St. Andrews

[Patrick Glynn]

Greetings all!

I was just hoping that you could offer me a few pointers on how to organise a trip to St. Andrews. I tried using the Search Function to little avail. I am not a huge fan of the golf tour operators, I find the premium they charge far out ways the service they provide, provided you are willing to do a bit of research beforehand.

I organised a trip this summer to RCD & Portrush and it went off without a hitch (except for a slight lack of an address to our first B&B) and I had pretty much the best time of my life. I am now trying to organise a trip, again for me & my father, to St. Andrews. My father has played there before numerous times, but I have yet to have the pleasure & was hoping the Treehouse could offer their collective wisdom.

We are looking at going in the last weeks of March or early April. Dates and accommodation are flexible, the more golf the better though. I would gladly sleep in a bunker if it guaranteed a tee time on the Old Course.

A few questions:

Tee - times; daily ballot the only option?
Place to stay; Russacks?
Other courses - Kingsbarns? Jubilee? I heard that the Ladies Putting Green is supposed to be an experience.
Any other tricks / recommendations would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Patrick
Lahinch

[Sean Walsh]

Patrick,

The accomodation question is all down to finances.  If cost were no option I'd take Russacks. If cost is a factor look at staying in one of the B&B's in Murray Place, they are probably a little more expensive than other parts of town but are very good location wise. (I do have a business card from a bloke I played golf with, he runs a B&B in town.  I'll try and find it and pass on the details)

As for getting a game I would think the ballot and singles line is the  only option left.  Just make sure to check on the St andrews website whether there are any club events on (this shouldn't be a problem at that time of year).  I do know that the reverse event is on at that time so you could either postpone your trip a year or avoid those dates as well.

One last thing make sure you take a caddie for at least your first round, make your own decision after that.  

[Daryl David]

Patrick,

Pick up and read cover to cover:
Golf in Scotland: A Travel-Planning Guide with Profiles of 68 Great Courses (Paperback)
by Allan McAllister Ferguson

You need to get cracking if you want to secure tee times for Kingsbarns and the Castle course.  The Old will be ballot only as all the times were filled in September for 2008.

[Bill_McBride]

Patrick, I'm organizing a trip for 8 to Dornoch and St Andrews.  It's a nightmare but pretty much put together at this point.  We will be there June 9-19th.

Check out the Vardon House, one of those Murray Place B&B's mentioned above: http://www.vardonhouse.com/  Tony Campbell is a good guy, cooks a wonderful breakfast, and charges about 60-70 pounds for two guys in one room.  That's pretty much the going rate these days.  

You can book tee times on the other Links Trust courses in advance, but I'd be more inclined for the two of you to get up very early and head down to the starter's hut if you didn't make the ballot for that day.  If you don't get out, then you can head to Crail or Lundin Links or Leven or one of the other very good local links.

And take it easy on your old man!  

[Bill_McBride]

Actually, the tariff is only 50 pounds for 2, I think the 60 is when we are in St Andrews during graduation week.

[Bart Bradley]

Ok, went to Scotland last summer as a twosome with my father-in-law and probably have too much info for you but....first, I would reconsider using a packager if you want to play TOC....You can get a guaranteed tee time that way.  I can heartily recommend Perry Golf or The Old Course Experience...you will pay extra, but can you really live with yourself if you go all the way to St. Andrews and not play TOC?...if the answer is yes, or you will have the opportunity to visit many times then by all means take your chance with the ballot....but remember, the ballot is very mysterious and even the locals cannot give you the full skinny on how it works.  

Second, in addition to the other suggestions, I really liked the St. Andrews Golf Hotel....a small old hotel just perfect for golfers, just 1-2 blocks from TOC with a young, interesting, welcoming proprietor and a great bartender named Roy.

Kingsbarns is a must.  Carnoustie is not far away from St. Andrews..maybe 40 minutes.  Crail is liked by many and only 10 minutes away from St. Andrews.  As a change of pace, the Dukes course was interesting (not links golf however) and has carts...maybe Dad will need a break from walking for a round.

If you like seafood and don't mind an expensive meal, call ahead and get a reservation at the SEAFOOD RESTAURANT....right across the street from St. Andrews golf hotel on the water.

You can get on TOC by arriving at dark 30 and playing as singles...I can't think of a worse way to ruin a wonderful experience ...but many do it and swear by it.

Make sure you have a drink at the Dunvegan ....

What else would you like to know???

Bart

[J_ Crisham]

If cost is not an issue Perry Golf has got me on TOC.I payed dearly to do this but how many chances do you get in life? I enjoyed staying at the hotel Rufflets VERYNICE but again pricey. Caddies are a must. The new course is a hell of a track. If you can access Carnoustie it will be one to remember. Good luck!

