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Golf as a single
Luke
Member ✭
I would like to pack my golf clubs and fly to Scotland to play it's famous courses as a single. Most tour groups want foursomes or larger to book trips. How would an individual play some of the more popular courses, such as St. Andrews, Prestwick, Troon, Carnoustie, Kingsbarn, or Aberdeen? I am aware of the St. Andrews ballot process and have a valid handicap card, but would not know how to access other courses. Any ideas or suggestions for tee times, car rentals, hotels, etc would also be appreciated.
0
Comments
All of the courses above will have websites with contact details where you can email or call them directly to ask about availability of tee times on the day(s) you want to visit. Car rentals are available at every airport in Scotland so is not a problem. In terms of accommodation I'd recommend starting by choosing the courses you want to play (after all, you are here to play some seriously good golf above all else!) and then plot your route round Scotland before searching for accommodation in those areas.
There can be a temptation to try to traverse the entire country in a matter of days and lots of golfers can tire themselves out with lengthy drives in between courses and regions. While Scotland is small enough to do this, perhaps a better option is to pick one or two regions and then play a number of courses in those regions. This also has the added advantage of being able to spend more than a night or two in each hotel so you are not having to constantly pack and move.
VisitScotland's golf guide here has a handy split of the golfing regions within Scotland and the website also has links to external sites with more detail on specific courses and accommodation options across the regions.
I hope this helps a little!
David
VisitScotland
Thank you for your helpful suggestions and the link to the useful golf guide. I am already looking forward to a trip sometime next year.
Whisky, Castles and Food a speciality.
yourscotlandtour.co.uk
To name some - Northeast - Cruden Bay. Played in the late afternoon by myself. Fantastic. Murcar, Aberdeen. Fantastic, and a site of a European tour event. Played in the early AM by myself. Nairn - Played in early AM by myself. Had time to pause during the 4th hole to simply listen to the waves lapping on the shore and the gulls crying out. Absorbed the moment, and I am reliving it right now. Cost around 30-40 GBP as I remember.
North - Dornoch. not crowded at all. Played one afternoon with my wife, only the two of us visible. Met a local that evening who suggested a game in the morning as his guest. First round was about 220 GBP, as I remember as a guest, around 40-60. Gordon Campbell and I had a memorable round, exchanging our golf and life experiences while playing. No one within 6 holes of us. (thanks, Gordon!)
Also north - Brora and Wick. memorable rounds at each. Tain, and Golspie I haven't been to yet.
West : Stornaway on Lewis - quirky course - very memorable. Machrie on Islay - wow. 60 and sunny, played by myself. Very interesting golf course. Pretty remote, but Islay very much worth a visit.
Aran - Shishkine - very interesting golf course, Blind par three (as on cruden bay, and Prestwick). The course was turned into an airfield during WWII and as a result only has 12 holes, but hey, it's a quicker round, and, you know, they invented the game, so they can do what they want. There was one other course which I think was on Aran, that had what I think of as the only dogleg par three I have ever played. They built a short (~180 yd) uphill hole and the green was behind some trees. So actually going to the green wasn't a percentage play. So you went to the little lick of fairway right of the green. What do you call it, a 3 or a 4? Really uncategorizable. But it doesn't really matter - it is what it is, just get it in the hole as fast as possible.
And then Prestwick - Simply called ahead a month or two, got a tee time for myself first time in the AM, and had a very memorable round on this very famous course.
All of these except Dornoch and Brora I played as a single, usually by myself. Just call ahead and get a tee time.
I can certainly understand trying to get as much golf in as possible, 2 to 3 rounds a day. BUT - I would strongly encourage you to take time to see everything else around you. Golf is not everything, and there are incredible things to see and visit everywhere in Scotland.
Two years later (2015, the year the Open was held at the Old) I visited in March and walked on (and PLAYED) as a single on the Old Course. They were intending to send me out with a twosome. When the twosome didn't show, they let me go off by myself. I'll be there again in a week to try and replicate the experience. It was truly magical.
Certainly, walking on as a single on nearly all of the other courses in off-peak times is easy. Walking on as a single at the Old generally requires getting out to the starter very early and joining the queue (or so I've been told.)
You may also want to check before you go whether the course you are intending to play on a given day is closed (either for member play or for maintenance/rest.) Two years ago, in March, the Old was closed two days a week, so on those days I played the New. If you do get on as a single, playing by yourself, my recommendation is to take your time, enjoy the experience, and try to avoid playing through any group you catch up to. I made that mistake on The Old, playing through on 11, then not being able to take my time on 12 and 13, not wanting to inadvertently hold up the group that allowed me to advance. The following week, I played, once again as a single, at Royal St. George, and consciously waited on a few holes when I realized I was catching up to a 3-ball in front of me. I didn't want to replicate the St. Andrews mistake.
Going as a single is, in my opinion, the best way to go. You will probably end up playing with a group the starter assigns you to; however, that can easily be the best part. The first morning I was in St. Andrews, the Old was closed, so I walked over to the New and was put with a 3-ball of members of the Royal & Ancient. They even invited me to lunch afterwards (I politely declined what I was certain was simply a polite invitation; however, I was INVITED to have lunch in the Royal & Ancient Clubhouse.) The entire trip was a fabulous experience. I hope you have the same.