[Daryl "Turboe" Boe]

Without going back and reading every post on various courses in the UK (many of which I have obviously read over the many years I have been on here), just wondered what everyones thoughts would be on the following question.  I am putting together a trip this summer for myself and a couple buddies that have never been to the UK. 

If you were planning a 10-14 day trip to the UK, where realistically would you try to play?  We are probably looking at averaging 1.5 rounds per day realistically.  Again I have been to Scotland before but the other two have not.  I am planning on playing some of the ones i played last trip again as these guys might never get there again.

Last time I played, TOC, Carnoustie, Cruden Bay, Dornoch, Panmure, Nairn, Royal Troon, Western Gailes, and North Berwick.

What would your dream fortnight of courses be.  Realistically taking into mind travel times, and accessibility?

[Adrian_Stiff]

Dream 14 days I'd do;
Fly into Prestwick & hire a car;
Day 1 Play Prestwick   Stay in Ayr
Day 2 Play Troon champ & Portland
Day 3 Play Glasgow Gailes
Day 4 Play Turnberry Ailsa & Kintyre
Day 5 Play Barrasie - travel to Fife Stay in St Andrews
Day 6 Play Old course & Jubilee
Day 7 Play New & Castle
Day 8 Play Old course
Day 9 Play Kingsbarns & Eden
Day 10 Play Carnoustie - travel to Edinburgh
Day 11 Play Muirfield
Day 12 Play North Berwick & Mussleburgh (old 9 holer)
Day 13 Play Gullane 1 & 2
Day 14 Play Prestwick St Nich (if your flight times are kind)
Green fee cost around £2000 but a memory thats priceless

[Tim Johnson]

Daryl, i list the trip I did in 07, played everyday and aside from the Machrihanish to Dornoch, all the drives were not too bad
Fly into Glasgow,
Machrie
Machrie
Machrihanish
Machrihanish
RD
RD
Cruden bay
Panmure
TOC
Jubilee
Gullane #1
Muirfield 36

Not a cheap trip but well worth it.

Ireland can be done cheaper and the courses are every bit as equal. Take a look at the northwest coast golf links website, for my money, the most enjoyable and economical run of links course available. Drive times are nothing and the value for your money is the best you can find.

[JNC Lyon]

My parents and I did this sort of trip to London, Edinburgh, and Dornoch.  We played Worplesdon, Deal, Woking, Burnham and Berrow, North Berwick, Renaissance, Brora, Tain, and Royal Dornoch over a ten-day stretch (my Dad didn't join me for Worplesdon or Burnham--he was busy seeing London).  We got to see a huge variety of courses and landscapes on those courses.  Each one was completely different from the others, and they all had something memorable to offer.  That trip was hard to beat.

If you don't want to do the extensive traveling that we did, there are several places that offer a ton of great golf over a small geographic area.  When I went to Scotland, I was struck by how many neat courses were on the East Lothian coast.  I only got to play North Berwick and Renaissance (both were fantastic), but I could have spent several more days exploring the different courses on the coast, playing places like Kilspindie, Gullane, Musselburgh, and Dunbar.  There is a similar concentration of great courses on the Ayrshire Coast, and Prestwick is NOT to be missed.  A West Coast trip also gives the opportunity to make trips to Turnberry or Machrihanish.  

Scotland is awesome, and it's hard to beat Prestwick, Dornoch, or North Berwick.  HOWEVER, for the highest concentration of great courses in a reasonable area, London is a great choice.  I think I'd spend three days on the South Coast playing Deal and Sandwich.  Then, I'd try to see the great heathland courses, including Sunningdale, Swinley Forest, Woking, Huntercombe, Addington, Hankley Common, St. George's Hill and Walton Heath.  Also, Rye, Pulborough and Burnham and Berrow are very do-able as day trips.  You all will get a great taste of links golf, but you will also get to see some great heathland layouts that should not be missed.  

Scotland is worth seeing, and the non-golf activities were much more appealing than London for me.  I preferred the rugged landscape of Edinburgh to the concrete jungle of Leicester Square.  However, the golf in the London area is first class.

[Scott Warren]

It depends what exactly you're after. You could see a much greater variety of world class courses were you to choose England. Or fly into Edinburgh or London and our of the other and drive between the two.

