Hallo,
I am new to this exclusive board. Hi everybody. My name is Patrick, 34 years, German, based in Hamburg, enthusiastic links player. Once a year I travel to the UK/IR with three friends of mine. And I would like to share some of the experieces with you (amateur level, no profund architecture background) because the conten of this board helped me a lot planning the trips. For further details I recommend:
www.uk-golfguide.comwww.top100golfcourses.co.ukOr just contact me I am pleased to help.
To give you an idea about us:
- agend 34-40
- Hcp. 5-25
- budget orientated, means we try to spend less than 150€ a day. Means we try to avoid greenfees 100€+. Means we tend to stay in cottages, which cost less than 1000€/week, somtimes less than 500€, but always with 4 bedromms and lots of charm.
- "real" golfers, means why not play 36 holes, when possible?
2006: Northern Scotland, Mid of Sept.
---Golf:
We played nearly all the courses from Brora in the North to Strathlene in the south.
Highlights:
- Dornoch, I know, not surprising for most of you. Anyway we played the Struie in the morning (some very good holes, some lesser memorable) and the big one in the afternoon. One of the best golfing days in my life. A natural beauty set within natural greatness. No rush, not too many tourists, just plain perfection!
- Spey Bay, a pretty unknown Sayers layout, must have seen better times, but anyway, good architechture combined with the best greens of the trip and a more then peacefull surounding. For 25GBP, the bargain of the trip.
- Moray old, playing a pretty big amateur tournament, 36 holes new and old. Both courses very different, the new short and narrow, the old wide and majestic. Best of it, sitting outside the clubhouse with a pint in your hand, watching the fellows climbing up the 18th (great hole), with both courses, the beach and the lighthouse in the backdrop.
Letdown:
- Nain GC (not Dunbar), high expectations, few very good holes but overall not comparable to the othern playing in this league, like Dornoch or RCD.
---Accomondation:
We stayed in Nairn for 10 days and on the way back to Edinburgh for two nights in St. Andrews.
Nairn is a good base, if you are fine with 2h drives to the courses. For us it was perfect, because of all the emneties of a little village and the practice ground of Nairn GC only 5 min by food away.
---Conclusion:
Scotlands North might not be as wild and romantic as you may suppose, but for two weeks of golf on a huge variety of courses a bit away of the beaten track, it is just perfect. Once in my life I want to be in Dornoch in June, starting my third round after dinner at nine and finishing at midnight...
Upcomming:
- East Lothian (East of Edinburgh)
- Irland`s North East and West
- Wales
pat