Fantasy trip: A month in Scotland UPDATED: DAILY ITINERARY ADDED

[MattyO1984]

Just taking a look at this - OP, if there is a choice of playing Cruden Bay vs Royal Aberdeen. It is Royal Aberdeen all day for me. I appreciate that everyone is different but having played both, for me, it’s a no brainer. 

[scott_Donald]

42 minutes ago, MattyO1984 said:

Just taking a look at this - OP, if there is a choice of playing Cruden Bay vs Royal Aberdeen. It is Royal Aberdeen all day for me. I appreciate that everyone is different but having played both, for me, it’s a no brainer. 

 

Same for me but Cruden Bay is fun and far easier!

 

I am heading to Royal Aberdeen in an hour..........

[MattyO1984]

36 minutes ago, scott_Donald said:

 

Same for me but Cruden Bay is fun and far easier!

 

I am heading to Royal Aberdeen in an hour..........

 

Not jealous at all! I am sat in the office silently brooding at how much better the weather is in Elgin compared to the weekend 😂

[philsRHman]

2 hours ago, MattyO1984 said:

Just taking a look at this - OP, if there is a choice of playing Cruden Bay vs Royal Aberdeen. It is Royal Aberdeen all day for me. I appreciate that everyone is different but having played both, for me, it’s a no brainer. 

Thanks for this. I've had Cruden Bay high on my list since Tom Coyne has such raves about it in A Course Called Scotland, and hearing so much on Ru MacDonald's podcast. Since I currently have nothing on the tee sheet for the Thursday I drive up there, maybe I should see if they could squeeze me in at Royal Aberdeen. I'm driving back on a Saturday, so I know already that's out, since that's a members only day. 

[philsRHman]

woohooo!!!! Doing a little happy dance, just got my negative test result, which was the last thing weighing on me. I leave for the airport in about 48 hours. 
 

For anyone on the ground or recent visitors, are the tee sheets jammed? I’m trying to fill in some gaps and striking out on places like Kilspindie, which I expected to be available as a last minute booking as a single. Same with Elie. Not concerned, I have the main courses locked in but I expected to have plenty of options on the places a rung or two down. It could be exactly what I need to nudge be even further into the hidden gems territory. Or, to force me to take a deep breath and explore off the golf course. I found some history tours in SA for example. I do want to soak in more than just fairways and greens (I think lol). 

[LukeDonaldsTiger]

I wish you great weather and hope you can enjoy your golf! After this huge buildup, easier said than done I guess. All the best and hope you play well and take in the beautiful views and experience. 

[scott_Donald]

well its been really windy the last two days; going to make for interesting golf!

 

I wanted to get a pre 10 tee time tomorrow so I could watch the Ryder cup in the afternoon but fully booked; everyone has the same idea.

 

Safe travels. I will Pm you my plans once I know for certain! 

[scott_Donald]

here are some pics form the last couple of weeks to wet your appetite.

 

A nice early 7am meet for a match with North Berwick - won my match 8 and 6; they found the course far harder than NB.

 

 

A couple shots today from my quick 9 before the Ryder Cup

 

 

And my friend lie from a couple weeks back in a wee fairway bunker. 

 

[philsRHman]

Sitting in the Dublin airport. Still kind of surreal it’s actually happening! Should be in a car and on the road to Longniddry in about 4 hours. Tried to book Musselburgh Old with hickories and get off with a real dive into the history but it seems busy, so that might wait until I head from North Berwick to St Andrews next weekend. I have a little more details on my first week:

 

Sunday: Longniddry (unless something else pops up when I land and look around)

Monday: North Berwick 36

Tuesday: Muirfield 18 (option for 36 after lunch, I crammed a jacket and tie in my luggage)

Wednesday: North Berwick 36

Thursday: Goswick 18

Friday: Gullane 2; Gullane 1 (got lucky they had a spot on 1, and it’s 105£ on Oct special)

Saturday: Gullane 3 (option for replay)

Sunday: drive to SA (Musselburgh Old? watch Dunhill?)

