Ed,
Thanks for relaying all of your personal experiences. It sounds like our intentions (1st international golf trip) are very congruent. I hope to play 36 holes on at least 10 of the 14 days I have between flights. I will definitely check into the hostels.
How is NC treating you? My folks are there this week helping my brother prep his house for selling. He is starting his fellowship at UCSF in July, after 10 years doing M.D., Ph. D., and residency at Chapel Hill.
All,
1-Reef Wilson suggested that making golf reservations in advance is not necessary as a single. Should I just keep a list of courses' phone numbers and call over the day before I want to play somewhere? I am aware of the walk--up policy at the Old Course. Should I reserve times in advance for the "big name" clubs (e.g. Carnoustie, Kingsbarn)?
2-Is it best to play the "big names" during the week to avoid crowds, hitting the "smaller" clubs during the weekdays?
Thanks again for all of your input and invitations. It will be good to finally get a genuine taste my ancestry.
Kyle
It sounds like you are wind shield time willing. Here are a few suggestions:
1. If there are courses you really want to see, book your holiday around them. There is no point in going through all the trouble you will to walk away disappointed. But, be choosy about the must sees or your itinerary may feel like a forced march.
2. Get your weekends sorted. Try to play the must sees on the weekend even if they charge a premium. This frees up the much easier weekdays to poke your nose about and see where it takes you. Plus, you may get lucky and hook up with some members for a game as these clubs are much more used during the weekend. I have on more than one occasion been approached by members looking to get out when the tee was crowded. Of course it was too late too save the green fee, but they may invite you back on another day at great savings and you will probably get some good advice about lesser courses to play.
3. If you are looking to walk up a load, get detailed schedules of visitors times and what is available before you leave.
4. If you are looking to walk up a load, do it in areas with lots of good courses. St Andrews for instance is a great walk up town. All the courses can be played on the day at any time of the year provided you know the schedule of closures, comps etc.
5. If you walk off a course and think it is great, play it again even if it is the next day. It doesn't make much sense to go in search of when your car is already in the lot of a great course. Often times, clubs will allow a second round at the day rate if you decide to go again on the same day even though that wasn't the original intent. This is another great thing about weekday golf over here. The secondary courses are generally empty on weekdays so going back out isn't often too hard.
6. Take up invites whenever possible unless it mucks up a must see. You never know where it may lead.
Ciao