Scotland Ideas near Edinburgh?

[GeoffreyC]

Jamie - if September doesn't work then May might also be a good time to try for your trip.  My last trip over there was a business trip in May of 2000 that I combined with a bit of golf.  The weather was quite nice and the crowds were absent.

Huck- during that trip, I took a short trip up to Gil Hanse's Craighead links and it was well worth the effort.  Its a fine course on a crowded property.

However, my suggestion would also be to try Panmure.  I played there in 1996 in 55 mph winds with Linc Roden.  Read what Jim Finegan has to say about the course in his book on Scotland.  The first couple of holes get you into the linksland and the last two get you to the clubhouse but inbetween is some really fine links golf.  Its a good introduction to what looks to be a nice trip.  Also, as mentioned it right next to Carnoustie so the travel is minimized.  

[THuckaby2]

Geoffrey - the vote for Panmure is included - many thanks!

TH

[John_D._Bernhardt]

Crail Balconie is a wonderful starter round after the flight which must be a buster from the west coast. I would say Carnouste again but coming off that flight is really almost too harsh a way to start a trip. I am also a man who appreciates drinking your first day there. lol

[Slag_Bandoon]

Will Archerfield be ready?  

[BCrosby]

Tom -

I literally just got back from a tour not unlike your proposed trip.  If you want to eat the second round at Troon, let me urge you to play Western Gailes as the subsitute.  Your group will love it.  A remarkable course and just down the road.

I would also suggest playing North Berwick twice.  I would give up Gullane for it.  N.B. is unique.

Your trip will be fantastic.  I still recovering from jet lag and the depressing thought that my trip is over.  I'm ready to go again.

Bob


Bob

[THuckaby2]

Bob:  this same basic group played Western Gailes in 1998 (at the recommendation of the esteemed Bob Huntley, I might add).  We all LOVED it.  Oh yes, if it can be managed, we're gonna try and hit that again.  But the Troon day does remain "problematic."  We'll see what happens.

As for NB twice, well... I agree it is very cool, but again, we played it in 1998.  Once will do, so we can play Gullane - we didn't get to that at all in 1998.

I should have made all that clear before.... but thanks!

TH

[Evan Fleisher]

TH,

Another vote here for one of the courses at Crail.  Although Gil's new course was not completed when we were there back in 1998, the Balcomie course was quite fun, and as an early-trip round, I bet your group will love it.  But...if you can get onto the new course there, I might give that a go as well.

Jealous as always...

[THuckaby2]

I was hoping you'd see this, Evan!  Notice I am going back to Troon after all, all my carping notwithstanding?  

Looks as if I have a lot of choices for the first day...  we'll see how this shakes down.  Thanks!

TH

[john bernhardt]

Tom the second course at Troon is very average. Western Gailes or a 2nd round at Prestwick is a better choice. On a non golf note the Gen/Pres Dwight E. cabin is near Turnberry and is part of a beautiful grounds and castle complex overlooking the ocean.

[THuckaby2]

Thanks, JB.  Oh yeah, we're gonna give very serious consideration to bagging Troon Portland, that's for sure.  We'll see how it goes... and as for lodging near Turnberry, that's gonna depend on if we play their courses or not - that last day is being negotiated right now... but again at least for a group of our size, to play the course(s) one does need to stay on the Turnberry property.

GO TIGERS!!!


TH

[BCrosby]

John has a good tip.  The Cullzean Castle (pronounced Cullane) is a must see.  Magnificant castle hard on the sea with the Eisenhower quarters on the top floor.  The rooms were given to Eisenhower in thanks for his services during WWII.  An interesting Ike exhibit as well.

Very close (2/3 miles) to Turnberry.  Just up the road from Prestwick.

My wife dragged me there kicking and screaming and I ended up thanking her for insisting.

Bob

[Stan Dodd]

Tom,
I will be making a trip at same time.  We will be in Crail and North Berwick at same time.  We will be staying for the month of July  10 days in Dornoch, Lothian, week in Crail.
I echo Elie, perhaps Lundin.
A  non name course that provides a great into and is close to airport is Braid Hills.
Would love to go to Machrihanish with you.  I am playing 36 there on my 50th birthday end of July.
Cheers
Stan

[Stan Dodd]

Tom,
I will be making a trip at same time.  We will be in Crail and North Berwick at same time.  We will be staying for the month of July  10 days in Dornoch, Lothian, week in Crail.
I echo Elie, perhaps Lundin.
A  non name course that provides a great into and is close to airport is Braid Hills.
Would love to go to Machrihanish with you.  I am playing 36 there on my 50th birthday end of July.
Cheers
Stan

[THuckaby2]

Well whaddya know?  Well obviously have to communicate re this next year for sure, Stan and hook up somehow - that is if you don't mind a round or evening with all my college friends!

As for Machrihanish, that is just a pipe dream right now.  8 days away from the wife and family is REALLY pushing it as it is... adding to it seems really, really unlikely at this point in time.  But you never know... I shall keep in touch.

