new Top100 Scotland ranking ...

[Cmoney710]

We have a trip set in June and need to fill our first round. We are staying at the Ducks Inn and have North Berwick and Muirfield conformed. Should we play Kilspindie or Renaissance?

[ParParAgain]

re: Kilspindie or Renaissance?

 

While you are at it, take a look into Craigielaw GC too. It is right next, joined at the hip, to Kilspindie.

 

I have played both Craigielaw and Kilspindie. Both are excellent but different. I have not played Renaissance (but I saw it on TV during the Scottish Open).

 

Craigielaw is a ( relatively) recent course, designed by Donald Steele, and superb.

 

One unique feature of Criagielaw is that it is fully open to public play at all times: therefore, EVEN on the weekends EVEN in the morning (when many of the Scottish links reserve their weekend tees times for their members, which I understand and agree with).

The great practical advantage is that you can book good tee times at Craigielaw even if it happens to be a Saturday or a Sunday when you are in the area.

 

 

 

[El Gringo]

 

Ren Club is the better course, but Kilspindie is probably a better experience. Plus, if you play Kilspindie it should leave plenty of time to wander over to Musselburgh for 9 holes. You could even break up the two games with a visit to A. Baird's museum adjacent to the Gullane proshop.

[Cmoney710]

When you say better experience with Kilspindie why do you say this? We need to fill our first round and trying to see what would be best with our current itinerary. We fly in Sunday AM so will be a little jet lagged with our first course Currently we already have confirmed times at North Berwick, Muifield, Old and New Course, Kingsbarnes, and Carnoustie.

[Hawkeye77]

Two regrets from our trip last summer, both related to my elbow issue flaring up just before we left - we had to cancel our husband/wife comp and our last round played was scheduled to be at Kilspindie and had to give that a pass as well (I was particularly looking forward to that course). So once we got to East Lothian, three rounds played (most of back nine of first round at North Berwick wiped out by course closing while we were on the course due to hail and bad weather - wouldn't let us finish, but refunded our fees): Glen Golf Club, North Berwick (1 1/2 rounds) and that was it. Luckily things aligned for more golf in Ayrshire before we journeyed east. Saturday of the comp we took a train into Edinburgh and spent the day doing that and the weather was still really dodgy the day we were to play Kilspindie but I knew I shouldn't play and cold and rain and pain don't really mix all that well. And another "bonus" round would have been worked in somewhere, but had to take it easy. Still found other things to do, saw some sights, caught some shows at the festival and had a great time, but for some reason Kilspindie really looked like a great course to play.

 

 

[babyfade]

Gullane No. 1 is a different an special links experience. It's so beautiful when it's sunny. I would choose it everytime over Kilspindie or Renaissance.

[El Gringo]

710...Kilspindie is a real Scottish type club whereas Ren Club is essentially an American model exported to Scotland. The two clubs couldn't be more different. If you just want a quick game play Kilspindie. If you want a plush affair with green fees to match play Ren Club.

[thecraw]

Kilspindie is short. Its nice but did I mention its short.

 

Renaissence is good, its modern, more of a challenge and has great facilities. If its a quick 18 to acclimatise and get a swing by all means Kilspindie is a great choice. The better track is undoubtedly Renaissence.

 

Slightly further out and one which in my opinion flies under the radar slightly is Dunbar, for me its better than Kilspindie, better test, not an overly long track but its a great place to play golf. I'd play Dunbar all day long ahead of Kilspindie. Others may think differently, beauty of having opinions.

http://dunbargolfclub.com/

[El Gringo]

Yes, I too think Dunbar is a bit better than Kilspindie. The two are equally enjoyable, but Kilspindie is more convenient. I would also seriously consider Gullane #3 for the job...another very short course which should see you get around very quickly even on the weekend. Whatever you do, book it pronto. Getting a good weekend time may prove difficult to obtain.

[babyfade]

Dunbar is great, but a short drive.

[tad950]

I appreciate the information on the booking policy at Craigielaw. I have a trip planned in June for Edinburgh and St. Andrews areas. And I will be arriving alone a day earlier than the official start of of our trip. And Craigielaw might just fit the bill for a warm up round. I had initially contacted the tour operator about playing Muirfield by using the tee times allotted to Greywalls Hotel. But I have since found out that Muirfield (or Greywalls) will not accommodate a single. For some reason the tour operator still wants me to spend one night at Greywalls and play either Dunbar or Renaissance. And then transfer to our hotel in Edinburgh. I would prefer staying at the Edinburgh hotel and forgo changing hotels. I would take a cab out to whatever golf course that I would be able to get on. My question is, is the the traffic going out of and into Edinburgh a nightmare (which is what the tour op seems to be implying) ? I've been to Edinburgh before and really didn't notice it being overly congested.

[milesgiles]

the traffic is over the forth bridge at rush hour as far as I’ve noticed. Not getting in and out around East Lothian (but then I’m used to London)..

Dunbar is an extra effort to get to. It’s fine with a lot of history but I think it has its weaknesses. Too many holes its far easier to smash it up the wrong fairway and avoid the trouble. I’d look closer to Edinburgh, so many options

[thecraw]

I don't get the Gullane love. Certainly not 2 & 3! We all hove our own love and favourites I guess.

