As always, at least half the fun of a trip is planning it.  I am committed to the May 2004 Painswick event to the extent that I have purchased two tickets (my brother and me) and rented a car.  I am nothing if not impulsive/compulsive.  

We will arrive late afternoonin St Andrews (after arriving that morning at Gatwick, connecting after a layover via British Airways to Edinburgh and renting a car) on Saturday, May 8.  Question:  how long does it take to drive to St Andrews from Edinburgh airport.  (We are supposed to arrive in Edinburgh at 2 pm).

So then are most courses open on Sunday?  I know the Old Course isn't, but what about New and Eden?  

Then we'll have Monday and Tuesday and early Wednesday to play around St Andrews prior to a lengthy train ride from Edinburgh where we'll turn in the rental car, to Stroud near Painswick.

Given that schedule and the overpowering desire to play TOC as many times as possible but also North Berwick.......  how long is the drive to North Berwick from St Andrews?  Maybe we should drive to North Berwick on Tuesday and spend the night, playing Wednesday morning before entraining for Stroud.

What about Crail?  Is it a can't miss?  Which to play between New and Eden and Jubilee?

Please excuse the rambling, I'm getting excited and love the planning!  

Bill:

Remember it stays light pretty late that time of year.  Playing TOC the arrival day likely isn't out of the question....

Getting the tee time will be the tough thing.  If you really do want to play TOC multiple times, really the only way as a visitor to do so is to work it through a travel company.  Perry Golf, Wide World of Golf, something like that.  The hotels each get certain times and they buy such from them... You can can also work with the local hotels directly, but that takes a way bigger effort.  Ballot might work, but damn for a little extra $$$ you can make it a sure thing, and that to me is worth it.  It's also darn fun to stay at the Dunvegan or one of the other local SA hotels...

NB is about an hour's drive past Edinburgh from St. Andrews.  Carnoustie is about 45 minutes from SA, maybe less.  Each are worth checking out without a doubt...

Don't listen to naysayers here, btw - Kingsbarns is damn good and well worth playing.  That's right there 15 mins max from St. Andrews.  Crail is also very close, both courses there worth doing from what I hear.  Muirfield is over just short of N. Berwick, but if you want to play in May 2004, you might already be too late... of course JB is right, stay at Greywalls and anything is possible, but it may well be already booked, as word is all normal visitor slots are filled over a year in advance.  This is also where a good travel company can work wonders, though.... and a day at Muirfield is one of those golf experiences that simply must be done in one's lifetime, so do check it out....

You have many options, many ways to occupy your time before taking on Painswick... ALL will be worthwhile without a doubt.

TH

JB is right, there are cheaper ways to do it, but they would require a bit more effort, and if he wants multiple rounds there, well... All I'm saying is a company like PerryGolf can make things happen, simply and easily.  They do extract their pound of flesh, though!  

TH

I am with all that but the St Andrews Bay is not biting into anything except its line of credit. TOC should be faster and not slower than Kingsbarns and the other courses Amricans frequent.

Mike Hendren, thank you, thank you, you are a friend indeed.  In addition to those critical driving times, please just take notes on everything, we need all the G2 intelligence we can get!

John B and Huck, please elaborate on "cheaper ways than Perry to assist in TOC slots."  As it happens, we have cousins of friends in St A who can help us with the cost (as their guests) but not tee times from what I understand.   We will be attempting the ballot!  Can we just roll by TOC starter shack on Saturday late afternoon?

All, what is the best way to book tee times at the other courses?  (I know about Muirfield and Carnoustie, but what about Eden, Crail, etc?).

Thanks to everybody for gracious assistance.  This is addressed to the Travel Advice division of GCA!  

Bill,
With a surname such as yours, you should be allocating a little time to visit a Kilt Shop!!!!!

Martin.

Bill - given you only have the 4 days really to play (Sun-Mon-Tue-Wed) take heed of JB's advice - there is only so much you can do, and you're gonna want to be playing golf more than driving a car.  So I'd say his order of preference is damn near right on (I'd only put Kingsbarns above SA New myself), so take them in that order, work out what you can.

As for doing it cheaper, check your IM.  I don't give away all my secrets for general public consumption.  

