most people dont want to do 4somes.
In the area: North Berwick a must, friendliest welcome in Scotland? Do 36
Gullane 1 & 2 Very good.
Dunbar Not as good as the above but worth considering.

Move north to St Andrews;
Old Course Gotta do it.
New Course Better than od but doesnt have the history.
Carnoustie Gotta do it too, if it blows its a beast, great course.
Better value courses in the area, Crail (very good) Elie, Lundin and Leven links.

We always went in September, usually dry on the east coast.

Never got around to seeing anything that wasnt on a golf course or inside a pub!

[Above the clouds]

I have to object to the comment about september weather. I have lived on the east coast all my days and the weather is very changable all year, you just have to hope for the best. We do get nice weather you just don't know what month it will show up!

[johnnylongball]

I am in a group that is going next year. I highly recommend a book called Golf in Scotland by Allan McAllister Ferguson. It is very informative and will answer all of your questions. I bought the book for the very same reason. I had all of the same questions that you are asking.

[bennet00]

johnnylongball, on Oct 22 2007, 01:55 PM, said:

I am in a group that is going next year. I highly recommend a book called Golf in Scotland by Allan McAllister Ferguson. It is very informative and will answer all of your questions. I bought the book for the very same reason. I had all of the same questions that you are asking.

Thanks for the tip on the book. I will head out to B&N and pick it up.

[johnnylongball]

No problem. I think you will find it a wise purchase. I bought the book after another golfer on a message board recommeded it to me. Just passing along the advice.

[stonewolf]

My parents took my sister and I there this summer on a Perry Golf tour (their 40th anniversary present to us!) We started off on the East Coast then went to the West coast for a few rounds before going down into England to play Royal Lytham and Royal Birkdale. As for the courses in Scotland:

• Carnoustie is a must. It has the hardest 4 finishing holes I've ever played. The 14 before it weren't easy, either.
  
• The Old Course. Pay the extra money for the guaranteed time. Our group didn't, and only my sister and I (out of 16 golfers) got picked in the lottery for a tee time. You're going all the way over there, why skimp out on another $50 to play the course that started it all?
  
• Kingsbarns is absolutely gorgeous. I'd bet its near impossible when the wind is blowing. A Caddie here is a must, because you won't believe how you have to play some of the holes!
  
• Since you're going in a year or 2, the Castle Course will be open. Its designed by the same guy that did Kingsbarns, and the holes that we saw while we were there look very impressive.

On the West coast we played Western Gailes (I hated it), Dundonald (it wasn't anything special, but I hear they're trying to get the Scottish Open moved there in the next couple years in an effort to draw more big name players the week before the Open), and Prestwick.

Prestwick was the home of the very 1st British Open, and to say its unlike any golf course you'll ever play doesn't do it justice. If you're on the west coast (which is where Royal Troon is) I'd say you've got to play it just to experience it. I'll never forget the 17th hole...

When I go back, I could probably spend the whole week in St. Andrews. From there you can get to Carnoustie and to Muirfield in a day, and there's 3 courses that I'd love to play again in the town. Plus, the atmosphere is unbelievable.

Have a great trip!

[charlesdupuy]

Unless you're going whole hog and paying to get on Troon and the Turnberry courses, and can some how get into Loch Lomond, it far better to go to the East Coast. Of the ones mentioned already, aside from eth Opena and Tour courses which are obviously great, Gullane and Crail are both great. Be sure to absorb the history of place, check out Musslebrough for a quick nine one evening, thats the oldest copurse on the planet and Crail is 7th Oldest. Jubilee is also good at St. Andrews and just up the road at the Bay Resort teh Torrence is really great, and a nice place to eat in the club house looking down on the bay of St. Andrews. Lundin and Leven Links on the South Coast of Fife are brilliant and good value, if you fancy a few rounds in land the Dukes Course is great as is Ladybank both in Fife also, Dukes has a really great old club house that was once a manor.

As for time of year, I've always been around the time of the Open and combined a few days watching with playing. this year we went to the Scottish Open too, Loch Lomond is a million miles from links golf but it's an awesome place, that event is great. I'd recommend watching there, and definetly watching the Open at Turnberry before heading East. The weather varies as you can tell from previous Opens, St. Anrews in 2005 and Hoylake in 2006 were both warm and dry but Carnoustie this year was pretty cold and it constantly rained for the whole morning on the Sunday right up until the leaders went out.

[hurley9192]

all great course suggestions...here's a good book...

Blasted Heaths and Blessed Greens by James Finegan

it essentially talks about all the great courses over there. Read it before going and you will enjoy the courses you play even more.

Essentials...Muirfield, Old Course and Carnoustie
Should do's...North Berwick, Kingsbarns
Great fillers...Panmure, Gullane, Crail, Leven, Lundin and Elie

and that's just for the East coast...

[simplemind]

For those who have gone, if you were going back, what would you budget for a trip, both in time and money? You have been there, so you also know what not to do that cost you time and money, right!

[hurley9192]

we're planning on spending about $5000 for a 7 day 11 courses trip with airfare from Dallas and food included.