Monday: TBD (Elie, New, Jubilee, Eden)

Tuesday: OLD COURSE

Wednesday: Castle

Thursday: TBD (SA or Aberdeen area)

Friday: Cruden Bay 36

Saturday: TBD (Aberdeen area or SA)

Sunday: Carnoustie

 

M-F: TBD as I work each afternoon. Likely SA Trust courses

 

[scott_Donald]

 I just had to google where Longniddry is!

 

Hope you made it safe and sound just in time to watch Europe get pumped. 

 

I also just realised it was the Dunhill this week - I am in St Andrews for the day Friday, hope I can get parked!

[philsRHman]

First day an already an audible. It worked out to play Musselburgh Old with the hickories. I realized 9 holes was perfect, and I literally just finished on the plane to EDI, the part of Tommy’s Honor with Old Tom in the big money match with Willie Park, protesting and going into the tavern. I have to imagine it’s this white building. Just so mind bending that we can still play these places from the 1800s. 
 

The hickories were really fun, took about 3 holes to get the hang of it. They were VERY humbling for this 2 handicap. I thought the rental included a old era golf ball but the starter said they’re so  expensive and get lost so easily they stopped. He could tell I was bummed, so he went into a trophy showcase, unlocked it and pulled a gutty out from the back. He asked me to do my best not to lose it. I had 4 or 5 close calls (including the first swing I took with it) but finished all 9 with it. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 26, 2021 by philsRHman

[865golf]

22 hours ago, philsRHman said:

Sitting in the Dublin airport. Still kind of surreal it’s actually happening! Should be in a car and on the road to Longniddry in about 4 hours. Tried to book Musselburgh Old with hickories and get off with a real dive into the history but it seems busy, so that might wait until I head from North Berwick to St Andrews next weekend. I have a little more details on my first week:

 

Sunday: Longniddry (unless something else pops up when I land and look around)

Monday: North Berwick 36

Tuesday: Muirfield 18 (option for 36 after lunch, I crammed a jacket and tie in my luggage)

Wednesday: North Berwick 36

Thursday: Goswick 18

Friday: Gullane 2; Gullane 1 (got lucky they had a spot on 1, and it’s 105£ on Oct special)

Saturday: Gullane 3 (option for replay)

Sunday: drive to SA (Musselburgh Old? watch Dunhill?)

Monday: TBD (Elie, New, Jubilee, Eden)

Tuesday: OLD COURSE

Wednesday: Castle

Thursday: TBD (SA or Aberdeen area)

Friday: Cruden Bay 36

Saturday: TBD (Aberdeen area or SA)

Sunday: Carnoustie

 

M-F: TBD as I work each afternoon. Likely SA Trust courses

 

If you are going to Goswick for 18, I'd highly recommend stopping at Eyemouth for 18 on your way back.  Several of my Scottish friends suggested it and I really enjoyed playing it back in August. It's a bargain at 35 quid with some really nice holes on it and just a couple of minutes off the A1.  http://www.eyemouthgolfclub.co.uk/

[philsRHman]

Sitting at lunch Wednesday afternoon (it is Wednesday, right? I feel like I’m in a dream like fog). The past 2.5 days have put to rest any fears I had that I built

my expectations too high. This place is pure magic. 
 

North Berwick is what everyone says. Fun, fun, fun. So many interesting, cool things happening out there. Obviously the Pit with the wall, but now thst I’ve been round 3x, I’m feeling I can anticipate and strategize a little better. I can only imagine after 100 rounds how fun it gets.
 

I have yet to break 80 (not good as a low single digit) but it’s like a whole different game I’m finding. Excited for this afternoon, a fourth go. 
 

Muirfield was the polar opposite. If North Berwick is a rock concert, then Muirfield is the symphony. The pictures are sedate and can’t do justice to the elegance that unfolds over the course of 18 holes. The bunkering is a thing of beauty. Every single swing forces you to think. By 15 I was mentally exhausted. 

Update after my afternoon round: My poor caddie, as my birdie putt went in (for 82 lol), I just was completely overcome with emotion, choked up and couldn’t say a word and the tears flowed. Just sheer joy and gratitude for the life I’m living, and the fact someplace so magical can exist. 

 

(Edit: I’m trying to upload photos and they’re all coming out upside down so I’ll have to figure that out later when I’m not dead tired. My Fitbit says I’ve walked 40.4 miles in 3 days, but somehow still feeling great!)