In two weeks you could do the Kent coast (Sandwich, Deal, Rye, Littlestone etc) or Atlantic coast (St Enodoc, Saunton, Burnham, Porthcawl etc) as well as London heathland, Southport coast (Birkdale,  Hoylake, Lytham, Hillside etc) and either East Lothian or Fife.

You'd see some different landscapes, meet a variety of people and see a good cross-section of great (small "g") British golf.

[jeffwarne]

Without going back and reading every post on various courses in the UK (many of which I have obviously read over the many years I have been on here), just wondered what everyones thoughts would be on the following question.  I am putting together a trip this summer for myself and a couple buddies that have never been to the UK.  

If you were planning a 10-14 day trip to the UK, where realistically would you try to play?  We are probably looking at averaging 1.5 rounds per day realistically.  Again I have been to Scotland before but the other two have not.  I am planning on playing some of the ones i played last trip again as these guys might never get there again.

Last time I played, TOC, Carnoustie, Cruden Bay, Dornoch, Panmure, Nairn, Royal Troon, Western Gailes, and North Berwick.

What would your dream fortnight of courses be.  Realistically taking into mind travel times, and accessibility?

Daryl,
It depends greatly on what they seek.
Trophy
 hunters?
Hidden gems?
Value?
I personally have had great success playing a mix of both and the rave reviews were saved for the gems,

Here's one for you.
Day 1 arrive-play Western Gailles    stay Ayeshire
Day 2 Troon-Troon  Portland  stay Ayeshire
day 3 Turnberry-Turnberry( second course optional)  stay Ayeshire
day 4 Prestwick-Prestwick St.Nick   stay Ayeshire
Day 5 Barrassie,Glasgow gailes, or West Kilbride-then catch ferry to Shiskine (12 holer)    take short ferry to Kintyre Peninsula-stay at b and B right on course at Carradale
Day 6 play Carradale (9holer), Machrihanish Dunes- stay Machrihanish
Day 7 Machrihanish, Dunaverty     stay Machrihanish
Day 8 drive to ferry for Machrie (1 hr) take ferry (2 hrs ) play the Machrie    stay Machrie
Day 9 Play the Machrie-catch ferry-drive to Fife      stay Fife
Day 10 St. Andrews (Old) and New       Stay Fife
Day 11 Elie, Lundin or Crail (or Carnasty if ambitious)     these two days could be flexible to allow for lottery entry at St. Andrews     stay Fife
Day 12 Kingsbarns, Longniddry (or Kilspindy)  stay North Berwick
Day 13 North Berwick, Dunbar stay North Berwick
Day 14 Muirfield 36 of course! stay North Berwick or Edinburgh

Obviously you would need to cut a day/days and or a course or two as 2 weeks at such a pace would be grueling (I'd like to find out though )I generally try to pair a star with a hidden gem or a tough walk with a shorter easier walk, or if available a nine holer with a an 18 holer esp, on a travel day.
This itinerary gives 4 -5 Open courses and a dose of gems, in addition to the spectacular scenery of the Islands and the Kintyre penensula, which is well worth the drive and the ferry rides are great places for scenery, rest, dining and a wee dram

I stayed 3 nights at a beautiful waterfront 4 bedroom flat(apartment) for a fraction of the price you'd pay at a hotel in Ayeshire or you could stay at Turnberry if your group is high end (although the flat was really nice)
In North Berwick I did the same thing and ended up playing Muifield with the owner of the flat as his guest!

[Tommy Williamsen]

Daryl, knowing you, I'd play in Wales and England. Wales is a ball and England has both links and heathland. When are you going?  Sounds like fun.  I have played 180 courses in GB & I. I actually like England the most.

[Bill_McBride]

Darryl, where do your guys want to play?

I love Scotland, but the links courses in SE and West England are hard to beat. And you could be in just two bases as well.

[jeffwarne]

Daryl, knowing you, I'd play in Wales and England. Wales is a ball and England has both links and heathland. When are you going?  Sounds like fun.  I have played 180 courses in GB & I. I actually like England the most.

Wales is a great suggestion
2 weeks would be great and with 2 weeks you could throw in some great English courses near major airports at either end-however, it's tough to get first timers interested.
Wales was perhaps the favorite of my regular group and the additions of Southport/Liverpool and or the courses near Heathrow would make it a home run

[Kevin Pallier]

Daryl

As you are planning it for you and your buddies I would presume you would be happy to re-visit some that you have already been too ?

