Caddie Question Scotland Trip

[RobYakes]

Group of 8 of us are headed to Scotland next month. Trying to decide which of these courses we should book caddies for. Probably only 2-3 rounds with caddies. Asterisks are my choices:

 

Nairn

Castle Stuart*
Cruden Bay

Royal Aberdeen*
Dumbarnie*
North Berwick

Kilspindie

[MattyO1984]

On 7/22/2023 at 4:51 PM, RobYakes said:

Group of 8 of us are headed to Scotland next month. Trying to decide which of these courses we should book caddies for. Probably only 2-3 rounds with caddies. Asterisks are my choices:

 

Nairn

Castle Stuart*
Cruden Bay

Royal Aberdeen*
Dumbarnie*
North Berwick

Kilspindie

 

I don't think a caddie is essential at Dumbarnie. There are a couple of holes that getting the right line on without a caddie might be a little difficult but Cruden Bay has far more, you would be better placed making use of them there. I've not played North Berwick nor have I played Kilspindie but the first five I have.

[Hawkeye77]

Had caddies for first round at North Berwick - not really necessary and didn’t have any for the second round. We had to cancel at Kilspindie but had no plans to use caddies and really don’t think it would be necessary. No idea on the others. 

[Pepperturbo]

I know using a caddie and walking has a nostalgic feeling.  I love it, but another option is a Garmin Approach Z82 Laser/GPS.  I been using one for a few years now.  One of its functions is yardage for blind shots; it finds the pin location and provides yardage though the viewfinder.  A benefit of GPS and Laser.  Also, provides a full-hole-image and windage, if you have Garmin golf on your phone; rather amazing technology. 

You can turn off Tournament function so elevation yardages show.  Not inexpensive but offsets cost of a good caddie.  Just an option... Which ever way you go, have a wonderful trip.  We're going for an extended trip next year. 🙂

 

Edited July 26, 2023 by Pepperturbo

[hacker101]

I have played a couple on your list. 
 

Nairn- to me was the easier of these 4 to play without a caddy. 

 

Castle Stuart- I would like to play it again with a caddy this time. This one was a long tough walk for me. 

 

Royal Aberdeen- not a terrible walk. A few tough lines of the tee. Rough was high and penal. Caddy was good for spotting and helping find a ball. Hit it straight here. 

North Berwick- very fun and underrated course. Couple tough lines off the tee. Easier walk than RA. 

[Hawkeye77]

On 7/26/2023 at 4:19 PM, Pepperturbo said:

I know using a caddie and walking has a nostalgic feeling.  I love it, but another option is a Garmin Approach Z82 Laser/GPS.  I been using one for a few years now.  One of its functions is yardage for blind shots; it finds the pin location and provides yardage though the viewfinder.  A benefit of GPS and Laser.  Also, provides a full-hole-image and windage, if you have Garmin golf on your phone; rather amazing technology. 

You can turn off Tournament function so elevation yardages show.  Not inexpensive but offsets cost of a good caddie.  Just an option... Which ever way you go, have a wonderful trip.  We're going for an extended trip next year. 🙂

 

Don’t disagree but the course guides are plenty good for me, although they can’t find my ball any better than a watch.  Caddies allow me to walk freely and less effort in the round, are a blessing when the weather is crap, generally fun to get on with and when that ball is headed to the heather or gorse on an unfamiliar course and often no sight line, they seem to always know exactly where it is. Don’t use them 100% but fun when I do. 

[scott_Donald]

Disclaimer I have only ever used a caddy in Scotland once and that was because my friend paid for me without me wanting one!

 

Nairn - Awesome older course, not tricked up, considering joining as a country member, if I can get more time for golf!

Castle Stuart - apart from the one hill I wouldn't bother there, open course simple.
Cruden Bay - Definitely if you are not with a member or played before! watch out for thrombosus hill!

Royal Aberdeen - When I play with visitors or guests, I save them so many shots. Example; first hole cut off left bunker less then 260 or draw off right bunkers and less than 270 or be stupid and hit it as far as you can with driver and luck out straight but not in the dip! second shot plays longer by 5 yards than the number, must carry I think first 5 yards of the green or you are rolling to the dip. As mentioned the rough is up high now. Good example is 14 I normally hit a driver to the left rough over the burn but can't do it now as too tight and the rough is long so I just hit a 4 iron(wind dependent). 
Dumbarnie* - never played but supposed to be very playable.
North Berwick - I really like the place and played in a club match there last year for the first time and without the members I would have struggled. I would go one here.

Kilspindie - it's just a field, was not a fan at all. 

 

 

On 7/26/2023 at 10:19 PM, Pepperturbo said:

I know using a caddie and walking has a nostalgic feeling.  I love it, but another option is a Garmin Approach Z82 Laser/GPS.  I been using one for a few years now.  One of its functions is yardage for blind shots; it finds the pin location and provides yardage though the viewfinder.  A benefit of GPS and Laser.  Also, provides a full-hole-image and windage, if you have Garmin golf on your phone; rather amazing technology. 

