2007 Scotland Trip

[Jim Dawson]

We have our courses and days set for our June 2007 trip to Scotland

Saturday
 23-Jun
 Arr GLA, Ailsa Course about 2:30 PM
 
Sunday
 24-Jun
 Prestwick mid afternoon
 
Monday
 25-Jun
 Royal Troon mid AM best any time OK
 
Tuesday
 26-Jun
 Muirfield confirmed
 
 
 
 North Berwick late afternoon about 3:30 PM
 
Wednesday
 27-Jun
 Kingsbarns about 1:00.  Alternate Carnoustie date
 
Thursday
 28-Jun
 Old Course and New Course
 
Friday
 29-Jun
 Carnoustie late AM, or Kingsbarns if Carnoustie is on Wed
 
Saturday
 30-Jun
 Dep GLA
 
We have 8 golfer going with some of us going a couple of day early. First time trip for all.
Any suggestions as to what are the "can't miss" courses or attractions.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
JD

[Tom Huckaby]

Looks like one hell of a trip to me, JD.  You are surely hitting the big names.  Some questions:

1.  I assume you're doing the whole day at Troon?  Portland-Lunch-Old?  It's expensive, but a very fun day.  If you did manage to just schedule Old, then Western Gailes would be a very worthy add-on.  That could be cone on Sun 24-Jun as well.  It is as can't-miss as any of the others, I think.

2.  Did you just get the one round at Muirfield, or the whole day there with the lunch also?  That is pretty damn fun.  If you can do it you really should.  But N. Berwick is another can't miss... as is Gullane No. 1 really... but so many courses, so little time.

3.  Did you get a motor coach and driver? That too is expensive but well worth it.  Your rota does cover some miles and getting through and/or around Edinburgh is not for the faint of heart.

There are lots of other potential additions, which people here will likely add.  We discuss Scotland a LOT.

 

All the rest seems great.  Of course there are other courses you could see, but that's a darn fine rota.

[Sally Livingston]

Sounds like a fantastic trip!

Around St. Andrew's area, check out Crail, Leven and Elie, and further north of Carnoustie if you have the time, play Cruden Bay!
One course I have not been able to play YET is Machrihanish which, if you have a couple extra days might work out for you.
There was a thread here on the best ways to get there within the last week or two.

[Marty Bonnar]

Jim,
as the local GCA regional correspondent, it is incumbent upon me to offer as much assistance as possible to Scotland-bound GCAers.
Please feel free to IM me with any queries.
TH and Sally's ideas are very on-the-ball so far. For cultural queries (esp. those involving 'drinking' etiquette) please just ask...

Re Machrihanish - with any luck the FBD et la Nancy and BillV and Renee will be test-driving the new ferry service from Troon in the very near future. More details to follow...

http://www.kintyreexpress.com/

FBD.

[Tom Huckaby]

Sally's ideas are all great; just note I assumed you were limited to the time stated.  If you do have more time and are willing to adventure further out, oh yes a whole world of greatness and fun awaits....

In any case, you also owe it to yourself to contact Martin directly, as well as Rich Goodale who also lives in the area.  They will give you the inside scoop without a doubt.

A couple other words of advice:

 - don't bother with a golf umbrella, you'll never use it - too windy, too much of a pain to carry;

 - do invest in goretex rain suit - hopefully you won't need it, but if it rains, and it's bloody well likely at least a little no matter what time of year - you will be very glad you have it.

For the rest, refer to Martin and Rich.

 

[Mike Benham]

- do invest in goretex rain suit - hopefully you won't need it, but if it rains, and it's bloody well likely at least a little no matter what time of year - you will be very glad you have it.

Rain gloves ... the rain suit will be worthless if you can't hold the club ...

