Help Me Plan My Scotland II Trip For 2023

[hammergolf]

9 hours ago, scott_Donald said:

 

 

 

They ended up closing the course as the greens got so bad!

 

As far as I am aware it was remedied by the end of August and I was trying to get on there in September as a local tee time but nothing matched up for me and my dad and time available to play. I certainly will try and play it this year. 

 

If it was me and wanted to have an easier little course I would play the Jubilee its contrasts very well with the New and I almost think it is better, less travelling for you right next to the Himalayas. 

 

If my place in St Andrews wasn't fully booked in June then I think I would have to come down and see you guys play(no stalker) I can just imagine a few slaves carrying you in their arms around St Andrews, golf ball spotters, numerous caddies, delivery drivers with food and drink for you!

I haven’t played The New yet, but I really like and enjoyed at Jubilee. I really like The Castle course as well, but I know for most it’s a love/hate. 

Edited February 26, 2023 by hammergolf

[dwboston]

On 2/23/2023 at 4:23 AM, scott_Donald said:

 

I forgot my shoes one time so I just wore socks, I got thrown out, I did say the rules said no trainers so I thought socks were fine.

 

 

Learn it, Know it, Live it.

[EmperorPenguin]

8 hours ago, scott_Donald said:

Where you eating there the other days?

 

I have absolutely no idea.  Under the terms of the invitation, my guests will host me for dinner each night.  The wife who will be coming along will explore restaurant options and will select one for us.  Each night will be a fancy--or posh, as you Brits say--dinner, worthy of an Emperor and his guests.  Each guest will host at least two dinners, and a couple of them hosting three.

 

So far, according to the abbreviated itinerary The Experience had given me, two dinners and four lunches have been included as a gesture of gratitude from The Experience, since I have given them so much business already.  They will host us for two dinners in St. Andrews, one at The Road Hole Restaurant at the top floor of the Old Course Hotel, and the other at the St. Andrews Bar & Grill.  One "lunch" will be at Hams Hame restaurant after our round at the Old Course, and it will be in the mid-afternoon.  A couple other lunches are already included in the package.  We will have a two-course lunch at Western Gailes in the clubhouse, a lunch at the Rookery Restaurant at Carnasty before our round, I just noticed that they will host us for lunch at the Tom Morris Bar & Grill after we play the New Course, so we can just scrap the lunch at Munch.  Furthermore, we will have our renowned lunch at The Honurable Company, which I paid for anyway.

Edited February 27, 2023 by EmperorPenguin

[scott_Donald]

5 hours ago, EmperorPenguin said:

I have absolutely no idea.  Under the terms of the invitation, my guests will host me for dinner each night.  The wife who will be coming along will explore restaurant options and will select one for us.  Each night will be a fancy--or posh, as you Brits say--dinner, worthy of an Emperor and his guests.  Each guest will host at least two dinners, and a couple of them hosting three.

 

So far, according to the abbreviated itinerary The Experience had given me, two dinners and four lunches have been included as a gesture of gratitude from The Experience, since I have given them so much business already.  They will host us for two dinners in St. Andrews, one at The Road Hole Restaurant at the top floor of the Old Course Hotel, and the other at the St. Andrews Bar & Grill.  One "lunch" will be at Hams Hame restaurant after our round at the Old Course, and it will be in the mid-afternoon.  A couple other lunches are already included in the package.  We will have a two-course lunch at Western Gailes in the clubhouse, a lunch at the Rookery Restaurant at Carnasty before our round, I just noticed that they will host us for lunch at the Tom Morris Bar & Grill after we play the New Course, so we can just scrap the lunch at Munch.  Furthermore, we will have our renowned lunch at The Honurable Company, which I paid for anyway.

 

St Andrews has a lot of good restaurants; it's just such a cool little town! IF your wife is picking watch out as you have to book at most places. 

[EmperorPenguin]

6 hours ago, scott_Donald said:

 

St Andrews has a lot of good restaurants; it's just such a cool little town! IF your wife is picking watch out as you have to book at most places. 

