Scotland Itinerary

[MClutterbuck]

We are doing a similar trip around the same time, but starting at Dornoch. We are leaving out Troon and Turnberry, and only reserving 18 holes in the morning for 8 straight days. We might play in the PM only if weather is good and we are not too tired. Of course I will have a great excuse to get back to Scotland leaving the west coast out.

[AJ_Foote]

As others have said you'll have a great time but you're spreading yourselves pretty thin.


If you're never making it back to Scotland, then Dornoch by all means.


But I think a much better option would be to leave out the Highlands, and add the likes of Prestwick, Western Gailes, Crail and Elie.


Personally I think in any event a day of Prestwick and Western Gailes would be more interesting from an architectural perspective than the two Troons.


Then if you can, try to get back to Scotland and do a trip through the north-east and the Highlands, including Royal Aberdeen, Cruden Bay, Lossiemouth, Fraserburgh, Dornoch, Brora, Nairn etc.


Have fun.


Andrew

[Daryl David]

Any idea what a driver / van would cost?   My concern is a driver will balloon the cost of the trip.   We were forced to do the Old Course Experience in order to get tee times at the Old Course, which was about $3K / golfer for three rounds and 3 nights.   It's a great program (the only way you can guarantee an advance time), but it is not cheap.   

Your schedule is crammed with zero down-time because its an A list tour and you are at the whim of club limitations.  Get a luxury van/bus and driver so you can properly "socialize" when on the road. Even then you run the risk of a blur holiday.


Ciao

You should be able to do it for around $1500.00. Well worth it. Get ahold of Steve Mackie at Rowan Travel and get a quote. http://www.rowantravel.co.uk/index.html  I have used him 6 times and have always been pleased.

[Charles Lund]

I did a trip like that in 2010, with Royal Aberdeen and Cruden Bay added, along with Machrihanish and Machrihanish Dunes.

Was a great four weeks.

Charles L6nd

[Ari Techner]

 A trip to Scotland without a round at Prestwick is a mistake if it could be your only trip.

[Niall C]

For some reason I can't open the link. What day are you playing Forfar ?


Niall

[Simon Holt]

Taking it back to the courses, I think you will enjoyed Troon Portland.  I played it for the first time last year and was pleasantly surprised.  It's great value.

[JWinick]

Simon,


The pro said he would play 4 out of ten rounds on that course.   Is that a fair assessment?    The question is do we do 36.   We couldn't play the Troon Old Course twice, and Prestwick did not work out.

Taking it back to the courses, I think you will enjoyed Troon Portland.  I played it for the first time last year and was pleasantly surprised.  It's great value.

[JWinick]

Most likely, we will do one major golf trip a year.  I'm sure we will get back to Scotland.   Unfortunately, Prestwick just didn't work out with available tee times. 

A trip to Scotland without a round at Prestwick is a mistake if it could be your only trip.

[Mike Hendren]

Brora is so damned good.

[Ian Mackenzie]

David,


People were a lot nicer this year, so that helps!    We have flexibility to move Castle Stuart back if need be.   I suspect that it may be cutting it close and appreciate your insight.

JWinick -

Playing Royal Dornoch at 10:20&10:30 in the morning and Castle Stuart at 4:00&4:10 in the afternoon is cutting it very close. It will take you at least an hour to drive from one to the other. And it will take you at least 4 hours to play Dornoch as a 4-ball in the morning.

DT

P.S. If I recall correctly from JWinick's golf trip to Ireland last year, what most of us would consider to be excessive driving is not a concern for him.

Both times I played Castle Stuart (late August and mid-September), we had the course to ourselves.
I bet you could get a later time there.

[Niall C]

As Ian says, I doubt every tee time is booked a la TOC and they are very welcoming and accommodating at CS so I suspect there wouldn't be a problem. That said, I'd maybe rearrange the tee time now to give yourself a good bit more time. All it would take is for there to be a road accident somewhere and you’d easily add half an hour to your travel time along that stretch.


Re Portland v Troon Old Course – I don’t know who it was that advised you they would pick the Portland 4 out of 10 but that either does the Old course a disfavour or elevates the Portland way beyond its merits, which is not to say it is a bad course. While both have their merits, the Old course is a bigger, bolder course that is kept in better condition. You often hear unfavourable views about the starting and finishing holes on the Old course but that’s down to the lack of framing and nothing to do with the golf.


The Portland is largely a MacKenzie that over the years hasn’t had the love perhaps it should have just because it’s the second course. There was a move to return a lot of the MacKenzie features but from what I hear the greenkeeper has managed to “successfully” stall that. I’ll be interested to hear what you make of it.
 
 
Niall