Old Course in Reverse - Who's going?

[Tony_Muldoon]

Norma at N Berwick has always been really helpful to me and I pointed out to her the inconsistency between the information on the web site and the price she sent me. The good news is she's confirmed our bookings at £45 but taken a £15 deposit each.

Now we are six and Bill Shamleffer will be joining us at N Berwick.

Once we know about Tom Doak’s plans it might be possible to shuffle our times slightly, I will email our group about their preferences once we know more.  Also with FBD and at least two others planning to be there then we should look into booking a table that night for a GCA feast.

[Bill_McBride]

Sounds great, Tony.  We should look to do that in Gullane since we will be at Archerfield immediately before if we can work things out with Tom for a tour.

[Philip Gawith]

Bill/Tony, I  am very keen to do the Archerfield visit with Tom. I hope it works for late pm the 26th. Maybe Tom can advise how long it will take? I suppose if we are there for 5.3pm that should leave reasonable time.

Personally I would be happy to tweak the golf  (start earlier/cut things short?) to make sure we had enough time to do Archerfield properly.

[Bill_McBride]

Apparently a caddy at St Andrews, David Coyne, has drawn up a yardage book for the Reverse Old Course.  Does anyone seen that yardage book, and have any idea how to reach Mr. Coyne to get a copy?  

Reading Jeremy Glenn's essay on the ROC in the "In My Opinion" section here, it's not easy to see how the Links management would lay out the holes in the loop.  I would love to have advance info to ponder.

Thanks in advance to anyone who has any ideas.

[Tony_Muldoon]

Bill/Tony, I  am very keen to do the Archerfield visit with Tom. I hope it works for late pm the 26th. Maybe Tom can advise how long it will take? I suppose if we are there for 5.3pm that should leave reasonable time.

Personally I would be happy to tweak the golf  (start earlier/cut things short?) to make sure we had enough time to do Archerfield properly.

Philip I'm happy to go with the flow once we know what Tom Doak wants to offer us.


tony

[Dan Moore]

Any chance there is an opening at St Andrews?  

Planning a family trip to London over Spring break (March 30-April 8th) and, while somewhat doubtful that I could make it work, I'd like to give consideration to coming a few days early for some golf.  

I will at least look for a day or two to play some London area golf while I am there.  

[Bill_McBride]

Dan, give the Links Trust staff an email to check availability: reservations@standrews.org.uk

I don't think the news will be good, but who knows?  Maybe there will be a waiting list.

[Dan Moore]

Thanks Bill,

I was thinking of an opening among our GCA groups that would justify trying to arrange leaving a few days early.  Doing the whole reverse course thing may be worth the effort to get to St Andrews from London.  In any event I hear there is pretty good golf around London   and that alone may be enough to justify a few days before or after the family.  

[Marty Bonnar]

Thanks Bill,

I was thinking of an opening among our GCA groups that would justify trying to arrange leaving a few days early.  Doing the whole reverse course thing may be worth the effort to get to St Andrews from London.  In any event I hear there is pretty good golf around London   and that alone may be enough to justify a few days before or after the family.  

Dan,
we've all signed up for the 3-day 'package', which commits us to 3 rounds. Names, 'caps and home courses had to be given at the time of booking.

There is however, a small window of opperchancity 4 weeks before the event, when ONE name change and ONE name change ONLY (Links Trust-speak!) can be made to a pre-booked group.

You'll have to hope someone breaks something vital (ankles, wrists, graphite shafts, perhaps...)

FBD.

[Dan Moore]

Martin,

Got it thanks.  Maybe the strategic play then is to try and book an early arrival into London so that if something happens to come open I would be able to slot in as a back-up and if nothing opens up I can amuse myself in and around London.  I'm not entirely sure the logistics of getting to St Andrews from London make sense so I'll need to check that out.  

[Bill_McBride]

There is a lot of really good golf around London and down in Kent or Cornwall, and the weather is almost guaranteed to be better than in Scotland!

[David Mulle]

Dan,
   You may have hope yet - I am skiing for six days right before I leave for Scotland.
    I will, however, be VERY suspicious if anything unfortunate were to happen on the slopes.

[Tony_Muldoon]

For thsoe who are going to play in East Lothian before the Old Course here's a nice article to preview the trip.  Amongst other things it explains why Musselburgh Old is the place to play with hickories.

http://www.golfweek.com/destinations/resort_report/287768770372435.php

[Andrew Mitchell]

For thsoe who are going to play in East Lothian before the Old Course here's a nice article to preview the trip.  Amongst other things it explains why Musselburgh Old is the place to play with hickories.

http://www.golfweek.com/destinations/resort_report/287768770372435.php

That certainly whets the appetite - particularly on a damp dismal December day!

I've probably played more golf in the East Lothian area than the rest of Scotland put together but I'm always ready to go back for more.  Roll on the end of March!