Not my wife, but the wife of one of my guests.  Remember, the rogue guest bowed out because of his crazy wife, and another guest bowed out because he must attend two weddings, so for this trip I had to find two replacements, both of whom are unmarried.  I have a girlfriend, but she and I will go on a separate, non-golfing, vacation for ourselves in July, a month after this trip is over.  Given that she does not play golf at all, but we may visit a driving range or I might play a nearby cheap course with a rental set.  The July vacation with the Emperor's consort will be just as expensive if not more, given the large ring I will put on her finger, as well as matching earrings, as she will most likely become the Empress in the near future, but this is a totally separate and unrelated thread.

Edited February 27, 2023 by EmperorPenguin

[scott_Donald]

3 minutes ago, EmperorPenguin said:

Not my wife, but the wife of one of my guests.  Remember, the rogue guest bowed out because of his crazy wife, and another guest bowed out because he must attend two weddings, so for this trip I had to find two replacements, both of whom are unmarried.  I have a girlfriend, but she and I will go on a separate, non-golfing, vacation for ourselves in July, a month after this trip is over.  Given that she does not play golf at all, but we may visit a driving range or I might play a nearby cheap course with a rental set.  The July vacation with the Emperor's consort will be just as expensive if not more, given the large ring I will put on her finger, as well as matching earrings, as she will most likely become the Empress in the near future, but this is a totally separate and unrelated thread.

 

Why do penguins need so lavish jewellery?

[EmperorPenguin]

3 minutes ago, scott_Donald said:

 

Why do penguins need so lavish jewellery?

To deter her other numerous suitors to attempt dalliances.

[scott_Donald]

5 minutes ago, EmperorPenguin said:

To deter her other numerous suitors to attempt dalliances.

 

True, there are a lot of other penguins out there. 

[AltC]

Penguin - good luck with the rocks and proposal - if she’s the one for you I wish you all the best - a good wife / life partner can never be underestimated in my opinion. My Mrs took up playing cos of me - now she is hard core golf nut!! 

[EmperorPenguin]

Here is the latest, guys.  On the Aer Lingus site there is a button for Advance Passenger Information.  It asks for DOB, gender, nationality, passport number, expiration date and country of residence.  I can enter all of it for each of my guests, but is it necessary?  I thought that I just needed name and DOB when I booked the tickets, and that when we check into the airport they will get all that information on our passports.

 

Also, is online check-in necessary?  We plan to arrive to the airport about two to three hours prior to departure and check in at the kiosk.  For my other vacations I have never checked in online, but show up at the kiosk and scan my passport and I get my boarding passes there.

[hammergolf]

43 minutes ago, EmperorPenguin said:

Here is the latest, guys.  On the Aer Lingus site there is a button for Advance Passenger Information.  It asks for DOB, gender, nationality, passport number, expiration date and country of residence.  I can enter all of it for each of my guests, but is it necessary?  I thought that I just needed name and DOB when I booked the tickets, and that when we check into the airport they will get all that information on our passports.

 

Also, is online check-in necessary?  We plan to arrive to the airport about two to three hours prior to departure and check in at the kiosk.  For my other vacations I have never checked in online, but show up at the kiosk and scan my passport and I get my boarding passes there.

If you enter all of the info for the advanced passenger information page for each passenger then you will be able to check in online. If online check in isn’t a big deal you can check in the the airport. One thing is do advise is to create an account on AerClub as you get priority boarding if you’re a member. 

[njlam]

As our respective trips are coming up, what are people hearing about luggage/golf club transport?

Check bags (in our case thru Heathrow to Edinburgh) or Shipstix to destination? If the latter, how far in advance should one send them?

[scott_Donald]

17 hours ago, njlam said:

As our respective trips are coming up, what are people hearing about luggage/golf club transport?

Check bags (in our case thru Heathrow to Edinburgh) or Shipstix to destination? If the latter, how far in advance should one send them?

 

 

In the last two weeks I have travelled with skis etc and all good for me; I would just take the bag with you!

[AltC]

Might be useful to fill it in for the online check-in - but otherwise no big deal. It helps people check they have visas etc before they rock up to the desk and find they can’t fly as their passport has less than 6 months validity etc.

[stanford88]

Emperor,

 

How did your trip turn out?

