Scotland or Ireland

« **on:** July 20, 2006, 08:26:42 PM »

I have a dilemma and would appreciate your help.

My wife has given me permission next time we go to the UK whilst she is seeing family for me to have a break for one week’s golfing holiday (and I don’t think I will get another break like that for a number of years !)

I have limited the choice for that week to be somewhere in Ireland or Scotland ?

Which country / region / area / courses would you personally choose (based on your own experiences) to recommend I'd see and why ?

Cost is no object - as is the amount of courses I can try to play.

Thanks
KP

« **Reply #1 on:** July 20, 2006, 08:36:23 PM »

Kevin,
I can't remember all the courses you have played across the pond, but I seem to remember you having seen a fair amount of the courses I like. Dornoch, Cruden Bay, TOC, North Berwick, Prestwick will always be pulling me back whenever I visit.
2-1/2 years until I go to Ireland for the first time. At this point without doing any serious research or consulting here, I would say Royal County Down, Portrush, Enniscrone, Lahinch, Ballybunion are on the list.
SW England would be a worthy trip too. St Enodoc, Perranporth , and many others I can't remember right now will be a future trip.
Have fun planning.

« **Reply #2 on:** July 20, 2006, 08:46:05 PM »

What have you played so far?

« **Reply #3 on:** July 20, 2006, 08:49:38 PM »

Ed

I can cover off the courses in SW England quite easliy as my wife's family is from Bristol which helps. I've been fortunate to see all the courses you mentioned but that won't prevent me to going back to see them again.

I am intrigued as to what choices fellow GCA's have made in planning their golf travels to either Ireland or Scotland especially when given the difficult choice of one over the other ?

« **Reply #4 on:** July 20, 2006, 08:59:52 PM »

Kevin,
I understand completely. The choices are so difficult and you always feel like you are missing something special no matter what you choose.

« **Reply #5 on:** July 20, 2006, 09:55:25 PM »

Kevin -

This same topic was discussed here within the past 3-6 months and has been discussed at other times over the past several years. Maybe someone can find the most recent thread and link it to this one.

I think the consensus is that Ireland edges Scotland in terms of top-5 or top-10 courses. However, Scotland is WAY ahead of Scotland in terms of number of worthwhile courses and their density & proximity to each other.

The problem is that 5 or 10 ten best courses in Ireland are pretty much spread all around the coastline of the Ireland. It can take you 2 or 3 hours (or more) to drive from one to the next one. These courses rarely have any other real good courses near to them.

If you are looking for a place where you can plant yourself for a week in the same B&B or hotel and play 1 or 2 great courses and another 2 or 3 really good courses without having to drive more than 30 or 45 minutes (or an hour, tops) in any direction, Scotland has several areas that offer that kind of situation.

East Lotian in Scotland has Muirfield, Gullan, North Berwick, Dunbar and others. Fife has all the courses at St. Andrews, Crail, Kingsbarns, Elie, etc. The Highlands has Royal Dornoch, Nairn, Brora, Golspie, Tain & Fortrose. The Aberdeen area has Cruden Bay, Royal Aberdeen, Murcar, Peterhead & Stonehaven.

Don't forget about England! The Lancashire coastline from Hoylake to Lytham-St. Annes could be the best 75 mile stretch of golf in the world - Birkdale, Hillside, Formby, West Lancs, SouthportAinsdale, Hoylake and Lytham-St.Annes. If you stay in Southport, none of those courses are more than 40 miles away.

DT

« **Reply #6 on:** July 20, 2006, 10:50:43 PM »

Scotland and play a combination of Fife and East Lothian or Fife and the west coast, 1. TOC,New, Kingsbarns, Carnoustee, Muirfield, N Berwick, Gullane 1. 2.. TOC, New, Kingsbarns, Carnoustee, Troon, Turnberry, Western Gailles

« **Reply #7 on:** July 20, 2006, 11:17:15 PM »

David

Which region did you enjoy playing most out of those you mentioned ? East Lothian, Highlands, Abderdeenshire or Lancashire ?

Tiger

If you had to choose either the East or West Coast of Scotland - which would it be ?

« **Reply #8 on:** July 20, 2006, 11:28:53 PM »

It really depends on the pace at which you like to travel and even then it almost a coin flip. The hotel at Turnberry is very nice and a great headquarters for the area. Greywalls is very nice as well and next to Muirfield. Greywalls allows for an easy 36 at any of the area courses. Turnberry is not quite as well located except for the host course. You almost have to read about the courses and make the hard call. The areas have their own personalities. I like both areas equally. St. Andrews is a must see and stay for any first timer. I would make sure I played TOC, Turnberry, Muirfield and N Berwick twice each depending on the path you took. All need more than one pass to even begin to take what they have to offer. It is easy to get from St. Andrews to either place and play on the travel day.

« **Reply #9 on:** July 20, 2006, 11:39:18 PM »

Kevin -

2 1/2 years ago I bought a vacation home in Dornoch (available for rent) and I have been an overseas member at Golspie since 2001, so I guess that says where my interests lie! To be honest, I have never been to East Lothian or Fife.

I have played most of the great courses in Ireland (Ballybunion, County Down, Portrush, Rosses Point, Portmarnock, Lahinch, etc.) and I have played the most of the Lancashire Coast courses. I really enjoy the serenity and the scenary in and around Dornoch, even though the golf courses there (aside from Royal Dornoch and Nairn) are not all that "great."