Edited September 29, 2021 by philsRHman

[philsRHman]

Tomorrow is the cult classic of GolfWRX … Goswick! I just realized it’s a full hour drive (I was thinking 35 minutes for some reason). Sure hope you guys are right haha

[philsRHman]

The best photo yet. As the sun was setting at North Berwick today, I started taking pics of the humps and bumps in the shadows, and my caddie told me, “go on the hill, I’ll take one with you in it.”

[Chanceman]

Man, you are living the dream. Rock on! 

[philsRHman]

Goswick was fun. I don’t have much to compare it to yet, but it felt more like what I expected of an solid (not world class) links layout to play like. It played firm but not overly so in the on-off rain. I got lucky honestly, it was supposed to pour all day and seemed to up in North Berwick, but the hour drive got me into a dryish gap. 
 

 

The highlight was certainly the back 9, with one really cool, interesting hole after another. I found the front 9 to be a tad expected, right in front of you, go get it. But as the course got into the dunes on the back the holes got fun, especially 11-15. I’m a sucker for a green buried into the shelter of a dune, which was cool here at the 14th. The hole of the day for me was 15, a tee with panoramic views out to the water (which  is mostly a backdrop on this course, nothing nearly as dramatic as I’ve seen earlier at NB and Muirfield) and across the entire course. It’s severe drop to a bunker surrounded green sitting in a bowl. 
 

On the way back I stopped at Dunbar. Today is their members only day, so I could play but as most of the courses here, there’s a public walking path and the guys in the shop offered thst I could take a stroll. Wow! I’m really bummed I won’t be playing Dunbar. It just looked so nicely manicured, really compact, but just proper golf. It looked so accommodating and for the 6-7 holes I saw (could have gone all the way out and back, but tired and trying to converse energy for two 36 hole days tomorrow and Saturday) it seemed very playable and literally along the beach. Unlike The Glen, which I also looked at and realized just how much of a hike that represents. 

 

 

[scott_Donald]

I played a few holes in the afternoon yesterday and it was gorgeous but the cold wind meant the ball going into it went no where even though it was only 10mph. The courses seem to have really softened up in the last week with actual thing called rain!

 

Glad you have a fun easier day on your legs! Are you loosing weight being American and never walking normally? I used to get so many, 'you are mad' statements for walking in Texas in the summer. 

[philsRHman]

22 hours ago, scott_Donald said:

I played a few holes in the afternoon yesterday and it was gorgeous but the cold wind meant the ball going into it went no where even though it was only 10mph. The courses seem to have really softened up in the last week with actual thing called rain!

 

Glad you have a fun easier day on your legs! Are you loosing weight being American and never walking normally? I used to get so many, 'you are mad' statements for walking in Texas in the summer. 

The combo of low temps and wind are definitely keeping me guessing on distances, as well as playing in multiple layers, and trying to take more controlled swings to flight the ball. 
 

If I’m losing weight, I can’t tell yet, I don’t really feel like it. Between the smaller portions and all the walking you’d think it’s almost certain. 
 

Friday the weather was tough, it blew harder than it had all week, I had a couple Scots tell me in the locker room it was almost unplayable. Gullane 2 kicked my butt in the morning. I reverted to “swing hard and overpower it” golf and shot 45 going out, it was ugly, including a quad. But I just relaxed and started trying to progress the ball forward by any means necessary and broke 40 coming in. Then I finally cracked 80 with a 79 on Gullane 1. As hard as everything is, I’m finding it very difficult to make putts. 

Gullane 2 was the kind of course I’d like to try again. It’s short with some extremely memorable holes. Even though 1 rightfully get the headlines I think if given the choice again I would have gone back around 2. Today I will play Gullane 3. 
 

After dinner I had my first sticky toffee pudding. It’s more of a cake, not the creamy “pudding” we know in the states. Kind of like a small dense, sweet sponge cake covered in a sauce. I’m sure that helped offset the 14 miles my Fitbit tells me I walked. 
 

instead of more pics of rainbows, here are some shots from Arccos to give you a sense of links golf. All of these were well struck:

 

 

[scott_Donald]

Thats awesome with the Arcos; some fo them didn't make me feel so bad on Friday.