You can turn off Tournament function so elevation yardages show.  Not inexpensive but offsets cost of a good caddie.  Just an option... Which ever way you go, have a wonderful trip.  We're going for an extended trip next year. 🙂

 

 

Yes and no, like most courses the more you know the better you will play. Unless you are like me right now with a real problem of the second shot on 10 at Royal Aberdeen, I have not missed the fairway the last 6 times and shanked it OB 3 times!

 

But local knowledge is massive - 6th at Royal Aberdeen, basically hit it on left side of fairway and it will go so much further than the right. the second shot is 20 yards shorter than the number unless the flag is right at the back

 

 

 

 

I think I should just become a caddie, they are always Short of them! 

[tad950]

None needed at Nairn.

 

Castle Stuart has a long uphill walk from a green to the next tee. I think there was a water station half way up. I remember wishing I had a caddie just for that walk.

 

Definitely yes for Cruden Bay. Some blind shots. 90 degree doglegs. And a long slog up to what I think was the high point of the golf course.

 

A caddie would be helpful on a couple tee shots at Royal Aberdeen. But a pretty easy walk.

 

North Berwick has some really wild holes. Don’t know how helpful a caddie could be if your ball ends up next to a stone fence. I still chuckle when I think about some of those holes at West Links. Great fun!

Edited July 31, 2023 by tad950

[AltC]

On 7/30/2023 at 5:20 AM, scott_Donald said:

Nairn - Awesome older course, not tricked up, considering joining as a country member, if I can get more time for golf!

Scott - Nairn is a fantastic true Scot’s links golf course - Nairn is the only time I ever took a caddie in Scotland- I was captain of a tour and had arranged caddies then some blokes pulled out (whilst the caddie master had gone out of his way to get members to caddie for us - jeez) so I strong armed one guy to take one and I took the other to fulfill our promise! Turned out my caddie was club champion! Local knowledge is absolutely a key to any golf course and especially links- I had played the course already but this time it was about him and me together  - luckily I know how to use a caddie and he knew how to caddie - so it was all about the discussion of the shot over the situation and the affirmation of what to play in terms of line and distance - we had a hoot and I won the day to finish second overall on the tour! However I am basically too tight to splurge for a caddie normally - but would definitely recommend the experience to all - but remember you have to talk it through together- to get the most of it then commit!

[Chanceman]

11 hours ago, tad950 said:

None needed at Nairn.

 

Castle Stuart has a long uphill walk from a green to the next tee. I think there was a water station half way up. I remember wishing I had a caddie just for that walk.

 

Definitely yes for Cruden Bay. Some blind shots. 90 degree doglegs. And a long slog up to what I think was the high point of the golf course.

 

A caddie would be helpful on a couple tee shots at Royal Aberdeen. But a pretty easy walk.

 

North Berwick has some really wild holes. Don’t know how helpful a caddie could be if your ball ends up next to a stone fence. I still chuckle when I think about some of those holes at West Links. Great fun!

Was the Cabot branding in evidence on your visit to Castle Stuart ? Has it changed the vibe?

[Pepperturbo]

On 7/28/2023 at 5:05 AM, Hawkeye77 said:

Don’t disagree but the course guides are plenty good for me, although they can’t find my ball any better than a watch.  Caddies allow me to walk freely and less effort in the round, are a blessing when the weather is crap, generally fun to get on with and when that ball is headed to the heather or gorse on an unfamiliar course and often no sight line, they seem to always know exactly where it is. Don’t use them 100% but fun when I do. 

Especially agree with the bold part.  Caddies seem to know where the ball ends up, since they've seen it so many times.  They are worth the cost.

[tad950]

6 hours ago, Chanceman said:

Was the Cabot branding in evidence on your visit to Castle Stuart ? Has it changed the vibe?

My visit was around 6 or 7 years ago. So I couldn’t really speak to that.

[McMunch]

Been to Scotland twice- First trip- we all had our own caddy for all courses. The second we used personal caddies some courses, Fore caddies on others,  and no caddy on 2. Overall I liked having them and at a minimum think about a fore caddy.

They have books at each course for navigation but we played a bunch with blind shots basically hitting it over a stick on a hill. On one course we misjudged a burn and 3 of the 4 guys ended up in it after thinking we made decent shots. A caddy saves you from stuff like that plus they have knowledge of the course both practical and historical. It's worth a few strokes IMO... and it's a better time.

Plus you'll be playing a lot... It's nice to have a guy sharing the load. 

 

Having said that I agree with Matty about Dumbarnie. That's one where maybe you could go without. It's pretty much all in front of you the whole way. The newer courses are like that. Get a caddy anyway. Support the local economy. Buy a shirt and have a few beers.

 

You're so lucky...I want to go back.

 

[scott_Donald]

looking across at all the visitors yesterday afternoon at Royal Aberdeen; it was a perfect day very little wind, bluebird but with the rough being up so high and thick with the weird weather we have had all summer, every group looked like they were all looking in the thick rough! Seems everyone had caddies, a group also flew in by helicopter from St Andrews.

 

Our 4 ball was much slower than normal, probably 30 minutes, so took 4 hours yesterday and that was due to the rough being so high right now. I lost 1 ball, missing the fairway on 9 by 10 yards, was a terrible duck hook 2 iron but harsh loosing it but I did find 6 good balls the whole round!