If I was recommending a two week trip (assuming access can be gained) - a week in/around London (re: heathland) and a week to the spritual home of golf at St Andrews (re: links).

Plenty of good courses and experiences to enjoy in those regions to last a life-time.

[Tony_Muldoon]

 I have played 180 courses in GB & I.

 


Amazing fact, good on you Tommy.


I've been playing 11 years, have golfed on 3 continents (9 countries), am consider to be a wandering golfer by my mates and yet I've a total of about 165 courses.

The only person on here who I'd put money on to beat your total is Mark R.  I'm stunned.

Paul Turner and Sean might be the only other possibliities?

[Martin Toal]

You really want a 2 or 3 centre holiday, in my opinion. No matter what you do, you will miss out somewhere good.

Edinburgh, London and possibly Liverpool, would give you a bunch of links in Scotland (TOC, Muirfield etc0, Surrey/Berkshire sandbelt courses (Berkshire, Swinley, Hankley, Sunningdale) and Liverpool (Hoylake, Birkdale, Lytham etc).

Lots of flights between Edinburgh and London, about 90 minutes flying time.

You could also consider Belfast, connecting from Edinburgh or London, and play RCD and Royal Portrush.

Personally, I would go for the Edinburgh, Belfast and London option.

[Jamie Barber]

Something to consider if you're thinking of this summer; the Open is at Royal St George's in July which would make getting a game more difficult and expensive at the Kent links and Rye. Deal, Prince's and Littlestone are also holding final qualifying a couple of weeks before.

[Wade Schueneman]

I have not been to England, but if I could make only one more trip to the Isles and if IT WAS PRETTY MUCH ONLY ABOUT GOLF (no signifcant sightseeing) I think it would go as follows:


M  Ballybunion
T  Ballybunion & Lahinch
W Lahinch (drive to Northern Ireland)
T  Portrush & Portstewart
F  Royal County Down (2x or at least the front nine twice)
S  Fly to Scotland, drive to Kintyre and play Machrihanish
S  Ferry to Islay and play Machrie
M  Drive to Aberdeen and play Royal Aberdeen
T  Royal Aberdeen & TOC
W TOC & Eden
T  TOC
F  North Berwick
S  Prestwick (2x)
S Turnberry


I think the real key for me is that any trip that did not include multiple rounds at RCD, Lahinch, Ballybunion and TOC and at least one round at a middle-of-nowhere course like The Machrie or Carne and one round at a quircky historic course like Prestwick ro North Berwick would be a mistake (for me at least).  Are you going this summer, because if so pickings may be slim.

[Mark Chaplin]

Wade - punchy a five hour drive from Machrie to play Royal Aberdeen, followed by RA again then two hours to St Andrews on the same day. Odds of 36 at Prestwick on a weekend without a member zero.

[Craig Disher]

Rye is also hosting final qualifying. I expect all four clubs will raise their visitor fees between qualifying and The Open.

Daryl - For high quality golf in a relatively small area, I don't think you can do better than SE England. If you move your base every 4-5 days, you would have a choice of 20-30 superb golf courses - between Sunningdale and the Berkshire and Princes/Deal you could play a different course each day over a fortnight and never be disappointed.  A few not-to-be-missed - Sunningdale, Walton Heath, St. George's Hill, Swinley Forest, West Sussex, Hankley Common, Woking, Worlplesdon, Royal Ashdown Forest, The Addington, Rye, Littlestone, Deal, Princes, Royal St. Georges. The extremes are only 2.5 hours apart (assuming the M25 is moving). Not a cheap selection but there are less expensive options which are almost as satisfying.

[Wade Schueneman]

Yeah, I had some companions that made the same objections when we drove from Lahinch to Portrush and then two days later went from Dublin to Islay in a single day.  The way I see it a long car ride through scenic country with good friends is no deterant, but I know that many do not share my opinion.  Perhaps playing Carne rather than the Machrie would remedy some of this.  (by the way sorry about reccommending Prestwick on Sunday, I think it is WG that actually allows Sunday play)

How about this?

