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Ian Larson

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.....so I need some ideas of courses to visit as I make my way up north to St. Andrews.

This summer I will be taking some time off from the course to volunteer at the U.S. Open and then the British Open in July. After the British Open I am taking the next week to travel around by train and backpack solely to visit the other courses of England and Scotland. Like I said, I will be going to St. Andrews by train and would like to stop along the route and visit as many courses as possible during that week. I know you guys wont steer me wrong! Thanks and any suggestions are much appreciated!

ed_getka

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Re: After I rake bunkers at the British Open Im backpacking to Scotland....
« Reply #1 on: February 24, 2008, 01:32:30 AM »
Ian,
    You'll most definitely want to take the train to see North Berwick. The station is probably a quarter mile from the course. Have a great trip. There is a great hostel in St Andrews for the budget conscious if you need a recommendation.
"Perimeter-weighted fairways", The best euphemism for containment mounding I've ever heard.

David_Tepper

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Re: After I rake bunkers at the British Open Im backpacking to Scotland....
« Reply #2 on: February 24, 2008, 01:36:17 AM »
There was an article in the weekly GolfWorld magazine (US) last July about many of the golf courses in the UK that are reachable by train. Most likely, I still have a copy. Let me try to find it! ;)

paul cowley

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Re: After I rake bunkers at the British Open Im backpacking to Scotland....
« Reply #3 on: February 24, 2008, 04:00:32 AM »
Ian.... your post makes me want to put my house on the market this Monday.

And If it sells I would enjoy joining you.....and don't worry about the courses because we'll kick up something no problem. :)
paul cowley...golf course architect/asgca

Melvyn Morrow

Re: After I rake bunkers at the British Open Im backpacking to Scotland....
« Reply #4 on: February 24, 2008, 05:10:46 AM »
Ian

There are many courses to choose from and I believe you would enjoy most of them. Perhaps try a few less well known courses, but most not near a station.

In England :-  Baildon,  Kirby Muxloe and Warkworth (9 hole in Harry Potter 
                       country) 

In Scotland :-  Bridge of Allan, Crieff, Dunbar, Forfar, West Kilbride.

Also further North :-  Brora, Blairgowrie, Cullen, King James VI,
                                  Nairn, Newtonmore,  Strathperrer Spa, Tain
                                  and perhaps Tarlands

You will have a great time, but do try some of the less known ones.

When you get back, please post the list of course and what you thought of them.

Joshua Pettit

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Re: After I rake bunkers at the British Open Im backpacking to Scotland....
« Reply #5 on: February 24, 2008, 09:26:31 AM »
Ian,

I am in Scotland right now doing a similar trip to what you are planning, however I am studying in Edinburgh for a few months and visiting golf courses every spare moment I get.  There is so much to see here in Scotland, let alone England, that it is a bit overwhelming at times.  If you can manage it, I would recommend trying to spend a bit more than just a week, especially if you are planning to visit courses in England as well. 

As far as the East coast of Scotland, the courses that are easily accessible by train that I know of are Carnoustie, St. Andrews, and North Berwick.  There are a ton of golf courses spanning the coastline between Edinburgh and North Berwick, but they are somewhat difficult to access by train.  There is however a good bus system that runs North and South along the coast, depending on if you are starting in North Berwick or Edinburgh, that provides relatively easy access to most of those courses, including Muirfield, The Renaissance Club, Guallane, etc.

If you go to the West coast of Scotland, Just south of Glasgow, you will find courses such as Prestwick, Troon, and Turnberry.  I’m not very familiar with what else is over there because I have yet to make the trip there.

In the coming weeks I will be seeing many more courses, so if you send me an IM I might be able to provide some better insight.  I will also be heading down to England at some point, so I’ll let you know about my experience there as well.  Good luck with your trip.  Cheers.

-Josh

"The greatest and fairest of things are done by nature, and the lesser by art."

Dean Stokes

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Re: After I rake bunkers at the British Open Im backpacking to Scotland....
« Reply #6 on: February 24, 2008, 10:40:12 AM »
Ian,
When you finish raking at Birkdale you could spend the next week or so in that area of England and play many fine golf courses - Lytham, St Annes Old Links, Royal Liverpool, Hillside, Formby, Fairhaven (all Open or Open Qualifier venues), Hesketh, Southport& Ainsdale and West Lancashire to name a few.
Take the train and stay in the Lake District for a weekend. Just North of Merseyside. Quite simply one of the most beautiful areas in the UK. Not much golf but lots of hiking, mountain buking and great pubs for an awesome weekend of fun in Summer.
Then I'd go up the coast and play Silloth on the Solway. Off to Scotland then for an endless choice of links golf.
PS Don't forget your handicap certificate!
Living The Dream in The Palm Beaches....golfing, yoga-ing, horsing around and working damn it!!!!!!!

David_Tepper

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Re: After I rake bunkers at the British Open Im backpacking to Scotland....
« Reply #7 on: February 24, 2008, 12:34:18 PM »
Ian -

I found the back issue of Golf World magazine (7/13/07) with the article on golf travel by train in the UK ("The Right Side of the Tracks"). If you IM me your address, I would be happy to send you a photo copy of the article in the mail.