You certainly could combine the Aberdeen area courses with the Highlands courses in a very nice one week tour, as it is a 2 1/2 - 3 hour drive from Dornoch to Aberdeen. You could stay in one area for 3 or 4 nights and the spend 3 or 4 nights in the other area. I forgot to mention the Old Moray course at Lossiemouth, which is not far from Nairn and is another fine links. IM me your address and I can send you plenty of background info on both areas.

DT

« **Reply #10 on:** July 21, 2006, 07:52:10 AM »

Kevin

It may be a question of seasons, if your holiday is in May definitely Scotland when the Gorse/Whins is in glorious bloom and the heather is purple. If the season is September/October, then it would be Ireland. The end of September is the Dunhill, UK's answer to the old Crosby clambake. The Dunhill takes up tee times at TOC, Carnoustie, and Kingsbarns. I could be wrong but the fall is drier in Ireland. And if it is the summer, Royal Porthcawl, Pyle and Kenfig (Colt), Burnham and Berrow, Saunton (two championship courses), and the old classic Westward Ho! Choiches, choices! Enjoy

Peter

« **Reply #11 on:** July 21, 2006, 09:31:07 AM »

Kevin, you might want to consider spending the week in St. Andrews. Most of us run around either country squeezing in as many courses as possible. Spending the week in St. Andrews would allow you to get into the fabric of the town and play a dozen courses within 5 mins to an hour without having to pack and repack and race around.

« **Reply #12 on:** July 21, 2006, 01:12:47 PM »

For INV, don't forget the greatest course in the world under 6,000 yards: Boat of Garten !

« **Reply #13 on:** July 21, 2006, 01:22:08 PM »

BV:

Cruden Bay is a major, major haul from Inverness -- over slow, two-lane road. Highly scenic, yes; but Cruden Bay from Inverness to play a round of golf is no day trip.

I do second John's referral for a quick trip down the A9 to the Boat. A wonderful inland course, and tought to boot.

« **Reply #14 on:** July 21, 2006, 04:45:58 PM »

Okay, this is important to nail down. How long does it take to get from the Aberdeen area to Inverness? Phil, I'm assuming the slow road you're describing from Inverness to Cruden Bay is via the north and not via Aberdeen. If going through Aberdeen, isn't the drive on more major roads and not so slow?

« **Reply #15 on:** July 21, 2006, 05:23:38 PM »

Tim -

Figure on the following drive times:

Inverness to Dornoch is 45 miles. Figure about 60 minutes of drive time.

I don't know the exact mileage from Inverness to Aberdeen, but I would figure on a 2-hour drive, much of which is on 2-lane roads.

Inverness Airport is roughly 5-miles east of Inverness, towards Aberdeen. Nairn is 8-10 miles east of Inverness Airport. I am not sure where the Aberdeen airport is in relation to the city center or Royal Aberdeen & Murcar.

Most of the roads are 2-lane, so drive times can really vary depending on traffic.

DT

« **Reply #16 on:** July 21, 2006, 05:30:12 PM »

David,

Thanks, that's most helpful.

« **Reply #17 on:** July 21, 2006, 05:33:39 PM »

Kevin:

Who is in control of your marriage?

A man has to do, what a man has to do.

« **Reply #18 on:** July 21, 2006, 05:42:50 PM »

Kevin,
Scotland.

But I'm biased.

FBD.

PS Cut through all the merde, IM me...

« **Reply #19 on:** July 21, 2006, 07:47:49 PM »

For a stay of one week I personally wouldn't want to lose a lot of time travelling. That pretty much nails it for Scotland, then, because of the greater density of good courses.

Ulrich

« **Reply #20 on:** July 21, 2006, 08:13:00 PM »

I found the driving time horror stories to be way overdone on my one trip over. From Aberdeen heading up to Dornoch and back via Cruden Bay it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be.
I flew into Aberdeen and played Murcar, then drove up to Inverness to the hostel I stayed at (10 pounds and it had a flat screen TV in the lounge!). I'm pretty sure it took longer to find Murcar than it did to drive to Inverness.

Inverness to Dornoch was around an hour it seems. 36 holes at Dornoch, visited with David Tepper and Philip Gawith. Up early and drove to Cruden Bay for 36 holes, and then drove back to Aberdeen to drop off rental car and caught an evening train down to St Andrews. None of that seemed to be too demanding or time-consuming, although I was traveling solo.

« **Reply #21 on:** July 22, 2006, 12:43:05 AM »

Ed,

I agree. Although I didn't play Murcar I did play Royal Aberdeen and therefore saw Murcar from this course. It still took me ages to find Murcar's entrance.

« **Reply #22 on:** July 22, 2006, 03:13:33 AM »

I don't know which is best, but if you did end up going to Ireland, I'd go to the Southwest. Watervillle, Tralee, Ballybunion and Lahinch aren't that far away from each other, and the drive is beautiful. There's also Ceann Sibheal and Dooks down there.

Northern Ireland would also be an option.

Anyway, here's a map to show where the good courses are in realation to each other. http://www.irelandgolf.com/itineraries/irelandmap.html

« **Reply #23 on:** July 22, 2006, 03:15:43 AM »

I would also add that Ireland doesn't seem to be explored as much as Scotland. I think traveling golfers miss out on places like Arklow, Strandhill, Elm Park, Corballis etc.

« **Reply #24 on:** July 22, 2006, 05:09:59 AM »

Jack,

Is Corballis the one beside The Island. One of the locals told me that Bernard Langer would often play it and The Island in prep for The Open.

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