We just got back from Scotland last week: Muirfield 36 holes x 2 days, Old Course, Turnberry, North Berwick x 2, and Carnoustie. We had some rain during the first two days, and the weather turned out great. What a wonderful trip -- great courses and friends.  I would say that Turnberry and Muirfield were the highlights. Old Course was great too. North Berwick deserves its reputation. Carnoustie is definitely hard but still worth a visit.

 

[hammergolf]

4 minutes ago, stanford88 said:

Emperor,

 

How did your trip turn out?

We just got back from Scotland last week: Muirfield 36 holes x 2 days, Old Course, Turnberry, North Berwick x 2, and Carnoustie. We had some rain during the first two days, and the weather turned out great. What a wonderful trip -- great courses and friends.  I would say that Turnberry and Muirfield were the highlights. Old Course was great too. North Berwick deserves its reputation. Carnoustie is definitely hard but still worth a visit.

 

Great trip. 

[stanford88]

Just now, hammergolf said:

Great trip. 

Hammergolf -- your advice was so helpful and I appreciate it so much! We thought Scotland was as good if not better than Ireland and deserves many more visits...

[hammergolf]

Just now, stanford88 said:

Hammergolf -- your advice was so helpful and I appreciate it so much! We thought Scotland was as good if not better than Ireland and deserves many more visits...

Happy to hear you guys had a great trip. So many great courses to play in Scotland and Ireland. I’m looking forward to getting back to Turnberry soon to see the redesign. I’ve heard nothing but great things about the changes that were made. I’ll be back in Ireland in October to play Druids Glen to see the redesign, The European Club, Arklow, Old Head, Waterville, and Dooks. Counting the days…

[stanford88]

We love Euro club and very underrated esp with proximity to Dublin. We're going North in August -- Portrush/RCD/Port Stewart for a shorter 5-day trip... Can't wait to compare notes again!

[hammergolf]

2 hours ago, stanford88 said:

We love Euro club and very underrated esp with proximity to Dublin. We're going North in August -- Portrush/RCD/Port Stewart for a shorter 5-day trip... Can't wait to compare notes again!

You playing Ardglass on the way from RCD to Portrush?

[scott_Donald]

5 hours ago, stanford88 said:

Hammergolf -- your advice was so helpful and I appreciate it so much! We thought Scotland was as good if not better than Ireland and deserves many more visits...

 

of course its the best!

 

You lucked out with the weather. It's been so cold the last ten days; I golfed last Tuesday and it was cold and windy. I have not golfed at all this week as it's been so cold. I was planning to play a few holes this evening but again too cold and damp. Chatting to the green keeper he was saying now with the colder weather they are 3 weeks behind normal. RAGC greens are smooth but slow last week. 

 

5 hours ago, stanford88 said:

We love Euro club and very underrated esp with proximity to Dublin. We're going North in August -- Portrush/RCD/Port Stewart for a shorter 5-day trip... Can't wait to compare notes again!

 

wow you are getting about!

 

[stanford88]

22 hours ago, hammergolf said:

You playing Ardglass on the way from RCD to Portrush?

booked it per your advice!

[hammergolf]

10 minutes ago, stanford88 said:

booked it per your advice!

It’s one my favs. Best start in links golf in my opinion. 

[Chanceman]

7 hours ago, hammergolf said:

It’s one my favs. Best start in links golf in my opinion. 

And before leaving make sure you try some of the Ardglass local delicacy - Pickled Herrings.

[MattyO1984]

3 hours ago, Chanceman said:

And before leaving make sure you try some of the Ardglass local delicacy - Pickled Herrings.

 

Pickled Herrings ❌

Pickled Eggs ✔️

[EmperorPenguin]

On 4/26/2023 at 4:09 PM, stanford88 said:

Emperor,

 

How did your trip turn out?

We just got back from Scotland last week: Muirfield 36 holes x 2 days, Old Course, Turnberry, North Berwick x 2, and Carnoustie. We had some rain during the first two days, and the weather turned out great. What a wonderful trip -- great courses and friends.  I would say that Turnberry and Muirfield were the highlights. Old Course was great too. North Berwick deserves its reputation. Carnoustie is definitely hard but still worth a visit.