 

I watched a lot of pros play 17/18 yesterday live in St Andrews - fascinating how they hit it with the 30mph wind on those two holes. 

 

I always think a hole is 400 what is it actually playing today. Forecast for here today is heavy rain shower and winds 28mph, gusting 50-60mph so good luck out there - my 2 hou cycle is cancelled for today; dont think I would stay on the bike!

Edited October 2, 2021 by scott_Donald

[philsRHman]

I finally figured out the secret to shooting in the 60s … play a par 67!!! Played Gullane 3 today, twice around. It was just what I needed, a good straight forward day, a little bit of a break with it only being about 5,000, but honestly it still played as good and hard as you’d want. The wind actually was significantly less than yesterday, so I think they whiffed on the forecast. Never got any rain, either, only about 20 minutes between rounds.
 

Finished with two long par putts on 17 and 18 to shoot 69 in the afternoon. Felt a long time coming. Caddie yesterday told me to stop overthinking it and just play golf. I’ve been so into bumping and running and putting from well off the greens, he saw me use a little back foot 54* punch and said that’s a great shot around these greens. Today I finally just felt like I was playing golf and it paid off. 
 

Heading from North Berwick to St Andrew’s Sunday. Wound up getting a ticket to the Dunhill so now I have to decide if I rather do that or go play Elie. If I get on the road early enough I might head to Anstruther for 9 and then head into town. Totally psyched to get into St Andrews and explore, and a day off golf might actually do me some good. But today’s play make me want to keep it going haha. 

[Bargegolf]

Anstruther has the best Fish & Chips in all of Fife! The golf pub across the street from the course in Elie would also be a must stop.

[philsRHman]

Just now, Bargegolf said:

Anstruther has the best Fish & Chips in all of Fife! The golf pub across the street from the course in Elie would also be a must stop.

Thanks, they’re all on my list, but somehow my list just keeps getting longer! 

[scott_Donald]

I would need the break from all the wind.

 

Well played - I play the little course at RAGC once a week and its fun to just hit 8 iron, sand wedge. 7 iron lob wedge and feel no pressure at all.

 

We had a great day yesterday in St Andrews; did have a reservation at Rogue for dinner but the kitchen didn't have power so they cancelled on me, ended up at Maisha and it was great Indian food, I would highly recommend.

 

We found a nice little coffee shop just a couple doors down from my apartment - 'spoiled life home store and coffee'. There are so many good coffee shops; 'Mitchells' was great for a mid afternoon warmup! 'Gorgeous' does some amazing little tarts. The Jigger Inn and Dunvegan had all the pros in them.

 

 

Edited October 2, 2021 by scott_Donald

[philsRHman]

Anstruther on the way this morning. A very fun stop. I think this one has gotten talked up a bit much, as much hopes were too high for a 20£ course. Several incredible holes, including my first ever blind par 3, The Rockies. 250ish, dead into the 25 mph wind, off the edge of a cliff. 
 

 

Course is definitely worth a stop, but at least this morning it was playing quite soft and slow. It was extremely lush so maybe all the rain the last couple days got it. 
 

 Afternoon was arrival at St Andrews. To be honest, I was so overwhelmed with it all—arriving, parking, getting into the B&B, finding food— I was pretty numb all afternoon. Then as I stood watching Danny Willett make his putt on 18, from where I was standing on 1 with the backdrop, I just got chills and tears in my eyes and it was like I pinched myself to realize it’s really happening. 
 

Heading to Elie tomorrow but going to try for a light day since I have the Old Course  Tuesday. 

[philsRHman]

These focking photos keep posting upside down. I can’t figure out why. I’ll try to fix them later but for now, turn your phone upside down lol. 

[scott_Donald]

11 hours ago, philsRHman said:

These focking photos keep posting upside down. I can’t figure out why. I’ll try to fix them later but for now, turn your phone upside down lol. 

 

I had to attach them

1st time - upside down.

2nd time - after flipping them upside down on my computer - upside down

3rd time - flipping them the right way around on computer - right way round on WRX.

Hassle!

[milesgiles]

On 9/30/2021 at 8:24 PM, philsRHman said:

Goswick was fun. I don’t have much to compare it to yet, but it felt more like what I expected of an solid (not world class) links layout to play like. It played firm but not overly so in the on-off rain. I got lucky honestly, it was supposed to pour all day and seemed to up in North Berwick, but the hour drive got me into a dryish gap. 
 

