Scotland Trip 2017

Scotland trip for next May all finalised and confirmed this weekend. Four of us staying in St Andrews, courses booked Eden, Carnoustie, Torrance, Kingsbarns and in the ballot to play the Old Course for our fifth round. First time for me on any of these courses, any recommendations for the fifth course if we are unsuccessful in the ballot for the Old? Cheers

Ladybank? Blairgowrie?
I suspect local residents could advise you better but I have played the above and enjoyed them. Not really links courses though. Heathland.

Castle course Blue. Stunning views and spectacular. My favourite from my trip this year

Jubilee or New course at St Andrews
Leven
Elie
Lundin
Drumoig
Aberdour
or either of the courses at Crail.

They're all links, and some of them are quirky.
Elie would be my choice.

If you are linksed out then try the Dukes Course at St Andrews.

The New is pretty good, no doubt super will say better than TOC.

If it were me I would leave the Torrance out and play one of the other courses a second time.

If you fancy Leven then you're welcome to join Lord Putt and me as our guests, if you don't mind playing with a couple of hackers! We could make up two 3-balls if two of you don't mind playing with a woman!,,,

George1507 wrote:Jubilee or New course at St Andrews
Leven
Elie
Lundin
Drumoig
Aberdour
or either of the courses at Crail.

They're all links, and some of them are quirky.
Elie would be my choice.

If you are linksed out then try the Dukes Course at St Andrews.

Drumoig isn't links George.

I'd recommend Ladybank, Scotscraig (bi centenary in 2017), Blairgowrie, Panmure, Monifieth, Carnoustie, Kingsbarns, Montrose, Crail, Elie, Leven or Lundin

LadyPutt wrote:If you fancy Leven then you're welcome to join Lord Putt and me as our guests, if you don't mind playing with a couple of hackers! We could make up two 3-balls if two of you don't mind playing with a woman!,,,

LP, did I meet you at Leven yesterday? I had a brief chat with a couple of English people whilst I was cleaning my shoes in the LGS car park.

Can certainly recommend Leven as LP & LPs guest. Needless to say you have loads of options depending on what you want. If looking for value you could do a combination ticket at Carnoustie and do one of the other 2, the Burnside in particular has some great Par 3s but play it before the Championship if your itinerary permits otherwise it might feel anti-climatic. If money no object how about Gleneagles (Kings)? If you're not shy about travelling a bit further then Royal Aberdeen is top drawer too. One I've never managed to get round to during my Tassie trips but would like to is Montrose. Choices choices!!

Montrose is quite simply one of the best links I've ever played. Get it played before the 2'nd , 3rd and 4th get washed into the sea.

Not us, Super. We don't play weekends as it's usually too busy and as we're free during the week that's when we play. That said, the frost is so bad this morning there are 16 winter greens, the 5th and 7th are completely closed, so we're going to Anstruther for a walk beside the sea instead!

Course was fully open yesterday LP, bit bouncy to begin with but a different kind of challenge. Really enjoyed it.

Is the frosty bounce different from the dry bounce you get in summer? Never tried.

Like hitting a wedge onto concrete. The bounce often ends up higher than the shot you played in, meaning you have to drop a wedge about 30 yards short of the target.

super_realist wrote:The bounce often ends up higher than the shot you played in

Is that even possible? What about Ep=mgh?

McLaren wrote:

super_realist wrote:The bounce often ends up higher than the shot you played in

Is that even possible?  What about Ep=mgh?

Yes it is. Thin one about 2 foot in the air, when it hits a frozen lump it perdoings 40 foot in the air.

Oh - is that just me and my bl*#dy short game then???

Worlds energy problem solved then.

Shoes in car park? Capital offence at many courses.
I'm due to play one of my few rounds tomorrow at Branston but bearing in mind it sits beside the river trent I fear we may have a problem Houston

dynamark wrote:Shoes in car park? Capital offence at many courses.
I'm due to play one of my few rounds tomorrow at Branston but bearing in mind it sits beside the river trent I fear we may have a problem Houston

Couldn't care, If anyone was to challenge me about it, or changing in the car park, i'd just tell them to stick it up their jacksie and mind their own effing  business.

I'm not really sure how any club or individual could possibly get annoyed about someone bashing their shoes together or getting changed in their car.

George1507 wrote:Jubilee or New course at St Andrews
Leven
Elie
Lundin
Drumoig
Aberdour
or either of the courses at Crail.

