Scotland Summer 2020

[Cmoney710]

Afternoon all,

I just finalized my trip to Scotland in June of 2020 with my 2 brothers and Dad. Here is what we have lined up so far: Arriving on a Sunday morning with no golf lined up. We are staying at the Ducks Inn and want to get a round in. We are being told either Kilspindie or Gullane. What would be the best place to start the trip or any other suggestions would be great. In the area we are playing North Berwick and Muirfield. We then are making our way to Fife and staying at the Dunvegan the rest of our stay. We have Carnoustie, Kingsbarnes, and TOC all lined up. The day we play TOC we are playing 36. Currently we have on schedule the Castle Course but we can change it to any of the other St Andrews course. Out of the New Course, Jubilee, or Castle what would you suggest to round out all the courses we are playing? Would you also suggest caddies at all of these and if not which would you leave out?

 

Thanks for everyone’s input. Wish this trip was sooner.

[jvincent]

Solid lineup.

 

Do you have 36 planned for any of the other days? If not, I'd suggest playing 36 at Carnoustie by playing the Buddon Links after the Championship.

 

I know that lots of people don't like Castle but I quite liked it. It's not a traditional links like New or Jubilee, but still very nice. If you can handle 36 on that day, play Castle and one of the others.

 

I'd say that the only course that really requires a caddie is TOC because the routing / lines can be a little confusing if you haven't played there before. A caddie is also helpful at Carnoustie. Otherwise just rent a trolley and you should be fine.

[Cmoney710]

We are playing 36 at Muirfield and then the day at TOC

[Hawkeye77]

I think the Kilspindie and Gullane recommendations were from folks kind enough to answer one of your previous threads. Lots of info on here about East Lothian golf courses. I'll have some recommendations since our last day of golf on our trip will be 29 days from today, will definitely post up pics and impressions FWIW. Obviously haven't played them, but in that area we are planning on North Berwick X 2, Kilspindie, Glen Golf Club, Winterfield (mixed greensomes comp with the wife) with a wild card yet to be determined (and we're leaving in 16 days and only have set tee times at North Berwick and Winterfield). We may catch a little country course on a sightseeing day south, or maybe Longniddry, maybe a replay at Glen (that course looks like a lot of fun to me) or drive to Dunbar (much less likely, but who knows) - can't have everything planned out!

 

We played the New, had caddies we also used the next day at The Old, and enjoyed looking at The Old Course the entire time we played the New Course. You've already spent a ton on the trip, may as well spring for caddies, but not everyone wants them or needs them. Would have been pointless for us at a couple courses we played last summer, but I really appreciated them at Royal Dornoch and at The Old and The New. Help aiming off the tee, treasure trove of info if you ask, help with how to approach greens and virtually instant knowledge of where that ball you can't see land ended up vs. trying to deal with that on an unfamiliar course. My wife and daughters especially appreciated them, and the day we played The Old Course, no trolleys allowed in the morning anyway, so it was caddies or carry. Wouldn't have played the Old without one, lucky the ones we had the day before were great and worth getting the next day.

 

You'll still be able to get tee times on pretty much any other course in the East Lothian area even 30 days from your departure in 2020, so no rush. They publish a nice little golf guide for East Lothian they'll send you for nothing if you request one.

[duffer987]

I would have been disappointed if the Ducks Inn had not been booked.

[thecraw]

I think Dunbar is much better than Kilspindie and would head there every day ahead of Kilspindie. Its less than 20 miles away if you have access to a vehicle. If its a straight choice between Gullane and Kilspindie I would have to say Gullane however if you are tired/jet lagged then Kilspindie is the better choice as its very very short.

 

Castle Course is "different" I'd probably play the New however I have a couple of mates who are members at St Andrews and they mainly play/prefer the Jubilee. So either is a good choice.

[TerpFangolfer]

interested how you have TOC lined up already? The lottery doesn't start until August, and you find out in Sept/Oct.

Did you pay for a package that includes a guaranteed round on TOC?

Just asking as I am preparing a trip for June next year - but waiting on booking our routing depending on success in the lottery.

 

 

[Hawkeye77]

> @TerpFangolfer said:

> interested how you have TOC lined up already? The lottery doesn't start until August, and you find out in Sept/Oct.

> Did you pay for a package that includes a guaranteed round on TOC?

> Just asking as I am preparing a trip for June next year - but waiting on booking our routing depending on success in the lottery.

>

>

 

Paying $$$ for Authorised Provider is the only way I know of to get 2020 reservations now.

 

 

[cadiburns]

Just got back a month ago from a Scotland golf trip. Played Turnberry, Royal Troon, Carnoustie, New Course, Old Course, and Kingsbarns. Really liked the New Course. We had caddies for every round. Like Hawkeye, a couple of our caddies we had for the New Course looped for us the next day on the Old Course. Was really nice to finally have the same guy on the bag for more than one round. Personally I don't like to take caddies in general, but there were def a lot of times where their advice helps as I usually don't play links golf. Not to mention lots of blind shots and general course knowledge. Def helps when you're paying this much money for these courses to know what to do instead of "wish I would have known that was there before I hit".

 

And I think if you're booking through services, you can lock down a tee time this early, you're just paying a lot more money to guarantee that spot.