[LICC]

When does Turnberry get back in the Open rota?

[El Gringo]

I long ago gave up on difficulty as a prime characteristic of courses. Instead of length and rough I prefer find it and play it, charm and character either by design or discovery. I am looking for a bit of fun, socialising and a walk for reasonable money. Sure, it's lovely to play top tracks now and again and I am lucky to be a member of clubs which play over such courses. But I immensely enjoy the little courses because they usually well priced, quick to play and there is often a hole or two which are highly unusual and /or high quality holes. Gullane 3 has a few such examples which come to mind. The 6th is very cool with its green in a rocky nest and a fairway plunging blindly to the right. The short, severely downhill 15th is a lot fun because a putter can be used. The 17th is an awesome hole with the left greenside gulley and obscured approach. I would much rather play five Gullane 3 type courses than one Muirfield type course. As you say, to each is own.

[milesgiles]

I’m normally with a group of 4 in Scotland and we all thought Gullane 2 is pretty cool. Wouldn’t have a problem with it in a U.K. top 200

[Hawkeye77]

Taking a cab to Dunbar from Edinburgh would be a quite the cab ride - you can go online and see what that would cost. We used taxis around North Berwick when we didn't walk to a couple courses and for some touring, even used the bus for some castle opportunities. We enjoyed that. You need to do what you have to do but I wouldn't enjoy a cab ride from an Edinburgh hotel all the way into East Lothian and certainly not all the way east.

Does your operator have some arrangement with the hotel that saves you money in particular, gets some other advantage or gets the operator money in some fashion? No experience with operators, we did all our own planning and saved the premium, but obviously there are advantages in convenience and sometimes access for all sorts of different trips.

Traffic around rush hour -- I can tell you coming across the bridge from St. Andrews area and heading to the airport early in the morning was quite congested but once we got across the bridge sliding to and into the airport was pretty much no big deal. I know driving from East Lothian to Glasgow on the main road and being anywhere near Edinburgh in a rain storm and around the rush hour wasn't may favorite driving experience, tons of traffic for miles and miles and miles but manageable. When we had come from Ayrshire to East Lothian midday on a bright sunny day the week before it was busy-ish but no big deal. In and around Edinburgh IMO especially as you are approaching the old town castle area there is a ton of traffic, used a cab two summers ago and last summer took the train in from North Berwick and simply walked on a Saturday but that festival was going on and the whole area for a few square miles was just packed with cars and people, in retrospect a bad time to visit. Year before on a brisk spring weekday "downtown" wasn't crowded at all, but the castle was closed because of high winds. Traffic was still pretty darn active, though.

[duffer987]

The tour operator doesn't have your best financial or travel hassles interests at heart with such a suggestion. You can take the train from Edi to Dunbar (25mins) and then walk or hop in a cab to the course (although the cabbie might not be keen to take a far less than a mile). No need to worry about traffic and it's a neat touristy thing to do to shoulder your clubs onto the train and enjoy the coastal views out and back from Dunbar. Dunbar is a solid course and an excellent way to get into your trip.

[babyfade]

I love Gullane because the 3 courses are so different in character and all cool in their way.

#3 is a standard, short and fun links course. Easy to play, good to score, still good golf holes and nice views on the sea and the nearby links of Luffness, Cragielaw and Kilspindie. You are surrounded by golf and feel at home.

#2 has a very special feel to it, as you play through untouched linksland on the holes by the sea. Between the fairway and the sea is a stretch of linksland, where you can hear animals out of. These holes feel so different to everything else I played. I just don't like the holes up- and down Gullane Hill.

#1 has so many good and memorable holes and beautiful views from high cliffs etc. The pictures don't do this course justice in any way. I think that's the reason that it doesn't end up on must "bucket-list-itineraries".

[tad950]

Thanks for the advice everyone. It appears that my hotel is .6 miles away from the main train station. Gives me some things to think about and research. Since our group is already playing 7 rounds in 7 days, it might’ve be more prudent to sightsee around Edinburgh instead of adding another round of golf (I’m no spring chicken). I missed seeing the soldiers shoot off the cannon the last time I was at Edinburgh Castle. And the Botanical Garden there is supposed to be quite good.

And I apologize to everyone else for going so far off topic in this thread.

[duffer987]

TBF, you can always play it by ear depending on the weather. Check the forecast before you leave, if it's going to be good ring a course up the morning of your flight and off you go :-)

Or if you choose to tourist it up for the day, there's always this https://golftavern.co.uk/

Not quite a Top 100 course, but can knock the trans-atlantic tiredness off with some fresh air and a wedge.

[babyfade]

Calton Hill: Best view in Edinburgh.

[Superbrit]

By the beginning of June i would have played 8 of the top 100, just 92 to go!

[thecraw]

Within the city of Edinburgh both Mortonhall and Duddingston are well worth playing. Obviously not links tracks but worth a visit. I'd say Mortonhall is the better of the two but wouldn't ever pass up a game at Duddingston either.

[thecraw]

And I won't dismiss your preference as we all have opinions and preferences. I personally would drive by Gullane every day of the week to play Dunbar, just my preference.