[Lance Rieber]

Gentleman, couple questions on a trip in 2025 that I’m planning. I. Know it’s seems far but time seems to be moving so quickly.  Not sure if I will ever have the opportunity again, so I want to see the 2 courses I’ve dreamt about for 40+ years. Old Course and Royal County Down.  Questions are:
1.  What is the best time to visit? Course conditions, access to clubs, weather?
2. Planning on at least 4 potentially 8. All low handicaps and all who just want to play as much golf as possible. Can I book this thru VRBO,Air BNB, are they reliable? Can I book directly thru clubs for golf?  Is it possible to do this w/out a tour operator.  Want to play St. Andrews area and East lothian, then Northern Ireland. Is there to many moving parts to accomplish on my own?


Thanks
Lance

[Ally Mcintosh]

In general for GB&I links courses, you will get the best “conditions” towards the end of summer, maybe late August / early September. At that point, you are most likely to get slightly browned out fairways with thinner roughs that have burnt out.


Early summer (late May / early June) will be dependent on soil temperatures having risen and also has the potential to have thicker ball losing rough if there has been some rain.


You will get the gorse in bloom with yellow buds in May. For RCD (or heathlands) you will get the heather in bloom (purple buds) in August / September.


But really picking at differences - links courses are great all year including winter (except if playing in winter you might not be playing off fairways, only mats - TOC anyway).


Weather the only guaranteed months of cold and miserable is  January and February. Even then, it’s often playable. My favourite two months tend to be June and September. July & August tend to be warmest but with more average rain. April, May, October and even sometimes November can be very good too. Usually cooler.

[Bill Brightly]

I've booked several trips to Scotland and Ireland on my own, directly through the clubs. I think you'll find each club's website to be very helpful. (Getting on TOC is not easy unless you book the St. Andrews Experience, which I call the "make the Americans pay experience."   ) All the other top courses seem to reserve certain days for 4-ball unescorted guests.


You will definitely want to play RCD twice, so if you choose Ireland, plan on that. That is true for all of the top courses, if you only book one round you'll regret it after the 18th hole.

[Tommy Williamsen]

I have travelled every month between April and November. My favorite time is September and October, although late October gets chilly up north and the days are shorter. I agree, September is great. I like it better than June, which is a close second. The later you go the more likely you can get the tee times you want.


I also agree that you should play RCD twice. The first time around the blind shots scare you. The second time they are not so frightening. Take caddies wherever you play. You will enjoy the rounds more.


Scheduling isn't difficult but does take time. Make sure you check with them about days that are available to guests.


Read Jame Finnegan's two books on Golf in Ireland and Scotland.


Scotland:  https://www.amazon.com/Blasted-Heaths-Blessed-Greens-Pilgrimage/dp/0743264843/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Blasted+heaths&qid=1625508895&s=books&sr=1-1


Ireland: https://www.amazon.com/Emerald-Fairways-Foam-Flecked-Seas-Pilgrimage/dp/1416532986/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=emerald+fairways&qid=1625509129&s=books&sr=1-1


They give ideas about course, travel, food, and lodging. Besides that they are fun.

[Marty Bonnar]

Two things about TOC:
2025 ‘should’ be an Open year (if they return to the normal 5-yearly rota).
November to March it’s played off mats.


Just worth bearing in mind.
F.

[Mark Chaplin]

Have a look at the busy dates for the Old Course on the Links Trust website, bar Open years they don’t change much. August and September are not good months for visitors to get on the Old. If 2025 is Open year access will be difficult all year.

[JohnVDB]

You might want to look into getting a bus with a driver, especially if you have 8. A lot easier than trying to get a bunch of cars or mini-vans coordinated.


Beware that R&A use the old course for their fall meeting in September.  You should make sure when that is and avoid it as you might not be able to get on.  Also if the Dunhill is being played it would be closed that week.


For the easy, expensive way, there are companies that will organize the entire trip for you.  I’ve always traveled solo so I haven’t used them but I’m sure others can offer suggestions.