[Bob Jenkins]

Jim,

I have been over there a couple of times. As Tom said, you have hit the biggie courses and you will be quite busy seeing you have a fairly short time over there. I agree with the suggestion of Western Gailes which is near Troon and Prestwick and also Gullane #1 which is adjacent to Muirfield. Also that you should try to get the "full meal deal" as Tom suggests at Royal Troon and Muirfield. Lunch at Muirfield is a wonderful experience. Must take your jacket and tie. It was a buffet where you sit down at long benches and join in with the other guests there for the day.
I also remember receiving from The Honourable Company what they described as "Rules for the Conduct of Visitors to Muirfield Links" or words to that effect. Amazing. Follow them carefully.
Finally, even if in the morning it looks as though it is going to be warm and sunny all day, at least pack along a vest sweater and your rain jacket as the weather can change very quickly and often does. We got caught a few times.
The people over there are wonderful and try to get to know as many as possible, especially in the small towns.

You will have a great time!

Bob Jenkins

[Voytek Wilczak]

...going a couple of day early....

That is a great idea if you can do it.

Hang in Glasgow, the resurgent and quite a cool city for a couple of days, get rid of the jetlag, get used to the Scottish accent all around you, taste some single malt...

Aaaaaah, I am getting envious....

[Mark Leo]

Sounds like a great trip!
Hopefully our group of 12 will have as much luck with those kind of tee times for our trip in October 2007.
Best advice I got on previous trips to Ireland was bring 2 rainsuits.  At first I thought that was silly, but after 7 days of constant rain/cold/wind, it was nice to have a dry suit.  Despite the best rain suits you can buy, 5-6 hours in constant rain really gets them wet, and they don't really dry out overnight!  Have fun.

[Sally Livingston]

I wonder if it will be dry that time of year in Scotland. ?? We were there in September '04 for the Ryder Cup and it was beautiful weather, except for some very thick fog in the St Andrews/Kingsbarn area.
One thought in regards to rain gear- laser on the eyes instead of having to deal with wiping off the glasses to see the fairway?!

[David_Tepper]

Jim Dawson -

At that time of year, you will have daylight in Scotland from about 5:00am to almost 10:00pm. If you or any of your companions are up for it, you should be easily able to squeeze in a 2nd (or 3rd!) round on any day. I would encourage you to go play at least one or two of the "local" courses, off the beaten path trod by most American touring golfers. Ask your caddies or the starters at the courses you are scheduled to play for some recommendations.

DT  

[Bob_Huntley]

Ireland and rain.

Many years ago, twenty chaps from MPCC went on a trip to play the greats in Ireland, Scotland and England. One of the organizers asked me for the one essential for a happy group of golfers playing in the auld sod. I suggested that he determine how many clothes driers were in situ at the rest stops. He did and we chose lesser starred hotels dependent on the ability to dry our clothes.

Our first stop after disembarking at Shannon sans clubs and golf equipment was Lahinch. It poured rain for hours and we left the course like drowned rats. The saving grace was a couple of Maytag industrial dryers that took care of us. The trip proved a great success thereafter.

Bob

[Mark Leo]

I was just wondering how you've been able to secure times already at the Old course for June 2007. I was under the impression that you could'nt do that before September 2006?

[Ed Tilley]

I wonder if it will be dry that time of year in Scotland. ?? We were there in September '04 for the Ryder Cup and it was beautiful weather, except for some very thick fog in the St Andrews/Kingsbarn area.
One thought in regards to rain gear- laser on the eyes instead of having to deal with wiping off the glasses to see the fairway?!

If you went over to Scotland for the 2004 Ryder Cup, it must have been awful when you got there and discovered it was actually being held in the States .

[ForkaB]

Jim

Hard to make suggestions to a pretty mcuh fixed agenda, but here's an attempt!

1.  Chill out in the 1st 3 days in Ayrshire.  Don't rush around looking for hidden gems, because there ain't that many in that part of the world.  If you have free time, play the Kintyre or visit Alloway to see Robbie Burns' history, or visit Culzean Castle to see soem of Eisenhower's.

2.  Do the full Monty at Muirfield (18, lunch, 18 more).  Scrap N Berwick or play it in the gloaming (tee off at 6-7pm).  There will be time on your next trip to play it, regardless.