DT

Ian Larson

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Re: After I rake bunkers at the British Open Im backpacking to Scotland....
« Reply #8 on: February 25, 2008, 02:04:02 PM »
Thanks for all the replies!! All of the suggestions and recommendations are going to come in very handy. As I start putting my schedule together I will keep everyone posted. Also later this evening I will sit down and respond to everyone individually who sent me emails. I will be sure to come back with many photos from inside the ropes and all the clubs I visit. Thanks again everyone and keep the ideas coming!!

Wayne_Kozun

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Re: After I rake bunkers at the British Open Im backpacking to Scotland....
« Reply #9 on: February 25, 2008, 09:14:36 PM »
Like I said, I will be going to St. Andrews by train
I don't believe the train goes to St. Andrews any more - Leuchars is as close as you will get. ;)

Jim Nugent

Re: After I rake bunkers at the British Open Im backpacking to Scotland....
« Reply #10 on: February 26, 2008, 01:08:09 AM »
Ian, maybe a foolish question, but I am not clear from your posts: are you going to play the courses you visit, or just see them? 

Richard Phinney

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Re: After I rake bunkers at the British Open Im backpacking to Scotland....
« Reply #11 on: February 27, 2008, 06:12:13 AM »
The links at Montrose is right on the trainline, a 10 minute walk from the station, 45 minutes further up from Leuchars towards Aberdeen.

Rich Goodale

Re: After I rake bunkers at the British Open Im backpacking to Scotland....
« Reply #12 on: February 27, 2008, 06:58:24 AM »
Ian

If you want to play within walking distance of train stations, and are not planning to go much further than St. Andrews, I would recommend the following:

1.  Firstly, don't forget to look around the Birkdale area, which is full of great golf courses.  I'm not sure what hours they are expecting you to work, but at Open time in that area the sun rises at 5am and sets at 9:30pm.  Take whatever free time you have to vist and/or play places like Formby, Southport and Ainsdale, Hesketh, Lytham, Wallasey, Hoylake, etc.

2.  Don't even think of getting off the train until you get to Edinburgh.  While there are some good golf courses between Birkdale and there, they are not accessible by train.

3.  When you get to Edinburgh, change trains to North Berwick and spend 2-3 days there.  Play/see North Berwick, the Gullane courses, Kilspindie, Dunbar, Longniddry, Luffness, maybe even Muirfield if you are bold and/or lucky.

4.  Next, take the train back to Edinburgh and then on past St. Andrews to Carnoustie.  Spend 2-3 days there playing/seeing Carnoustie, Monifieth, Panmure and Montrose.

5.  On the way back from Carnoustie to St. Andrews, play/see Scotscraig.

6.  If you want to break the journey from North Berwick-Carnoustie, stop off along the way at Ladybank and/or one of the village courses along the way(Aberdour, Burntisland, Kinghorn, Thornton, Balbirnie).

7.  Or, just stay in St. Andrews for another week!

Cheers

Rich

Jim Nugent

Re: After I rake bunkers at the British Open Im backpacking to Scotland....
« Reply #13 on: February 27, 2008, 07:19:43 AM »
Adding to Richard's suggestions:  if you get to N. Berwick, perhaps you can check out Doak's Renaissance Club. 

Rich Goodale

Re: After I rake bunkers at the British Open Im backpacking to Scotland....
« Reply #14 on: February 27, 2008, 09:10:01 AM »
Adding to Richard's suggestions:  if you get to N. Berwick, perhaps you can check out Doak's Renaissance Club. 

Good call, Jim!

paul westland

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Re: After I rake bunkers at the British Open Im backpacking to Scotland....
« Reply #15 on: February 27, 2008, 07:13:52 PM »
Richard Phinney:  Montrose is a favorite for it's rail access, and welcoming nature.  A trust manages the courses ala St Andrews, and a round with a member from one of the three Clubs: Montrose Mercantile, Montrose Caledonia, and Royal Montrose, each with clubhouse, is a treat.  Cool shot of James Braid bangin' one off the first tee on their website........


Sean_A

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Re: After I rake bunkers at the British Open Im backpacking to Scotland....
« Reply #16 on: February 28, 2008, 03:45:45 AM »
I think a limited company started running the the Montrose courses a few years back - Montrose Golf Links.  The setup is probably the same in  that visitors  choose which of the clubs they would like to use for changing & drinking.

Ciao
New plays planned for 2024: Nothing

Jeff_Mingay

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Re: After I rake bunkers at the British Open Im backpacking to Scotland....
« Reply #17 on: February 28, 2008, 09:56:04 AM »
Ian,

Not far, south, from St. Andrews is Elie... a charming little links, featuring excellent views toward Edinburgh across the Firth of Forth, and some really interesting contour in spots. Elie really shocked me during a visit there some three years ago. I didn't expect to be as impressed with the place as I am now.   

James Braid is from Elie.
jeffmingay.com

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