Fred,
Have fun. We planned to play the West Links in the AM and the East course in the PM. The West was so much fun, we played it again after lunch. A large part of the fun in the AM was our caddie, a great gent named Alec ?? (about 4 years ago), a retired banker who had just stepped down as the Captain of his club. I will try to remember his last name and email you. Our other caddie was completely forgettable. If Alec is still louping try to see if he is available. Rather like the Old Course, having a good caddie makes quite a difference the first time around. I remember one hole coming in, a blind approach over a well bunkered dune ridge, where Alec told me to play about 30-40 yards less than the actual yardage. Without this advice, I would have been on the beach instead of collecting an easy par. On the infamous 16th green (or greens) the pin was on the front plateau. Alec had the three of us each drop three balls on the back plateau and putt to the pin. Zero for nine leaving the putts on the green. It doubles the fun playing that course with someone who loves it and has played it hundreds, if not thousands, of times.
I’d never played with a caddie before going to Scotland. Sharing a caddie worked fine for us. He’d be one guy’s Sherpa but give info to all.