[Darren_Kilfara]

Apparently a caddy at St Andrews, David Coyne, has drawn up a yardage book for the Reverse Old Course.  Does anyone seen that yardage book, and have any idea how to reach Mr. Coyne to get a copy?  

Reading Jeremy Glenn's essay on the ROC in the "In My Opinion" section here, it's not easy to see how the Links management would lay out the holes in the loop.  I would love to have advance info to ponder.

Thanks in advance to anyone who has any ideas.

A slightly belated response for you, Bill...when I played the Reverse Old Course a few years ago, there was a yardage book for the reverse configuration available on the day. I forget whether it was given to me as part of my greens fee or if I had to buy it from somewhere, but you should be able to get it without any problems before you tee off.

Cheers,
Darren

[Bill_McBride]

Apparently a caddy at St Andrews, David Coyne, has drawn up a yardage book for the Reverse Old Course.  Does anyone seen that yardage book, and have any idea how to reach Mr. Coyne to get a copy?  

Reading Jeremy Glenn's essay on the ROC in the "In My Opinion" section here, it's not easy to see how the Links management would lay out the holes in the loop.  I would love to have advance info to ponder.

Thanks in advance to anyone who has any ideas.

A slightly belated response for you, Bill...when I played the Reverse Old Course a few years ago, there was a yardage book for the reverse configuration available on the day. I forget whether it was given to me as part of my greens fee or if I had to buy it from somewhere, but you should be able to get it without any problems before you tee off.

Thanks, Darren.  I am looking forward to that experience.

Did you happen to read Jeremy Glenn's "In My Opinion" piece about the Reverse Old Course?  I found it very interesting but a bit confusing in the area of the loop.  If you have reviewed that piece lately, I'm wondering how the actual that you played compared to Jeremy's ideas about how the ROC might be routed.

Thanks!

[peter_p]

Who is staying in St Andrews beyond Friday and planning on golf on the weekend? What are our best options?
Carnoustie - Crail -Dukes - Elie - Kingsbarn - other St Andrews?

[Bill_McBride]

I've got a game on Saturday at Lundin with Ian Dickson of Buda Cup fame, along with John Krystynak and one of Ian's ringers.  I'm sure we can get another group along if anyone's interested.  I've not been there yet and have been hoping to play it.

Sunday is a second go at North Berwick West at 1 p.m.; home on Monday 4/2.

[Tom_Doak]

Gents:

Sorry for being late in following up on this.

The afternoon of the 26th is fine for a tour of The Renaissance Club at Archerfield.  If you guys can agree on the time I will be happy to accommodate ... I'm just going to be walking around most of the afternoon anyway.  Let me know when.

[Tony_Muldoon]

Tom I’ve heard from a number of people and I think you’ll get quite a few including possibly from overseas just for this.  All are agreed this is a very generous gift of time when you are on a short trip and will want to thank you in person.

It’s clear there are two distinct groups interested in the opportunity.  There are at least 3 bona fide architects who would like to spend as long as possible on site as they are talking of making the trip specially. Then there are some of the bakers dozen or so who are hoping you will give them some time at the end of the day after they’ve played North Berwick.  I’m with the later group and realistically with tee times from 1pm there’s no way that group will all be able to assemble before 6.15.

How does this sound as a template?

Archie group. Join you at 1.30/2pm for walking tour etc.
Playing group. Join up at 6.15 for chat and perhaps a chance to see the start, finish and lie of the land.  (It’s light until approx 7.20pm?)

There’s also a number of people who’d like  to invite you and your associates to join us for dinner,  8ish.  If you are game I’ll sort out a venue and post some ideas.


Tom if the day is too long or you want to change any of this then say so and I’ll edit it. So can members of the tree house indicate if they think this idea is workable and if not what changes they would like?  

[Bill_McBride]

Tom Doak, our foursome that will be playing at North Berwick West Links at 1 p.m. will definitely want to join the late afternoon tour if it works out for you and your guys.  We will have a pint and wait for Tony's 1:30 p.m. group and all come over together.    I like Tony's idea of a group dinner if arrangements can be made.

[peter_p]

  If anyone wants to play golf on Tuesday in the Fife area and wants to pair up be at Alistair Mackenzie's Pitreavie near noontime. They are expecting me, but did not give a reserved time. Also have a 11:00 am time with openings at Kingsbarns on Saturday 31 March, which is their opening day for 2007. Please IM me if interested.

[Bill_McBride]

Could I get a show of hands for those who plan to join the tour of Archerfield's Renaissance Course with Tom Doak and associates at around 5:30 p.m. on Monday, March 26th?

Archerfield is in Gullane, a stone's throw from Muirfield.

[James Bennett]

Bill McBride

Archerfield - yes please

James B

[peter_p]

Peter Pittock = Yes. Will delete this post when summarized.