 

The highlight was certainly the back 9, with one really cool, interesting hole after another. I found the front 9 to be a tad expected, right in front of you, go get it. But as the course got into the dunes on the back the holes got fun, especially 11-15. I’m a sucker for a green buried into the shelter of a dune, which was cool here at the 14th. The hole of the day for me was 15, a tee with panoramic views out to the water (which  is mostly a backdrop on this course, nothing nearly as dramatic as I’ve seen earlier at NB and Muirfield) and across the entire course. It’s severe drop to a bunker surrounded green sitting in a bowl. 
 

 

On the way back I stopped at Dunbar. Today is their members only day, so I could play but as most of the courses here, there’s a public walking path and the guys in the shop offered thst I could take a stroll. Wow! I’m really bummed I won’t be playing Dunbar. It just looked so nicely manicured, really compact, but just proper golf. It looked so accommodating and for the 6-7 holes I saw (could have gone all the way out and back, but tired and trying to converse energy for two 36 hole days tomorrow and Saturday) it seemed very playable and literally along the beach. Unlike The Glen, which I also looked at and realized just how much of a hike that represents. 

 

 

 

the appeal of Goswick for me is (or was) the price. There are some average holes on the front nine and the last hole should be a nice par 3 not a diddy par 4. 

 

It wasnt more than £50 3 years ago, which was great value

 

I was in a group of 20 plus, we all rated it comfortably above Dunbar, as nice as the setting is. Good to hear Eyemouth is on the way back, it was a mess a while back. Id still head a little further down to Dunstanburgh, £30 is the biggest bargain in the uk imo..

 

cant remember if you are playing the Castle, thats wrx's biggest marmite course ever.. I loved it but it does need a clear day..

Edited October 4, 2021 by milesgiles

[philsRHman]

Today was the Old Course. I don’t think I have words to describe it.
 

It poured rain, was about 45 degrees and 20+ mph wind. And I’d be lying if I said I never noticed, especially as we got out on the point and my socks were squishing (so much for Ecco Goretex,

I think it got in through my ankles). But no matter the weather it was a special day on a special place. 
 

I somehow never got nervous on 1, or on the Road Hole. But as I walked up 18, with the super famous backdrop, I just felt the chills and tingles, like I was surrounded by all the ghosts of golf’s past, walking alongside me. Really moving moment. 
 

Sounds like I have a decent shot at getting back out there next week, and I’d like to see it when I can focus more on the golf than just hit it in the right direction and hope. 

[philsRHman]

Tweak to the plans. Yesterday was a wonderful surprise and treat to join @scott_Donald at Royal Aberdeen. What a golf course, I was blown away by the terrain, the layout and the conditions. But it also beat the living crap out of me. Paired with a 2 hour drive after 36 holes the day before, I was absolutely shot.
 

Today I was due for 36 at Cruden Bay. Loved it so much, especially the back 9. I know there’s criticism of their blind holes but I found them charming and unique. It helped I played the last 13 holes even par, it’s a much less demanding course than others. When I finished in the morning I was just gassed, nothing left in my legs, AND I got a tee time for tomorrow at the Old Course through the ballot. So I didn’t want to push beyond my limit. I took a nice long relaxing ride back from Cruden Bay, stopped for coffee, for lunch, drove around Aberdeen a bit, and spent the evening getting settled into the apartment I rented foe the last week. 
 

Want to do something extremely disorienting? Try to food shop in a Scottish supermarket. It’s been one thing to grab water and some snacks but I tried to stock the little fridge I have and I couldn’t do it. Everything is just a little different. I wound up with butter, a package of rolls, instant coffee, “half cream” which seems their version of half and half, or maybe light cream, and a dozen room temp eggs. I’m just admitting I’m most likely eating every meal out for the week but at least it’s here if I need something. 
 

Couple Cruden Bay pics. I think I figured out the upside down thing. My poor caddie brought a motorized push cart foe my bag and it broke as we went out. Poor guy, I had to help him push this thing uphill a few times. 
 

 

 

 

been eating a lot of fish and chips but this might’ve been the biggest. This had to be close to a foot long.