New Years Eve - Scotland or Ireland

[John Kavanaugh]

I'm getting some pressure to take my daughter somewhere over NYE on her trip back to Australia after Christmas. My first thought was to go to St. Andrews and hang with my new caddie buds and possible catch a round or two. Has anyone done such a thing or are there any better options not bordering on insanity? I don't want to sit on a plane over 8 hrs from New York and would prefer to go where we are the only tourists.

[Sean Ogle]

I'll be in Ireland over new years


There for a wedding, but hoping to get at least one round of golf in, even if the weather is going to be miserable....

[Keith Grande]

New Year's is a Sunday so Old Course probably closed...and the mats...

[Clyde Johnson]

St. Andrews will be dead (except for the locals), although New Years Day (like Christmas Day) is good to snag a freebie around the Old!

[David_Tepper]

New Year's Eve (aka Hogmanay) is a big holiday celebration in Scotland:

https://www.visitscotland.com/see-do/events/christmas-winter-festivals/hogmanay/

[Mark Bourgeois]

What would define a good trip for your daughter? Is she a golf nut? If she's looking for a broader experience and Ireland + Scotland are the sum total of your consideration, what about Dublin? Temple Bar + Portmarnock and The Island for the 2 hours of daylight you'll have.

If you can get past Ireland and Scotland, there's also Amsterdam -- train/taxi to places like Kennemer and Noordwijkse. Under the terms of my promotional contract I'm required to mention the nude beach near the latter's clubhouse. Should be totally lit in late Dec.

[Rich Goodale]

Scotland is a no-brainer as all the Irish will still be hung over from St. Patrick's day and be of no use at all.  Scotland also has the advantage of having its own word for New Year's Eve, "Hogmanay."  Edinburgh is the place to be, but nobody goes there any more because it is too popular.  It's Times Square with more people and without the neon.


If you really want to come over then, go to Dornoch.  I first went there and then in 1982, and am still recovering.


As a bonus, if you can stay awake in the 4-5 hour window of sunlight, you might get to play one of the finest courses in the world, without any Perry Tour buses clogging up the club carpark and the main street.......

[Pete Lavallee]

We spent New Years in Moffat, which is right over the English border. We drove through the burning wreckage of the downed Pan Am flight in the next village south, Lockerbie. Hogmanay is a big deal and should you bring a nice bottle of single malt out to the town square to watch the pipers ring in the New a Year you will be a popular fellow.   Everyone should spend one New Years Eve in Scotland, being with friends who are locals makes it better.

[Mark Pearce]

My first New Year with my now wife was spent in Salen, on Ardnamurchan Point, which is the westernmost point of mainland Scotland.  After being first footed (look it up) we followed the crowd to the local doctor's house.  Everyone in the village was there, each having brought with them a bottle of scotch, several single malt.  People were wandering found with pints of whisky.  Later in the evening I could swear the doctor's dog played the piano.  Next morning several participants swam in the Irish Sea.  It was minus 15 centigrade, the coldest winter of my lifetime in the UK.


Scotland is the only choice.

[Craig Sweet]

New Years Eve...big party in Dublin....3 days worth of fun.  Good golf less than 30 minutes away.

[Ally Mcintosh]

Scotland. Choose a small town or village. Not a big city

[Dave McCollum]

During my single trip to Ireland, I got invited to not one, but two black tie parties.  Those folks like to dress up.

[Marty Bonnar]

Edinburgh's Hogmanay has become quite a big occasion now with lots of live music, fireworks cascading down the castle ramparts and much carousing into the wee small hours. Tix required for entry to the main area.
On the other hand, if you're looking for a lower key event, a ceilidh in any village hall in the land would be a fantastic opportunity for meeting new friends, sampling lovely Malts, hearing great music, poetry and song - and learning the intricacies of Scottish Country Dancing!

F.