2024 Ultimate Golf Heavy Scotland Trip (Advice)

[sabram]

On 8/23/2023 at 6:38 PM, bigeasygator said:

... North Berwick was probably my favorite....

I've played more than 50 of the top 100 courses in GB&I. I love North Berwick and Prestwick which are two that were dissed on this thread. I just chalk it up to different tastes. Not everyone appreciates traditional courses with lots of charm and quirk. Some are more impressed by views of lighthouses. Those two courses are not overrated IMHO. When looking at course reviews (just like movie and food reviews) you need to understand how the tastes of the reviewer jibe with your own to determine how much credibility they have. The seven holes from #12 through #18 at North Berwick are among the best stretch of holes in the world.

[hammergolf]

50 minutes ago, sabram said:

I've played more than 50 of the top 100 courses in GB&I. I love North Berwick and Prestwick which are two that were dissed on this thread. I just chalk it up to different tastes. Not everyone appreciates traditional courses with lots of charm and quirk. Some are more impressed by views of lighthouses. Those two courses are not overrated IMHO. When looking at course reviews (just like movie and food reviews) you need to understand how the tastes of the reviewer jibe with your own to determine how much credibility they have. The seven holes from #12 through #18 at North Berwick are among the best stretch of holes in the world.

I agree. Just like Lahinch, different or quirky doesn’t mean that Prestwick, North Berwick, and many others great courses are bad. If someone designed a hole like The Dell nowadays it would be blasphemy. But it’s a GREAT, UNIQUE, CHALLENGING hole! Just because there are some blind shots or strange lines to take on a course doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with it.

[Chanceman]

On 8/28/2023 at 4:44 AM, hammergolf said:

I agree. Just like Lahinch, different or quirky doesn’t mean that Prestwick, North Berwick, and many others great courses are bad. If someone designed a hole like The Dell nowadays it would be blasphemy. But it’s a GREAT, UNIQUE, CHALLENGING hole! Just because there are some blind shots or strange lines to take on a course doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with it.

….Or stone fences to chip over. 

[hammergolf]

2 hours ago, Chanceman said:

….Or stone fences to chip over. 

Exactly! Or a road that runs over 1 and 18 fwy that you must play off if you hit it there……😉

[ND2005]

11 hours ago, hammergolf said:

Exactly! Or a road that runs over 1 and 18 fwy that you must play off if you hit it there……😉

 

Or the fear of hitting a moving train with your tee shot on the first hole 😂

[bmyles]

On 8/27/2023 at 12:48 PM, sabram said:

 Some are more impressed by views of lighthouses. 

Asinine comment 

 

You say 1/3 of the holes at NB are great holes and I agree.  But 2/3 of your time will be spent on the other 12 and I believe every hole is important to the experience.  NB has too many uninspiring holes to get the adulation it does in my opinion, but others have different views, which I understand.   NB is like a woman with a 10 face but 6 body. I'll take the 8.5 face and 8.5 body personally. 

[sabram]

9 hours ago, bmyles said:

Asinine comment 

 

You say 1/3 of the holes at NB are great holes and I agree.  But 2/3 of your time will be spent on the other 12 and I believe every hole is important to the experience.  NB has too many uninspiring holes to get the adulation it does in my opinion, but others have different views, which I understand.   NB is like a woman with a 10 face but 6 body. I'll take the 8.5 face and 8.5 body personally. 

I didn't say those were the only great holes at NB. I said they are one of the greatest stretches of holes in the world. There are other great holes at NB, as well. IMO, more great holes than Ailsa. As I said in my post, people's tastes differ.

[Hawkeye77]

Prestwick was fun but … there was a caddie mixup and bless their hearts, we ended up with the head caddie and a younger one who were great and taking time they hadn’t planned to accommodate us which was awesome but … they were in a bit of a hurry so the experience was pretty rushed. Played well and I don’t mind a quick pace but this was outright fast and didn’t really have time to take it all in as I had hoped. But the way we were treated was so Scotland!!! I’ll play it again someday! Ran into an older American gent who was on an opposite fairway carrying a beer, lol, and we both enjoyed spotting each other later that evening at a very nice restaurant in a B&B near Royal Troon. North Berwick was super fun, played it twice - I get some of the reservations about it but watching the British Senior Am there the day before our first round really set a nice stage. 

Edited August 31, 2023 by Hawkeye77

[mshills]

10 hours ago, bmyles said:

Asinine comment 

 

That was a little aggressive man, what’s up with that?

[PrincipalsNose]

On 8/23/2023 at 6:38 PM, bigeasygator said:

 

To each his own I guess.  Of the seven courses I played (Dornoch, Castle Stuart, Kingsbarns, Carnoustie, North Berwick, Gullane, Castle Course), North Berwick was probably my favorite along with Kingsbarns.

North Berwick is fun, sporty beachside golf with shots over walls, blind shots and the original redan along with a wicked Biarritz. You could play everyday and never get bored