The ultimate solo golf trip

[Brian Phillips]

Just out of curiosity, is there anyone else who'd be happy to camp out at one course and enjoy it for 4 days?

George,

That is exactly what I would love to do.  I dream of just spending 4 days at somewhere like Barnbougle and getting to know the course, the bartender and the locals.

It would be so mellow and relaxing...no stress of travelling or moving on.  Much like the weekend I had at Sand Hills with Tom Doak and Co.

Brian

[Jon Earl]

How about the Kent/Sussex coast?

Rye
Littlestone
Deal
Princes
Royal St Georges

And you could camp at the Camber Sands caravan park just down the road from Rye. Luxury!

[Jim Franklin]

Vegas. So much more to do than just golf and the food is awesome.

[Tom Huckaby]

Just curious:  is going solo a preference, or a necessary evil?

I've always preferred to do golf trips in general with at least one friend.  I know solo CAN work, but it also can lead to some lonely rounds.

But for this 4-day deal, I vote for the Jason plan, as clarified by Rich Goodale.  You can't go wrong with that.  It would work GREAT solo, and it would be life-changing.

I'm also one for doing multiple courses rather than immersion in just one.  Sorry - George, add this to the long list of things we see differently.  

[Brent Hutto]

I agree with the Kent coast idea and with the competition week (or "open week") idea. I'd pick days during the yearly open comps at Deal and make side trips to Sandwich, Princes, Rye, and/or Littlestone whenever practical.

[Jim Franklin]

How easy would it be to do a trip to Ireland solo for a few days? Anyone done this? I have been really wanting to go and do not want to wait for a group so I was thinking of taking off on a Wednesday and coming back on a Monday.

[Phil McDade]

For something completely different (and affordable, once you get there):

Fraserburgh, Scotland.

A wonderful links (Corbie Hill) in town, little visited by anyone other than Scots.

A very short drive either to the nine-hole, rudimentary but scenic Rosehearty links, or the historic 18-hole links at Inverallochy. To the west, within an hour or so, are the funky links of Cullen, the one-hole wonder of Clivet at Royal Tarlair, the Mackenzie-designed Duff House Royal, plus the cliff-hanging towns of Gardenstown, Pennan and esp. Crovie. To the south, and not that far: Peterhead, about 12 very good links holes, plus the wonderous Cruden Bay. A bit further to the south, but still drivable: Royal Aberdeen, Murcar (abutting the Balgownie links), and the strange and goofy Stonehaven of Hitler's bunker fame.

Lots of picturesque towns (particularly on the northern coast), lots of wonderful local seafood (esp. the Cullen skink), and you'd be hard-pressed to find more welcoming and accomodating people.

[Tom Huckaby]

How easy would it be to do a trip to Ireland solo for a few days? Anyone done this? I have been really wanting to go and do not want to wait for a group so I was thinking of taking off on a Wednesday and coming back on a Monday.

Jim - there are a few regulars here who have done exactly this - it's very easy to do, from the East coast anyway... fly into Shannon or Dublin, get a car and go.  Note if you are serious about this also and would consider flying into Belfast, my cousin's club Castlerock awaits and would make for a good reality check-in point as you also play Portrush and Portstewart... that is, I can hook you up with him for a guaranteed match/game/overseas friend, if you don't have such to meet up with already.  Let me know if and when you start planning.

[Jim Franklin]

Huck -

That would be great as Royal County Down is my #1 priority. I will let you know how my plans progress.

Jim

[Tom Huckaby]

Huck -

That would be great as Royal County Down is my #1 priority. I will let you know how my plans progress.

Jim

Cool - that can VERY easily be done, particularly flying into/out of Belfast.

[tlavin]

Bandon gets a slight nod over Pinehurst, from moi...

[Mike Hendren]

I did precisely this in later October, 2003.  Four days and I only booked Kilspindie and North Berwick's West Links so I could insure 36 holes on my final day.  

Arrived Sunday, walked The Old Course and played The Eden late afternoon.  No problem getting on The Old Course by 8:30 a.m. each of the next two days.  (I shall never forget sitting in the dark on the bench waiting for the starter to arrive).  Could have easily played 36 at The Old Course both days - my only regret.  Took an hour to get on Carnoustie.  

The only downside in late October is the short daylight.  More than offset by the courses being easily accessible.  While some will disagree, I liked the Dunvegan and treasure my Tennents glass given me by the barkeep as a token of my patronage!

Mike

[John Mayhugh]

In 1995 I had a partial solo trip to Scotland.  Spent a couple of days at the Open at St. Andrews with a co-worker of mine.  He headed home on Monday while I played Carnoustie.  Then on Tuesday AM I played the Old Course. I had a similar experience waiting for the starter to show up in the early AM hours.  The only negative of my Old Course experience was playing with some other foreigners.  

That afternoon I played the New Course with a couple of locals.  The next morning, full of excitement, I drove up to Dornoch and played that afternoon and 36 on the next day.  If I were to take a trip as a single, I believe I would go back to Dornoch.  No trouble getting rounds with locals there.

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