[Ben Jarvis]

Ben,

If you're planning to cut between Edinburgh, St Andrews and East Lothian and hope to maximise golf time, I'd strongly encourage renting a car rather than relying on trains.

Scott,

If Muirfield works out, then yes, I'll get a rental car. If not, train will be more than fine.

Cheers
Ben

[BCrosby]

As an American visiting Scotland for the first time, TOC and NB were transformational. I saw things I had never seen before on a golf course. I also didn't see things that I had always seen before on golf courses. To a lesser degree, Dornoch and Prestwick had the same effect on me.

I thought Muirfield was a very fine championship course of which I have played many.

Bob

[Mac Plumart]

As an American visiting Scotland for the first time, TOC and NB were transformational. I saw things I had never seen before on a golf course

So true Bob.  So true.

[Melvyn Morrow]

The biggest mistake visitors make is trying to cram in too much golf instead of taking time to enjoy each and every experience.

Enjoy the game, the moment and take time to check out the environment. Chat with the guys in the bar and most of all collect your thoughts before moving on.

Rush, cram in too much and you forget some, overlook others parts which you will regret once you notice or others mention their experience.

You are there to enjoy, so relax, slow down and take it all in, it’s the only way.

Melvyn

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

Muirfield but find a way to play both for they are both great and worth playing many times.

[hhuffines]

Several years ago we played our morning round at Muirfield, ate a wonderful lunch and then drove down to N. Berwick for an afternoon round.  The secretary at Muirfield was fine with our choice and the difficulty level between the two courses was dramatic.  North Berwick seemed like a carnival ride after battling the wind and rough at Muirfield.   That afternoon at NB remains one of my favorite and most fun rounds!  We stopped in Gullane for a great meal and a pint on the way home.

Does Muirfield still require foursomes (alternate shot) after lunch and is the rough as high as it used to be? 

Don't forget your jacket and tie if you get a game there....

[Steve Salmen]

Mark Pearce, please confirm.  Jackets and ties are only required if dining in the clubhouse.  If you just show up for golf, it's not required.  Also, it's possible that four ball games are frowned upon during member days at all times. My host last year was uncomfortable asking to play a three ball game and he's been there twenty five years.  From my understanding, members pretty much only play alternate shot when amongst themselves.  If you get a game and pay some attention, there are numerous little paths cut all over the course specifically for players to walk ahead.  Four ball games take about two hours.

[Bill_McBride]

The "day" at Muirfield five years ago was a four ball match off the tenth in the morning, shower, change to jacket and tie, great (and liquid) lunch, followed by foursomes off the first tee.   If you wanted a drink after, back into the J & T!

[Mark Pearce]

Steve,

Things are different on visitor days (Tuesdays and Thursdays) and non-visitor days.  On a Tuesday/Thursday they play fourballs in the morning but ask that you play foursomes (alternate shot) in the afternoon.  The members (not Tues/Thurs) only really play two balls.  Typically a 36 hole members day consists of 18 holes singles (two ball) in the morning, lunch and then foursomes.

On a member day it's jackets and ties everywhere but the changing room and course, so if you want to have a coffee or a drink, you'd want a jacket and tie.  On Tues/Thurs I believe that you can have a coffee in the lounge in the morning without jacket but I think you'd need a jacket to have a drink at lunchtime, after your round.  All that said, I think anyone who went to Muirfield just for a game of golf and passed up on the opportunity to have lunch would be missing out.

And yes, most greens have two paths from them, one to the tee and one to the fairway/next green where the foursomes partners not playing the next tee shot can go to help move things along.  Two and a half hours for a game of foursomes isn't at all unusual.

[Tom Ferrell]

Muirfield is certainly a hallowed golf experience.  I love the tradition of Foursomes in the afternoon.  The layout is one of the great tests of the game.  But having done it, I'm in no rush to do it again.

North Berwick, however, I will do play again and again and again.  The golf is uniquely wed to the property.  The quirk and whimsy of the course engages all the senses.  The views are inspiring and vast.  The out and back routing to and from the village is a wonderful journey.  The course is a feast for the architectural enthusiast.  Is it a championship test in the classic sense?  No.  But I don't know if I have ever had more fun on a golf course. 

Frankly, if I could only do one (and I had TOC, RCD and Portrush on my itinerary), I'd do North Berwick.  Hell, I might do it twice. 

[Ben Jarvis]

A big thank you to everyone for their advice on this tough decision. Just three weeks ago, I didn't know I was making the trip. It's all happened very suddenly!

I have decided to reschedule my flight from London to the Saturday night, playing at The Renaissance Club on the Sunday, before heading up to St Andrews that late afternoon. I intend walking the Old Course that night, before getting up early and making my way to the Starters Hut on the Monday morning. I might do the same again on the Tuesday morning, before heading back to Edinburgh on Wednesday morning and playing North Berwick.

On the two afternoons I have free in St Andrews, are there any suggestions on what to do? If I could play 36 holes, i would! Unfortunately, I broke my leg in December and my leg/ankle is not 100%, making 36 holes very difficult.

[Melvyn Morrow]

Ben

A few photos to help with St Andrews afternoons.








Also St Andrews Himalayas are always worth a visit.
http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-courses/2011-01/photos-st-andrews-himalayas-putting-course#slide=1

[Ben Jarvis]

Thanks Melvyn! I'll definitely be having a go at the Himalyas - looks like great fun.

[Jonathan Mallard]

Ben,

If you're unsuccessful at the Ballot, you can always scan the posted tee sheet and count the number of available times. I'm sure others have more constructive insight than I do.