TH

[Stan Dodd]

I would love a round with you and your mates...  but pub time sounds like the ticket.Can they put up with me and my Dalmore
Stan

[THuckaby2]

Stan, pub time with these guys is indeed epic - here, there or anywhere, and anything goes!  Much better than golf, for sure.  We shall keep in touch.

TH

[Bob_Huntley]

Tom:

Dump Troon and double up on Prestwick and Western Gailes. If you want to test your mettle try Glasgow Gailes.  

Should you decide on Luffness New(superb greens) make sure you write ahead of time, wear something akin to an old school tie and have lunch in their charming dining room. Stuffy, because as our old friend, Rich Goodale said, there are a lot of Muirfield wannabees in the membership.

I liked Dunbar. Elkington qualified for the Open there this year and spent a lot of time given clinics for the members and the local kids.

[THuckaby2]

Hello Bob:

Oh WOULD THAT I had free autocratic reign over this trip, but this time I have to answer to my constituency unfortunately and they want Troon - and at least for now that means Old and Portland.  Oh yes, your advice to us to play Western Gailes was perfect and we loved it in 1998... but this time the guys want courses they can regale their club friends about, and Troon is a "name" folks in CA, CO, OR, etc. know and want to talk about.  Oh well....

Thanks for the advice re Luffness, also.  Oh yes, given we are going to be playing Muirfield as well this time, the coats and ties will be a given and all sorts of coaching will occur between now and next summer.

We'll see what happens with all of this - though we are booking it all now, a lot can change in 11 months.  Hell if I push all this golf too much I might well be divorced by then and I'll just take the pennies I have left and move over there!

TH

[Slag_Bandoon]

Tom H,  I noticed that on Wednesday you have some spare time between rounds.  How about reserving a spot with Golf Historian Archie Baird in Gullane.  I missed a connection with him as he had previous plans in another area when I rolled into town but it sure would have completed the trip.  But, as Dan King told me, "There's always next time.  And there will be a next time."
   What about Southern Gailes when in Ayrshire?
   On day of arrival, Musselburgh, The Old Course is very close to Edinburgh.  It's 9 holes so you can play an Open classic and play it twice if the energy reserves hold out. Niners are great when the jet lag cobwebs clog the brain.  Maybe they'll even let you ride a pony. (Although I sensed a genial but adversarial relationship between the two sports fields.)  
   Arbory Brae Hickory Golf in Abington on day of trek across Scotland?  Looks pretty tight though on that day.  

Don't forget the Aleve!

As an aside, any news on Archerfield?  Anybody?

[THuckaby2]

Slag - if a visit to Archie can be done, I sure as hell will... it's one of the glaring ommissions in my Scotland "resume" to date.  On previous trips I saw the shop but he was never there... I hadn't booked in advance.  We'll see what can be done this trip.  We don't have that much time in between Gullane and NB but you never know.

As for the rest... thanks and duly noted!

Just do remember this isn't just me....

TH

[Slag_Bandoon]

 Morning rounds in Scotland seem to go rather quickly.  If done before 1 PM you'd have 2 hours to go about 5 miles to get to NBerwick.  I know it's difficult to herd a committee, heck, I took the wifey with me!  Oops, did I say herd? Good thing a don't speak out loud what I write here.  

[THuckaby2]

We're also gonna be on a bus so transportation is all for one, one for all...

And golf in Scotland goes quickly for MOST people - I know - the times I've gone before I've had some very fast rounds... but with this crowd, well... we are American golfers and individual stroke play will be the thing each morning for sure.  We tend to go fast in the pm, as we play different games... But our version of fast doesn't equal the Scottish version, either.

Nope, this same group did a trip to Ireland in 2000 and well... quickness wasn't our forte.

TH

[Doug Wright]

Tom IV,

Slag's suggestion of a visit to Old Musselburgh is excellent. When we there and staying about 10 miles away, we hadn't heard of it but fortunately my buddy and I stayed up drinking and reading our Scottish golf history late that night, read about Old Musselburgh and arose very early the next morning to tour it before our round at N. Berwick. It's a real shrine and very unique IMO. Read up on it and stop by there if you can even if just to see it.

All The Best,

[THuckaby2]

Doug - I believe I've read as much about Musselburgh as I'll ever care to, but I will encourage this in the other guys and we'll see if we can get the bus to swing by.

When I went in 1987 with just two friends - two well-versed in golf history, interested in such friends - we did pop by Musselburgh - I made sure of it.  Didn't have time to play but we did check it out.  In 1998 with a group similar to the one going next summer, we just blew by, didn't give it a thought, they would have strung me up if I suggested anything that kept them from getting to N. Berwick to actually play the game.

So this trip.. well... it's pretty unlikely given the makeup of the group. But you never know....

TH

[ks02]

I played Dalmahoy in '94 and enjoyed it. Pure parkland.