[whine]I came all this way and I want to play my own ball all the way around[/whine] Foursomes is golf at its best. Too bad it just doesn't work in the US.
One rule that truly applies to links golf - carry only one club with a loft of over 50 degrees. You won't need others.
This May, my girlfriend and I went on a 2-week low-budget Scotland golf trip. ($5000 total including air-fare, green fees, car, B&B, etc.)
One way we saved was by playing alternate shot on several courses like Fraserburgh, Crail, Shiskine, Eden and The New. We were able to walk side by side, have both of us play, and all for the price of one ball! We also saved by having her caddy for me at Machrihanish while I caddied for her at The Machrie. At the others like Brora and North Berwick we both played.
As for lofted clubs... Whenever we had a clear path to the green and were within 100 yards we used an 8-iron. The first time she tried it it (from 100 yds out) I told here to aim at a hazard about 20 yds left of the green, to take about a 1/4 backswing and to pretend the 8 iron was her putter. Can you imagine how thrilled we were to watch the ball head towards the hazard but with each bounce and roll curve towards the green then make a right turn and roll to 8 feet from the pin! She was hooked on links golf at that instant, and we hated having to come back to the states where you often are Forced to fly the ball.