[Mike Leveille]

Patrick:

If you are still planning to go in late March or early April, I do not think you need to pay a tour operator to get a tee time on TOC.  In addition to the ballot and singles line options, some of the hotels have package offers that time of year that include guaranteed tee times on the TOC.  I know the Scores Hotel (which is a good mid-range hotel) was offering such a package that extends into mid-April 2008 (though I believe there are some black-out dates in early April when the reverse OC events are ongoing).  Though I am not sure if tee times are still available, you can check out the package by going to their website at www.scoreshotel.co.uk, clicking on Special Offers, then clicking on Old Course Guaranteed.  I suspect some of the other hotels have similar offers.  If that does not work out for you or you would like any other advice on your trip, feel free to IM me.

Mike Leveille

[Sean_A]

Patrick

The link below provides excellent winter package deals at your level spending for three nights and three games of golf including one guaranteed on the Old.  You may be a bit late to escape the dreaded mats, but perhaps not.  I used these deal a few years back and was very impressed.  

The Scores deal offered above is part of the deal I have linked you to.  Many hotels/b&bs are on offer.

BTW If given a choice, I like www.theinnonnorthstreet.com, but it is slightly pricey - get yer dad to pay!

BTWtoo Mats in place until 1 April - heavy sigh.

http://www.fifegolf.com/html/body_st__andrews_winter_golf.html

Ciao

[Patrick Glynn]

Thank you all very much for the responses. I ended up getting tee times for the last week in March. Yes - we will be playing off mats but I dont think its that big a deal & it made easier to organise. Luckily for me Edinburgh is only a short flight away on Ryan Air if I ever do decide to go back and experiece the "real" thing.

Thanks again for all the help, I really appreciate it.

[Bill_McBride]

You sure you're on mats?  We played in the Reverse Old Course program earlier this year the last week of March and no mats were in evidence.  We played 3/30, 3/31 and 4/1 as I recall, or maybe a day earlier.

[Pete_Pittock]

Bill,
The Reverse course will be used April 4,5,7 in 2008, and if memory serves they are on mats until then.

Patrick,
It's too bad you couldn't have waited until the Castle course is open for play. Have fun. When I played off mats at Chambers Bay this year it did detract from the golf. Perhaps if I had a better swing...

[wsmorrison]

I second Bart's suggestion to stay at the St. Andrews Golf Hotel 2 blocks up Scores from the golf course.  There are some nice suites and smaller rooms.  It is a nice cozy atmosphere in the living room area and bar.  The breakfasts are wonderful as well.  Highly recommended.  Perry Golf sends a lot of travelers to them and for good reason.

If I were going to drive some distance on a day trip, I wouldn't go to Carnoustie.  It is an excellent golf course and of course there's the Open history that is always made there.  From an architectural standpoint, I'd drive the extra distance and go to North Berwick.  It is simply a pleasure to study and play.  Much more so than the closer Carnoustie.  Stop in for tea at Greywalls near Muirfield.  What amazing architecture and gardens.  If I hit the lottery or woke up Tom Paul, I'd build a house based on those plans.  Once I got over the fright of waking up Tom Paul that is  

[Gary Slatter]

Thank you all very much for the responses. I ended up getting tee times for the last week in March. Yes - we will be playing off mats but I dont think its that big a deal & it made easier to organise. Luckily for me Edinburgh is only a short flight away on Ryan Air if I ever do decide to go back and experiece the "real" thing.

Thanks again for all the help, I really appreciate it.

Patrick, the mats are OK, maybe improve your score 2/3 strokes during the round!  I've played them twice and it's no big deal, email me if I can help, I live in St Andrews.

[Sandy Smith]

Patrick
I agree with Daryl , give Alan Ferguson a try . www.fergusongolf.com he is a great guy who will save you nothing but time and money.

Cheers SS

[Patrick Glynn]

Looks like we are going with 4 morning rounds on the Old Course with one uber-early tee time so we can drive to Carnoustie. Unfortunately there are only 14 holes and some temporary greens in play, but where else can you say an Irish man won a Major?!

[Tony_Muldoon]

Looks like we are going with 4 morning rounds on the Old Course with one uber-early tee time so we can drive to Carnoustie. Unfortunately there are only 14 holes and some temporary greens in play, but where else can you say an Irish man won a Major?!

Patrick, surely you jest.    A. Hoylake  1947.


Fred Daly


He later topped this when he became my mother’s golf teacher!