S  B
S  Tralee
M B & L
T L
W Carne
T Portrush & Portstewart
F RCD (2x)
S travel
S Cruden Bay & RA
M RA
T TOC & Eden
W TOC
T Muirfield & NB
F Prestwick & WG
  

[Mark Chaplin]

Craig - Littlestone, Princes, Royal Ashdown, Hankley, West Sussex, Princes, The Addington, Worplesdon & Woking are all under £100 for a full day.

Compared to good Scottish courses (not the top 20s) - Western Gailes £120 round £170 a day, Royal Aberdeen £100/£150, Prestwick £125/£180 the great second tier English courses are good value.

London has a massive choice of flights and no 4-5 hour drives!

[David_Tepper]

Unless I missed it, I did think anyone has recommended what I think is the strongest stretch of links golf in the world - the coastline from Liverpool to Lytham/St. Anne's. 

In a stretch of about 75 miles, you have Royal Liverpool (Hoylake), West Lancs, Formby, Southport Ainsdale, Hillside, Royal Birkdale, Hesketh, St. Anne's Old Links and Royal & Lytham St. Anne's. That list covers 3 Open Courses and several courses used as Open qualifiers. Inland there are courses like Preston and Ormskirk. You could rent a place in Southport for a 7-10 days never have to drive more than an hour to play a different worthwhile course each day.   

[Mark Chaplin]

Hillside £95/£110, Lytham £140/£212, Formby £110/£110, Hoylake £150 round,  Birkdale £175 round, S&A £75/£100 & West Lancs £75/£90
Great golf but very leggy fees.

[David_Tepper]

Mark Chaplin -

I see greens fees on the Lancashire coast have crept up just a wee bit since I was there in 1985.

But aren't you going to pay roughly the same on the Kentish coast (Sandwich, Deal, Rye, etc.) and on the big-name heathland courses (Sunningdale, Walton Heath, Wentworth, Berkshire, etc.)?

DT

[jeffwarne]

Unless I missed it, I did think anyone has recommended what I think is the strongest stretch of links golf in the world - the coastline from Liverpool to Lytham/St. Anne's. 

In a stretch of about 75 miles, you have Royal Liverpool (Hoylake), West Lancs, Formby, Southport Ainsdale, Hillside, Royal Birkdale, Hesketh, St. Anne's Old Links and Royal & Lytham St. Anne's. That list covers 3 Open Courses and several courses used as Open qualifiers. Inland there are courses like Preston and Ormskirk. You could rent a place in Southport for a 7-10 days never have to drive more than an hour to play a different worthwhile course each day.   

David,
Don't I get partial credit for tying Southport/Liverpool into the arrival into Manchester/Liverpool airports on the way/departure to/from wales?
Combined with Wales it would become a reasonably priced trip

[Scott Warren]

David T,

Sandwich is £140/round or roughly £190/day, Deal is £110/round midweek and £130 weekend and Rye is £80/round, not sure of the day rate.

Some value to be had on the heathlands with The Berkshire £130/day to play both courses and Woking £40 after 4pm (Worpy does a similar rate, I believe).

[Wade Schueneman]

Yeah, I had some companions that made the same objections when we drove from Lahinch to Portrush and then two days later went from Dublin to Islay in a single day.  The way I see it a long car ride through scenic country with good friends is no deterant, but I know that many do not share my opinion.  Perhaps playing Carne rather than the Machrie would remedy some of this.  (by the way sorry about reccommending Prestwick on Sunday, I think it is WG that actually allows Sunday play)

How about this?

S  B
S  Tralee
M B & L
T L
W Carne
T Portrush & Portstewart
F RCD (2x)
S travel
S Cruden Bay & RA
M RA
T TOC & Eden
W TOC
T Muirfield & NB
F Prestwick & WG
  

I'd include Enniscrone over Carne - better course and cutting 2 hours return from the journey - but getting closer! Tralee is a good call but then I am biased!

To be honest, I would never do this exact trip myself, as a trip to the isles for me is not all about golf.  For exmple, if I am going to go from Lahinch to Carne or Enniscrone then I am going to spend a day in Connemara. 

[David_Tepper]

"Don't I get partial credit for tying Southport/Liverpool into the arrival into Manchester/Liverpool airports on the way/departure to/from wales?"

Jeff Warne -

I will grant you partial credit, but no more than that.
I do think it is interesting how often the Lancashire coast gets overlooked when it comes to discussing great links golf.
On the other hand, if the clubs there are charging those high green fees, the demand and the visitors must be coming from some where.

DT

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