Headed to Scotland next month...name 1 Thing you wish you had brought and one thing you wish you left at home...

[Shagginballs]

and go.....

[Hawkeye77]

First time I forgot bungee cords for the trolleys, but a minor thing, and took one too many lenses for the digital SLR and a couple of books too many (for reading, my Scotland specific books were needed), all of which weighed down my backpack -- didn't read at all on the plane overnight and no interest in sitting around reading when I was there.  

[hammergolf]

Umbrella is useless. If it rains, it’s generally with heavy wind so it gets blown all over place. Ive been many times, so not much I would need, but the one thing I do recommend is a waterproof golf bag. Didn’t take one on my first trip and we got an all day downpour on our first round. Took several days to get the bag, headcovers, etc dry. 

[Shagginballs]

23 minutes ago, hammergolf said:

Umbrella is useless. If it rains, it’s generally with heavy wind so it gets blown all over place. Ive been many times, so not much I would need, but the one thing I do recommend is a waterproof golf bag. Didn’t take one on my first trip and we got an all day downpour on our first round. Took several days to get the bag, headcovers, etc dry. 

Should we bring a small compact one? (bringing the wife and toddler)

[hammergolf]

8 minutes ago, Shagginballs said:

Should we bring a small compact one? (bringing the wife and toddler)

I would recommend one if you think you will be making a return trip to Scotland or Ireland. I’ll attach a link for one. They are one of the most popular bags in the uk because they are waterproof. This is a good one.

 

https://us.bigmaxgolf.com/products/dri-lite-seven?variant=44025774768422

[Shagginballs]

3 minutes ago, hammergolf said:

I would recommend one if you think you will be making a return trip to Scotland or Ireland. I’ll attach a link for one. They are one of the most popular bags in the uk because they are waterproof. This is a good one.

 

https://us.bigmaxgolf.com/products/dri-lite-seven?variant=44025774768422

My bad- 

I meant small umbrella.  I have a waterproof bag.

[hammergolf]

Just now, Shagginballs said:

My bad- 

I meant small umbrella.  I have a waterproof bag.

You may want a compact one for everything but golf. I’ve just found that when it’s raining on the course it tends to be windy as well. So it becomes more of a hassle then actually keeping you dry. 

[buckI]

One thing for sure to do unless you buy a new one is reapply the water repellent on your rain suit.  Very easy to do but do it.  
 

One thing to bring is a waterproof hat whether baseball style or bucket.

 

One (or more) things to leave home is all the crap that people have in their golf bags.  Do not to carry an excessive amount of balls, tees, markers, etc.  whether you carry, push or caddy it will lighten the load.

[El Gringo]

Dump about 5-6 clubs, especially if carrying is part of the plan. 

 

No umbrella. If there is a day when it's useful, buy one. 

 

Bring rain gloves. 

 

 

[Shagginballs]

12 hours ago, buckI said:

One thing for sure to do unless you buy a new one is reapply the water repellent on your rain suit.  Very easy to do but do it.  
 

One thing to bring is a waterproof hat whether baseball style or bucket.

 

One (or more) things to leave home is all the crap that people have in their golf bags.  Do not to carry an excessive amount of balls, tees, markers, etc.  whether you carry, push or caddy it will lighten the load.

 

How many balls did you go through in a bad round?  Everyone says the brush is brutal.  I play around a lot of water so a bad day for me is losing 3-4 balls.  What is it out there?

[Hawkeye77]

15 hours ago, Shagginballs said:

My bad- 

I meant small umbrella.  I have a waterproof bag.

Don't bother.  If you really need one, buy one there, but if it's rainy and really windy it will be useless and the little ones, IMO, are generally useless off the golf course.  I've been lucky with weather on trips, but even on somewhat rainy days, an umbrella just got in the way.  I bought one on one occasion - was playing in a comp and there was a steady but not hard rain when I got there and it wasn't windy - lol, after the first tee box, we didn't have rain the rest of our round and 15 minutes after it started pouring - the "earlies" and "lates" got hosed, haha.  Still have it, nice reminder of the course.

[Hawkeye77]

3 minutes ago, Shagginballs said:

 

How many balls did you go through in a bad round?  Everyone says the brush is brutal.  I play around a lot of water so a bad day for me is losing 3-4 balls.  What is it out there?

There is no standard I'm aware of for losing balls.  Weather, course, skill level . . .

 

Rarely lost a ball, but had a dozen in the bag.  When we had caddies they knew where they were!  Otherwise, it just wasn't an issue unless I found the very occasional gorse bush I wasn't getting into just for a ball or a burn I hadn't expected to roll into and sometimes some high grass or heather but you'd be surprised how easy it is to find balls, IMO.  