They're all links, and some of them are quirky.
Elie would be my choice.

If you are linksed out then try the Dukes Course at St Andrews.

Don't play Elie on a gorgeous sunny and warm day as they make you wear knee length socks if you turn up wearing shorts.
Put on waterproof trousers for the first hole then removed them but a guy in a blazer and tie greeted me on the 5th tee with a pair of long socks (one was brown and one off white....) and insisted I wore them.

That's another one I would have told to ram it.
Next time I play Elie I'm going to insist on a pair of shorts.

Thank you for your replies, very useful and informative. Grumps I do recall how you enjoyed the Castle course this year so much that you returned for an extra round! LadyPutt many thanks for your kind invitation, much appreciated.

super_realist wrote:

dynamark wrote:Shoes in car park? Capital offence at many courses.
I'm due to play one of my few rounds tomorrow at Branston but bearing in mind it sits beside the river trent I fear we may have a problem Houston

Couldn't care, If anyone was to challenge me about it, or changing in the car park, i'd just tell them to stick it up their jacksie and mind their own effing  business.

I'm not really sure how any club or individual could possibly get annoyed about someone bashing their shoes together or getting changed in their car.

We've got one of those at our place. He likes to sit in his car and eat his lunch in there as well when there's a 36 holer. Odd fella.

That's a bit odd, maybe you saw Mac hiring a car for the weekend. We already know people don't want to go for a drink with him.

Not as odd as getting changed in your car. Do you hang your y fronts on the steering wheel?

Not sure I've ever changed my trousers in the car park, but I've certainly changed shirts and if anyone objected to that I think i'd tell them to stick it up their jacksy

super_realist wrote:Not sure I've ever changed my trousers in the car park, but I've certainly changed shirts and if anyone objected to that I think i'd tell them to stick it up their jacksy

Yep he does sound like the guy at our place. He's a personable type as well.

Supsy you must have a pretty tight body if you are confident enough to get it on show in the car park?

McLaren wrote:Supsy you must have a pretty tight body if you are confident enough to get it on show in the car park?

Wouldn't you love to know Mac.

This thread has legs-and a body.
I don't mind if a club I'm visiting has some rather draconian rules but over my time things have changed rather drastically.Never needed to change a shirt though.
Ive been chased off the first tee by a club secretary as my lady partner had a pair of 'denim'trousers on- trousers that cost about £100 from Harvey Nicholls -and been asked to leave a club changing room whilst booking a tee as I had work boots on.Rotherham golf club has a separate entrance for ladies which is a little wooden door round the back of the building.Incredible really.

dynamark wrote:.Rotherham golf club has a separate entrance for ladies which is a little wooden door round the back of the building.Incredible really.

I suppose Danny Willett is using it these days?

Pedro

I don't get that?

McLaren wrote:Pedro

I don't get that?

He's from Rotherham and shouldn't be too proud of his game.


(Ok it was not my best joke ever...)

dynamark wrote:
Rotherham golf club has a separate entrance for ladies which is a little wooden door round the back of the building.

Nothing wrong with that. Many women like using the back door.

Then they don't have to look at you, ray..

Back on topic... Blue I believe you were looking for recommendations in or near St Andrews.

As usual everyone got carried away and the suggestions started to morph into a road trip to Aberdeen. I'm surprised nobody chucked in a day trip to Oslo.

Maybe there are 3 categories of recommendation:
1. In St Andrews ie walking distance - I hear New and Jubilee are the best alternatives to TOC.
2. Short drive from St Andrews - my mates said the Castle course was stunning this summer but tough. The courses at the Fairmont (Torrance and Devlin) are ok but people on here will probably advise you there are much better courses near by at cheaper prices (although maybe you are staying at the hotel?). Crail has 36 holes - I enjoyed the short old course much more. George recommended Duke's course as a good break from links.

Leven, Lundin, others are 30 min drive (ish) I think. Others will confirm.

3. Day trips - Montrose, Aberdeen, Belfry, Villamoura, Pebble.

Pebble will be a long day, but I like the idea.

I'd avoid Torrance and Devlin if you can. Overpriced and not very good, just playing on the St.Andrews link or postcode, neither of which make them better courses.
There's a dozen better courses within 30 mins drive.

Scotscraig (the 13th oldest club in the world) is very worthy of a visit.

New or Jubilee if you don't want to travel are also worth playing.