TH

Thanks, guys.  I understand my schedule is ambitious, but in reality I'm not planning to play all those courses, just looking at options.  I do want to play TOC or other Trust courses, and do want to play North Berwick.  I do have cousins of friends who are locals in St A, so should help with TOC guest fee if not access.  What we'll have is Sat p.m., two rounds Sun, two rounds Mon, two rounds Tue, Wed a.m. then train to Painswick.  Since the train to Painswick can be taken from Edinburgh, what I'm now contemplating is driving to North Berwick Tuesday lunch time for a p.m. round there, spend the night, play NB in the a.m. and then take the train.  This gives us Sat p.m., all day Sunday, all day Monday, and a.m. Tuesday in St A.  That is six opportunities to play in the immediate St Andrews area, and hopefully through the ballot or other deviousness we'll be able to play a couple of rounds on the Old Course.  There are obviously enough good options there to fill our all too brief time.  Question:  if you are in but don't make the ballot, is there then time to get over to the tee at New, Eden or Jubilee to play pretty quickly?   I'm not too sure how this process works.

Looks like Ed Getka will be in the area and could join us for a round or two.  Who else?

Lou, you can't be my brother but you are certainly invited to join us!  I fully appreciate your advice re driving, have done so in England (including that horrendous roundabout as you enter London from Heathrow!!  ) on a number of occasions.  Every time you fire up the ignition, you must tell yourself, "I am driving on the left side!"  Otherwise you will be killed in a serious accident within 30 seconds.  

FBD, I'm much more an Irishman than Scot, but do plan to consume copious amounts of the local single malt.  My favorite is the Balvenie Doublewood.  What's yours?

Bill - If you are going to be in the St Andrews area for three days then don't worry... you WILL get to play TOC. It's not as hard as the travel planners would like you to believe. 50% of the tee times for TOC are allocated via the ballot. If you are not successful on the ballot, park yourself at the starters hut and cue up for a position to fill out group with less than four players. Many groups do not have four players and the starter will do everything he can to fill those groups. It represents a lot of revenue for the Links Trust, so they will do everything they can to get you out. Believe it or not, there are no-shows almost every day for tee times that were assigned a year in advance! But, at the time of year you are traveling you shouldn't have a problem being successful on the ballot.

TOC is the only course closed on Sunday. All of the other courses are open, and they are relatively easy to get on. We played the New Course on a Saturday by just walking up to the starters window... no tee time, no wait!

If you can get accommodations at The Dunvegan book them. It is reasonably priced with a perfect location... about 100 yards from the first tee at TOC. And, the bar is quite a hangout for traveling golfers and caddies. Also, the owners, Jack and Sheena Willoughby, will book your golf for you at the courses you want to play and register you for the ballot. You will love them and their friendly service. Here is a link to their website: Dunvegan Hotel

As for courses, try to play Kingsbarns if you can. It is expensive, but it may be the best course in Scotland. Here is link to the Kingsbarns site: Kingsbarns

The New and Jubilee are both outstanding links courses (some say the New is better than TOC!) and they are both moderately priced, around £50. Here is a link to the Links Trust site: St Andrews Links Trust

If you are going to Painswick after visiting Scotland you might want to consider taking the train from Edinburgh. The train leaves nearly every hour and takes you directly to London where you can secure local transportation. If would be a great way to see the countryside without having to drive. There is even a sleeper train that leaves around midnight that will give you more time for golf and save you the cost of a hotel for that day. If you decide to take the train you can set up shop at one of the small hotels in (or near) North Berwick after you leave St Andrews. From North Berwick you can play the West course there, Gullane#1, and Dunbar. Then catch the train from NB to Edinburgh (about a 30 minute ride) and connect to London. It would be an efficient use of your time.

I am planning a similar trip to Scotland => London for June. Feel free to contact me via email or phone (864.288.7866) if you want to compare notes.

I too stayed at the Dunvegan, and our buddy Mr. Hendren will be there next week.  TH

Tom,

I have this minute ordered a new golf bag with "Buddy of Tom Huckaby" embroidered on the ball pocket.  Now, anywhere I go, I'm in like Flynn.  

I am having trouble concentrating this week.  Gosh, I hope the Emperor doesn't call again.  Tommy is so contagious that I never get any sleep after he calls.  

Jonesing,

Mike

Tom,

I have this minute ordered a new golf bag with "Buddy of Tom Huckaby" embroidered on the ball pocket.  Now, anywhere I go, I'm in like Flynn

You of course got the special gold-leaf model, reserved for those who have hit one of my clubs, didn't you, Mike?  If not, let me know asap - the plant manager will get an earful.

 

I can't WAIT to hear from you when you get back... You make sure and give full reports, you hear?

TH

Bill-

Though I don't take rejection well, I may very well see you in May.  It appears that my son may have something post-graduation on his agenda other than playing golf with his old man, so maybe I'll award myself a present as well.   I won't know until the first part of next year, but perhaps we can coordinate something.  Think Muirfield!  I missed it this year and greatly regret it.  BTW, Carnoustie is world class.

Mark-

Are there any insides on getting a time at Muirfield (other than through tour operators or writing to the secretary)?