[hammergolf]

3 hours ago, Shagginballs said:

 

How many balls did you go through in a bad round?  Everyone says the brush is brutal.  I play around a lot of water so a bad day for me is losing 3-4 balls.  What is it out there?

Just take a dozen with you. If you need more you can buy them there.

[buckI]

4 hours ago, Shagginballs said:

 

How many balls did you go through in a bad round?  Everyone says the brush is brutal.  I play around a lot of water so a bad day for me is losing 3-4 balls.  What is it out there?

I took two dozen.   Easy to throw into the travel case rather than pay for them there at a much higher price but only carried 6 balls at a time.   Would not see you needing more than 6-9 at anytime.

[MattyO1984]

On 5/1/2023 at 7:31 AM, El Gringo said:

Bring rain gloves. 

 

Speaking as a resident! Cannot agree with this more. You could pick them up here but if it rains and you want to enjoy your golf then these are essential. 

[McMunch]

Bring a notebook for observations, general memories and funny stuff your caddy says. I wish I had.

[Shagginballs]

4 hours ago, MattyO1984 said:

 

Speaking as a resident! Cannot agree with this more. You could pick them up here but if it rains and you want to enjoy your golf then these are essential. 

I live in Florida.  I always have them on me 👍

[MattyO1984]

6 hours ago, Shagginballs said:

I live in Florida.  I always have them on me 👍

 

You are playing a game with which I am not familiar 😂

[scott_Donald]

It's funny most are mentioning rain but I have not golfed in the rain for a long time here(Scotland). I do choose not to play unless I have to in the rain. 

 

I don't own rain gloves, I take an umbrella on the course just in case some times(member of a links course in a place where it is always windy). If it is going to be bad weather and I have to play I use my electric trolley - Umbrella, Full waterproofs, extra layers, water, caffeine drink, snacks.

 

Honestly for me it would be wind proof layers. I played Friday in an outing, took the above set up as forecast was 33mph wind and rain. It never rained once in the end, the wind blew it was cold and what saved me is taking two wind proof layers with me. One went on at the first tee, the other about 4 holes in and I was fine for the entire day. I never touched my waterproofs all day, I hate golfing in them. 

 

Right. now after two days with my home course basically being closed due to fog it is now raining! forecast all week is showers after this rain band is through. So should be fine to golf, seems low wind all week at 15mph gusts on average, temperatures have finally risen after being a very cold not so fun April and start to May. The courses in Scotland seem to be a few weeks behind normal right now. 

 

OP where are you playing?

 

 

[2bGood]

Not take... Well it really depends on how you area travelling etc as you may not need to travel light.

 

But not take if you want to travel light:

- Balls. I barely ever lose one on the links courses

- Shirts. You don't need many and you are likely to buy a few

- Rain Hat. I have a friend that says you should buy one at the course where it is monsoon as a memento

 

Must take:

-Extra shoes - really depends on your schedule but two pairs are needed if you have are going to get wet at all

 

[buckI]

12 hours ago, scott_Donald said:

It's funny most are mentioning rain but I have not golfed in the rain for a long time here(Scotland). I do choose not to play unless I have to in the rain. 

 

I don't own rain gloves, I take an umbrella on the course just in case some times(member of a links course in a place where it is always windy). If it is going to be bad weather and I have to play I use my electric trolley - Umbrella, Full waterproofs, extra layers, water, caffeine drink, snacks.

 

Honestly for me it would be wind proof layers. I played Friday in an outing, took the above set up as forecast was 33mph wind and rain. It never rained once in the end, the wind blew it was cold and what saved me is taking two wind proof layers with me. One went on at the first tee, the other about 4 holes in and I was fine for the entire day. I never touched my waterproofs all day, I hate golfing in them. 

 

Right. now after two days with my home course basically being closed due to fog it is now raining! forecast all week is showers after this rain band is through. So should be fine to golf, seems low wind all week at 15mph gusts on average, temperatures have finally risen after being a very cold not so fun April and start to May. The courses in Scotland seem to be a few weeks behind normal right now. 

 

OP where are you playing?

 

 

Which windproof brand do you recommend?   I have a great Gore Tex rain suit but not great for wind.

[scott_Donald]

11 hours ago, buckI said:

Which windproof brand do you recommend?   I have a great Gore Tex rain suit but not great for wind.

 

My Gore tex waterproofs are very rain proof; hand me down Galvin Green from my dad(I never buy waterproofs)

My wind proof stuff is all from Kjus, not cheap but awesome stuff and my home club offer it with the normal badge and the members only in some things.