While it's an inexact science, the best advice I can give you is to get there early. We were looking for about a week before we got there and there were between 25 - 33 open slots on the sheet before dark. The first night we were in town, we had applied for the ballot and were unsuccessful. The sheet was posted, and there were 16 slots available for a day that was forecast to be sunny and 71 degrees (we still have Fahrenheit on our phones).

We went to bed early, and schlepped over to the starters hut at 2:30. Folks started coming in about 3:10.

But it sure did suck to be the guy who got there at 4:15 and was 17th in line.

[Ben Jarvis]

Ben,

If you're unsuccessful at the Ballot, you can always scan the posted tee sheet and count the number of available times. I'm sure others have more constructive insight than I do.

While it's an inexact science, the best advice I can give you is to get there early. We were looking for about a week before we got there and there were between 25 - 33 open slots on the sheet before dark. The first night we were in town, we had applied for the ballot and were unsuccessful. The sheet was posted, and there were 16 slots available for a day that was forecast to be sunny and 71 degrees (we still have Fahrenheit on our phones).

We went to bed early, and schlepped over to the starters hut at 2:30. Folks started coming in about 3:10.

But it sure did suck to be the guy who got there at 4:15 and was 17th in line.

Hi Jonathan,

Thanks for indicating those times. I was intending on getting the starters hut at 5:30am. Sounds like a little earlier than that is required!

Cheers
Ben

[Tony_Muldoon]

Ben as its not July or August it won't be that busy.  I’ve got on twice as a walk up and in both cases when the hut opens at 6, they tell those further down the chain what time it's worth coming back at.   Both times were in August and I got out at 8.45 to 9 ish having returned to bed for an hour in between.


Earlier you mentioned playing Portrush at the weekend Unless things have changed or you are playing with a member, there's no unaccompanied visitor play between noon on Friday and Monday mornings.


Enjoy your trip.

[Ben Jarvis]

Ben as its not July or August it won't be that busy.  I’ve got on twice as a walk up and in both cases when the hut opens at 6, they tell those further down the chain what time it's worth coming back at.   Both times were in August and I got out at 8.45 to 9 ish having returned to bed for an hour in between.


Earlier you mentioned playing Portrush at the weekend Unless things have changed or you are playing with a member, there's no unaccompanied visitor play between noon on Friday and Monday mornings.


Enjoy your trip.

Thanks Tony!

According to their website - http://www.royalportrushgolfclub.com/visitors/

Visitor times are;

Monday: No Visitors in morning. Visitors may play after 2.00pm
Tuesday: Between 9.40am & 11.50am & after 2.00pm
Wednesday: Between 9.40am & 11.50am No Visitors in afternoon
Thursday: Between 9.40am & 11.50am & after 2.00pm
Friday: Between 9.40am & 11.50am No Visitors in afternoon
Saturday: Members' Competition Day. Visitors may play after 3.00pm
Sunday: Between 10.30am & 11.50am & after 2.00pm

[Neil_Crafter]

Muirfield for me. But love North Berwick, try and get on both.

And the Himalayas is as much fun as can be had while you are upright :-)

[Bryan Izatt]

Ben,

I have walked on to TOC three times as a single and once as a two with Mark Pearce.  Never got there before 10 am and sometimes later.  The people who got there very early in the morning are either already out or have given up.  Latest I ever got out was around noon.  Apart from the openings, there are apparently always some no-shows (very strange).  If you're going before July it shouldn't be a problem getting out as a single, especially if you're going to try two days.

[Scott Warren]

A midweek July day in 2009, I rocked up to the starter's hut at 11.20am and was on the tee at 11.40am!

Bit too fast, really, as the bacon and egg roll my missus was getting me from a shop nearby wasn't made in time and I had to play hungry...

[Ben Jarvis]

A midweek July day in 2009, I rocked up to the starter's hut at 11.20am and was on the tee at 11.40am!

Bit too fast, really, as the bacon and egg roll my missus was getting me from a shop nearby wasn't made in time and I had to play hungry...

Scott, I'm sure you were frantically getting ready at short notice. I hope you hit the fairway on #1!

[Scott Warren]

20 yards inside the LHS boundary fence!

[Ben Jarvis]

20 yards inside the LHS boundary fence!

Almost an Ian Baker-Finch!

In fact, most wouldn't know that Laura Davies hit it left and OB from the 1st tee in a practice round for the 2007 Women's Open.

I was there, didn't see it, but word quickly spread!

[Tony_Muldoon]

Ben as its not July or August it won't be that busy.  I’ve got on twice as a walk up and in both cases when the hut opens at 6, they tell those further down the chain what time it's worth coming back at.   Both times were in August and I got out at 8.45 to 9 ish having returned to bed for an hour in between.


Earlier you mentioned playing Portrush at the weekend Unless things have changed or you are playing with a member, there's no unaccompanied visitor play between noon on Friday and Monday mornings.


Enjoy your trip.

Thanks Tony!

According to their website - http://www.royalportrushgolfclub.com/visitors/

Visitor times are;

Monday: No Visitors in morning. Visitors may play after 2.00pm
Tuesday: Between 9.40am & 11.50am & after 2.00pm
Wednesday: Between 9.40am & 11.50am No Visitors in afternoon
Thursday: Between 9.40am & 11.50am & after 2.00pm
Friday: Between 9.40am & 11.50am No Visitors in afternoon
Saturday: Members' Competition Day. Visitors may play after 3.00pm
Sunday: Between 10.30am & 11.50am & after 2.00pm

Well done Ben.  I'm sure thats changed since 2008, but maybe my emories not wahtit once was.

[Mark Chaplin]

Scott you'll be amused to hear Nick Owen has driven out of bounds on the first on his last 8 R&A competition rounds. I believe 6 times left and twice right!

[Tags:]

Tags:

[Tags:]

Tags:

Call to undefined function theme_linktree()