 

We have not yet departed until May 28.  So far I have done everything I needed to do before we start packing three weeks from now.  The last thing I did was to order the caddie cash from my bank.  The money arrived, but in assorted bills when I specifically requested large denominations (all £50 notes) so I can pay off the caddies at the end of each round.  Each caddie each day will receive £100, so I ordered £4000.  I got about half of the currency in £50's, and the rest roughly equal numbers of bills in each denomination below.  I will have a meeting with my guests and ask them to bring their £50's so I can change them for my smaller bills.

 

Right now I am beating myself up a little.  The exchange rate when I ordered the caddie cash was $1.33 per pound, so £4000 equals $5320.  I was a little miffed that I did not order the caddie cash at the same time I paid for the whole trip in one payment.  Usually The Experience requires a 40% deposit for the full amount with the remainder due later, but at the time I paid I decided to pay the full 100% because the exchange rate at the time was about $1.06 per pound.  That move saved me nearly $12,000!  Had I ordered the caddie cash that same day I would have saved $13,000.  I feared that the exchange rate was going lower, but apparently I paid for the trip at the exchange rate dip.  It was a gutsy call back then, and it paid off big.

Edited April 29, 2023 by EmperorPenguin

[Chanceman]

17 hours ago, MattyO1984 said:

 

Pickled Herrings ❌

Pickled Eggs ✔️

Sorry, I meant Potted Herrings. Ardglass is famous for them. 

[El Gringo]

5 hours ago, EmperorPenguin said:

We have not yet departed until May 28.  So far I have done everything I needed to do before we start packing three weeks from now.  The last thing I did was to order the caddie cash from my bank.  The money arrived, but in assorted bills when I specifically requested large denominations (all £50 notes) so I can pay off the caddies at the end of each round.  Each caddie each day will receive £100, so I ordered £4000.  I got about half of the currency in £50's, and the rest roughly equal numbers of bills in each denomination below.  I will have a meeting with my guests and ask them to bring their £50's so I can change them for my smaller bills.

 

Right now I am beating myself up a little.  The exchange rate when I ordered the caddie cash was $1.33 per pound, so £4000 equals $5320.  I was a little miffed that I did not order the caddie cash at the same time I paid for the whole trip in one payment.  Usually The Experience requires a 40% deposit for the full amount with the remainder due later, but at the time I paid I decided to pay the full 100% because the exchange rate at the time was about $1.06 per pound.  That move saved me nearly $12,000!  Had I ordered the caddie cash that same day I would have saved $13,000.  I feared that the exchange rate was going lower, but apparently I paid for the trip at the exchange rate dip.  It was a gutsy call back then, and it paid off big.

Your caddies will be grateful not to receive £50 notes. They are rarely used and can be a pain to spend. £20 note are better. 

[scott_Donald]

5 hours ago, EmperorPenguin said:

We have not yet departed until May 28.  So far I have done everything I needed to do before we start packing three weeks from now.  The last thing I did was to order the caddie cash from my bank.  The money arrived, but in assorted bills when I specifically requested large denominations (all £50 notes) so I can pay off the caddies at the end of each round.  Each caddie each day will receive £100, so I ordered £4000.  I got about half of the currency in £50's, and the rest roughly equal numbers of bills in each denomination below.  I will have a meeting with my guests and ask them to bring their £50's so I can change them for my smaller bills.

 

Right now I am beating myself up a little.  The exchange rate when I ordered the caddie cash was $1.33 per pound, so £4000 equals $5320.  I was a little miffed that I did not order the caddie cash at the same time I paid for the whole trip in one payment.  Usually The Experience requires a 40% deposit for the full amount with the remainder due later, but at the time I paid I decided to pay the full 100% because the exchange rate at the time was about $1.06 per pound.  That move saved me nearly $12,000!  Had I ordered the caddie cash that same day I would have saved $13,000.  I feared that the exchange rate was going lower, but apparently I paid for the trip at the exchange rate dip.  It was a gutsy call back then, and it paid off big.

wow you lucked out on September 26 2022… historically is roughly 1.50 so you can’t really complain at all. Stupid brexit. 
 

 

[stanford88]

the big purchase got the good exchange rate. Can't win them all!