[Shagginballs]

On 5/8/2023 at 4:44 AM, scott_Donald said:

It's funny most are mentioning rain but I have not golfed in the rain for a long time here(Scotland). I do choose not to play unless I have to in the rain. 

 

I don't own rain gloves, I take an umbrella on the course just in case some times(member of a links course in a place where it is always windy). If it is going to be bad weather and I have to play I use my electric trolley - Umbrella, Full waterproofs, extra layers, water, caffeine drink, snacks.

 

Honestly for me it would be wind proof layers. I played Friday in an outing, took the above set up as forecast was 33mph wind and rain. It never rained once in the end, the wind blew it was cold and what saved me is taking two wind proof layers with me. One went on at the first tee, the other about 4 holes in and I was fine for the entire day. I never touched my waterproofs all day, I hate golfing in them. 

 

Right. now after two days with my home course basically being closed due to fog it is now raining! forecast all week is showers after this rain band is through. So should be fine to golf, seems low wind all week at 15mph gusts on average, temperatures have finally risen after being a very cold not so fun April and start to May. The courses in Scotland seem to be a few weeks behind normal right now. 

 

OP where are you playing?

 

 

Thank you.  I went what I felt was overboard on some vests and base layers but after reading this, It looks like I'll be good.  Courses I'm playing are:

North Berwick

Dunbar

Gullane 1

Elie

Old

New

Jubilee

Castle

Crail

(Panmure if there's time)

[scott_Donald]

1 hour ago, Shagginballs said:

Thank you.  I went what I felt was overboard on some vests and base layers but after reading this, It looks like I'll be good.  Courses I'm playing are:

North Berwick

Dunbar

Gullane 1

Elie

Old

New

Jubilee

Castle

Crail

(Panmure if there's time)

 

Funny I just walked in after 7 holes due to torrential rain! forecast was very wrong, I had no waterproofs and just an umbrella! it is finally warm enough to golf though!

 

Seems you have a great trip planned! From that an Edinburgh and St Andrews base?

[hammergolf]

5 hours ago, Shagginballs said:

Thank you.  I went what I felt was overboard on some vests and base layers but after reading this, It looks like I'll be good.  Courses I'm playing are:

North Berwick

Dunbar

Gullane 1

Elie

Old

New

Jubilee

Castle

Crail

(Panmure if there's time)

Great itinerary!

[Shagginballs]

9 hours ago, scott_Donald said:

 

Funny I just walked in after 7 holes due to torrential rain! forecast was very wrong, I had no waterproofs and just an umbrella! it is finally warm enough to golf though!

 

Seems you have a great trip planned! From that an Edinburgh and St Andrews base?

Thanks! 4 nights in N. Berwick, 4 nights in SA and 1 in Edi.  

[njlam]

To bring: Contact lenses...in the event of rain

Not to bring: Too many golf shirts...will likely buy a few!

[2bGood]

On 5/8/2023 at 2:07 AM, 2bGood said:

Not take... Well it really depends on how you area travelling etc as you may not need to travel light.

 

But not take if you want to travel light:

- Balls. I barely ever lose one on the links courses

- Shirts. You don't need many and you are likely to buy a few

- Rain Hat. I have a friend that says you should buy one at the course where it is a monsoon as a memento - so don't travel with it. 

 

Must take:

-Extra shoes - really depends on your schedule but two pairs are needed if you have are going to get wet at all

 

 

[scott_Donald]

15 hours ago, Shagginballs said:

Thanks! 4 nights in N. Berwick, 4 nights in SA and 1 in Edi.  

 

Perfect.

 

I love St Andrews; such a cool town, great food and just a good place to wonder around!

[ousuxndallas]

You're going to have a blast, I'm envious!  We went last summer, so here's my $0.02.

 

Wish I'd taken: more balls, lol.  Unlike those above, I lost a s*** ton of balls over there.  I'm a single digit, but balls in the gorsch are gone, might as well be the bottom of a lake.  We played 13 rounds in 8 days so it added up.  Troon and Western Gailes gobbled up the most.  N. Berwick wasn't too bad.  St. Andrews Jubilee was like pacman - waka, waka, waka, waka...Over here in Texas, I'll lose one ball about every 2 rounds.  Over there, it was brutal.  I'd plan on 3-4 balls per round. 

 

Wish I hadn't taken: I took too many insulated vests and jackets.  It's relatively warm in the summer.  Rain gear over a polo is all you need.  Just take one light vest as a layer if you need it, no more. Definitely don't need an insulated or fleece jacket.  The only thing I used my fleece for was the overnight line at TOC (actually came in handy).