[jeffwarne]

Do it yourself.It is well worth the effort and all part of the fun.
2025 gives you plenty of time.Goodness who plans that far ahead!
If you get bored or tired of the process, you will have plenty of time to shift gears and go with a travel company.
Doubtful anyone is taking golf bookings that far out.


1.While Tommy's Finnegan suggestion is excellent(my original Bibles), be aware those books are 25 plus years old-certainly some of the lodging and food/pub options have changed
2.another resource I have used many times-it's about to get a major upgrade
https://www.top100golfcourses.com/golf-courses/britain-ireland
3.Golfclubatlas search
4. Confidential Guide
5. Club websites

I use Air bnb, Trip Advisor, and VRBO
always more cost effective(especially with casual meals/snacks when you're too exhausted to go out) and way more comfortable.

Pick one country, or better yet one, or at most two, regions in that one country.(East Lothian, Fife as you suggest is plenty of variety)

Give yourself a reason to go back-many times.

[Tommy Williamsen]

Do it yourself.It is well worth the effort and all part of the fun.
2025 gives you plenty of time.Goodness who plans that far ahead!
If you get bored or tired of the process, you will have plenty of time to shift gears and go with a travel company.
Doubtful anyone is taking golf bookings that far out.


1.While Tommy's Finnegan suggestion is excellent(my original Bibles), be aware those books are 25 plus years old-certainly some of the lodging and food/pub options have changed
2.another resource I have used many times-it's about to get a major upgrade
https://www.top100golfcourses.com/golf-courses/britain-ireland
3.Golfclubatlas search
4. Confidential Guide
5. Club websites

I use Air bnb, Trip Advisor, and VRBO
always more cost effective(especially with casual meals/snacks when you're too exhausted to go out) and way more comfortable.

Pick one country, or better yet one, or at most two, regions in that one country.(East Lothian, Fife as you suggest

[Lance Rieber]

Great replies, thanks for the advice. In looking at the websites for all the courses, I think I can book thru them, except a guaranteed time for the old course.  Looking at the calendar and after the reminders, looks like the old course may be tough in September, early October.  I do see that there is a window between the 5th and 12th to play. I’ll look for 2022 when available and see if that timeframe is consistent. If not, is October a decent time to play?  I see it’s the wettest month in Scotland.
[/size]Yes, 2025 is a ways out but living in Idaho, not sure I will ever do it again so I will be going for 2 full weeks. What about splitting up the weeks. Can I do Scotland for 7-8(4 in St. Andrews-4 in East Lothian) days and Northern Ireland 5-6. County Down, portrush, Porstewart…….?  Fly home from there.   My Must plays are:
[/size]Old Course
[/size]Royal County Down
[/size]Muirfield
[/size]North Berwick
[/size]Probably ambitious but most likely once in a lifetime, maybe more so for the guys I’m going with. Thanks

[David_Tepper]

Lance -

There is a lot to recommend about visiting Scotland & Ireland from mid-May into mid-June. As mentioned, the yellow gorse is in bloom and the countryside can be stunning. The daylight hours are quite long. You will be able to play golf till well past 9:00pm, so there is plenty of time to play 36-holes a day (and have a nap in between ) if anyone in your group is up for that. If you are doing any driving in the evening, it will be much easier to find you way around, looking for your hotel or where to have dinner, while there is still daylight.

My guess is it likely easier to access the Old Course at that time of year as well. And don't forget to play the New Course at St. Andrews. It is a good one!

DT 


P.S. The idea of hiring a van with a driver if you are 6 or 8 guys is a good one.

[Wayne_Kozun]

The Open Championship is at St Andrews in 2022 for the 150th anniversary, would they go back again in 2025?
When I have been to Scotland in the past I know that public access to The Old Course in September was extremely limited, but that may have been when the Dunhill Cup took place there at that time of year, in addition to the Autumn Meeting of the R&A.

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