3.  Enjoy the town of St. Andrews.  It is a true gem, and try to get away from the places that the caddies and the Americans stay (generally the same places--the caddies know where their bread is buttered, and/or their pints paid for...).

4. Play the Eden when in St. Andrews.

Otherwise, you have more than enough for your 7-8 days to keepyou ocupied.

PS--as for the weather, it SHOULD be dry, but I just hosted Tiger Bernhardt, and we played in a 2-3 club wind and barely tolerable rain on Tuesday.  He was supposed to play TOC yesterday, when the winds went up to near gale force.  I wouldn't be surprised to hear that he had been blown out onto an oil platform in the North Sea.

[Sean_A]

Jim

Hard to make suggestions to a pretty mcuh fixed agenda, but here's an attempt!

1.  Chill out in the 1st 3 days in Ayrshire.  Don't rush around looking for hidden gems, because there ain't that many in that part of the world.  If you have free time, play the Kintyre or visit Alloway to see Robbie Burns' history, or visit Culzean Castle to see soem of Eisenhower's.

2.  Do the full Monty at Muirfield (18, lunch, 18 more).  Scrap N Berwick or play it in the gloaming (tee off at 6-7pm).  There will be time on your next trip to play it, regardless.

3.  Enjoy the town of St. Andrews.  It is a true gem, and try to get away from the places that the caddies and the Americans stay (generally the same places--the caddies know where their bread is buttered, and/or their pints paid for...).

4. Play the Eden when in St. Andrews.

Otherwise, you have more than enough for your 7-8 days to keepyou ocupied.

PS--as for the weather, it SHOULD be dry, but I just hosted Tiger Bernhardt, and we played in a 2-3 club wind and barely tolerable rain on Tuesday.  He was supposed to play TOC yesterday, when the winds went up to near gale force.  I wouldn't be surprised to hear that he had been blown out onto an oil platform in the North Sea.

Jim

The Scots wannabe is only half correct.  Do not skip North Berwick for ANY reason.  DO take lunch at Muirfield after your game and don't be rushed.  The wine is good and the conversation can be fantastic once all the other Yanks are trudging around after a quick lunch.  

Rich - You aren't kidding about the wind yesterday.  I played Conwy and it was brutal.  It had to be gusting upward toward 50 mph with a steady 30-35 mph.  Second windiest day I have played in.  Its not like Conwy isn't already tough tough with bowling alley fairways and narsty rough flanking the bunkers.  Too harsh for this tenderfoot!

Ciao

Sean

[Marty Bonnar]

PS--as for the weather, it SHOULD be dry, but I just hosted Tiger Bernhardt, and we played in a 2-3 club wind and barely tolerable rain on Tuesday.  He was supposed to play TOC yesterday, when the winds went up to near gale force.  I wouldn't be surprised to hear that he had been blown out onto an oil platform in the North Sea.

Have I missed a visit by the great JB? Why washn't I in-forrrmed!?!?!?

Re yesterday - Scotland, MIDSUMMER'S DAY - The Summer Solstice....
9 - yes, 9! degrees, 50mph GALES, about twelveteen inches of rain...don't EVER come without the rain gear!!!

FBD.

[ForkaB]

Sean

I don't wannabe or have never wannedabe A Scot.  I am just an American who is happy to live here where the golf is unparalleled, the whisky is fresh, the air is clean, and my sprogs are happy.  Pity about the football.....

[SPDB]

Does anybody know of a reliable site that lists the fees for courses in Scotland, preferably both private and public.

Rich - Thanks for your email, I owe you one back.

[ForkaB]

Sean

Try the below.

http://www.uk-golf.com/

Rich

PS--take your time and reply to my e-mail when you are ready.

[David_Tepper]

SPDB -

You can order a free copy of "The Official Guide To Golf In Scotland" at:

http://golf.visitscotland.com/

The guide contains all the info on golf courses in Scotland you will need.

DT