2025 Scotland - first timer father/son trip report

[hammergolf]

39 minutes ago, Hawkeye77 said:

 

My first golf round ever in Scotland was a little nine hole course called Traigh we found while starting out our family trip in the Glenfinnan area.  My first planned 18 hole round was at Royal Dornoch on Father's Day with my wife and both of our daughters, one of whom really doesn't play any golf but managed to par the toughest hole on the course! 

 

I've told the story and won't retell about getting invited to play again as the guest of my caddie a few days later.

 

So I played it twice, in wonderful conditions, and it is simply an amazing course.  In the area, Brora (also played twice) still is the sentimental favorite for me and my golfing daughter, but Royal Dornoch is incredible. 

 

Not trying to demean the postage stamp in any way at all, but I think the second at Royal Dornoch is a tougher hole - I missed an easy birdie putt on the postage stamp so come on, the hole can't be much, lol!  Full disclosure - played No. 8 at Royal Troon on a fair weather day as well, just into breeze but played all of 150 the day we played it.

 

One of the rounds I had to agree with Watson - the second to the second is the hardest shot in golf.

Depending on wind they are both very tough. Last time I played the postage stamp the wind was howling into and left to right. It was playing 120yds and chipped a 7 iron that fortunately found the green. The green is only 27ft wide which is tough and you just can’t miss. I’ve only played #2 at Dornoch straight downwind so it was a 9 iron. Was able to hit the green, but 1 guy in or group missed the green right and it rolled all the way down to the bottom of the swale. From there it was carnage…. He hit it short and it rolled back to him. Then next shot went over the other side, next shot back down the swale, then got it on the green and two putted. Easiest 7 ever. 

[Yoshifan151]

Finished up at Brora today. Just me and my dad out there but this was such a fun round to play with all of the sheep walking around grazing on the course and some rain to deal with as well. We got absolutely pissed on hole 3, and drizzled on a couple other times. Wind was with us a tad on the front 9 and by the time we got to 17 it picked up a bit.

The course was very cool, plenty of interesting holes and a LOT of blind shots off the tee and into the green. Greens were the best of the courses we played so far. They rolled very nicely and were the quickest as well.

Play was kind of funky today, I didn't feel like I was hitting it the best but scored well. Driver was fine, I always kept balls in play off the tee even though I was a tad off. Iron strikes felt alright but I did have some approaches that were really good. Wedge game was excellent, I had a ton of great up and downs to save par. Like within 1-2 feet tap in pars. Also got me 2 birdies on 8 (from the front left bunker) and 11. Nearly chipped in from the bottom bowl on 18 as well, 3 inches short. Putter was decent as well, finally got all of my putts to the hole. Ended up 34/38 for a 72. Just great scrambling all day.

 

1 green

 

1 green looking back

 

2 tee

 

3 approach

 

3 approach and landing zone

 

4 approach

 

6 tee shot

 

7 approach - hidden stream to catch long drives

 

8 approach

 

8 front greenside

 

9 tee shot

 

9 green

 

11 tee shot

 

11 approach

 

12 approach

 

12 green

 

13 tee shot

 

14 green - blind tee shot and approach

 

15 tee shot

 

15 approach

 

16 tee shot

 

16 approach

 

16 green

 

17 tee shot

 

17 approach

 

17 green

 

18 tee shot

 

[st1800e]

#6 at Royal Dornoch, gorse in full bloom. 
 

 

#17

 

[Yoshifan151]

I didn't forget the sheep... they deserve their own post. No cows unfortunately lol.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Yoshifan151]

2 minutes ago, st1800e said:

#6 at Royal Dornoch, gorse in full bloom. 
 

 

#17

 

Oh wow that looks crazy, what time of the year is that, April I believe it's in bloom? 

[st1800e]

3 minutes ago, Yoshifan151 said:

Oh wow that looks crazy, what time of the year is that, April I believe it's in bloom? 

Early May.  

[Hawkeye77]

30 minutes ago, Yoshifan151 said:

Finished up at Brora today. Just me and my dad out there but this was such a fun round to play with all of the sheep walking around grazing on the course and some rain to deal with as well. We got absolutely pissed on hole 3, and drizzled on a couple other times. Wind was with us a tad on the front 9 and by the time we got to 17 it picked up a bit.

The course was very cool, plenty of interesting holes and a LOT of blind shots off the tee and into the green. Greens were the best of the courses we played so far. They rolled very nicely and were the quickest as well.

Play was kind of funky today, I didn't feel like I was hitting it the best but scored well. Driver was fine, I always kept balls in play off the tee even though I was a tad off. Iron strikes felt alright but I did have some approaches that were really good. Wedge game was excellent, I had a ton of great up and downs to save par. Like within 1-2 feet tap in pars. Also got me 2 birdies on 8 (from the front left bunker) and 11. Nearly chipped in from the bottom bowl on 18 as well, 3 inches short. Putter was decent as well, finally got all of my putts to the hole. Ended up 34/38 for a 72. Just great scrambling all day.

 

1 green

 

1 green looking back

 

2 tee

 

3 approach

 

3 approach and landing zone

 

4 approach

 

6 tee shot

 

7 approach - hidden stream to catch long drives

 

8 approach

 

8 front greenside

 

9 tee shot

 

9 green

 

11 tee shot

 

11 approach

 

12 approach

 

12 green

 

13 tee shot

 

14 green - blind tee shot and approach

 

15 tee shot

 

15 approach

 

16 tee shot

 

16 approach

 

16 green

 

17 tee shot

 

17 approach

 

17 green

 

18 tee shot

 

 

We found it magical and almost mystical.

 

 

[scott_Donald]

I hate gorse.

[hammergolf]

1 hour ago, scott_Donald said:

I hate gorse.

I don’t mind it as long as it’s not on the golf course.

[st1800e]

1 hour ago, scott_Donald said:

I hate gorse.

Like this? My ball was about 3 feet in. 😳

 

[hammergolf]

13 minutes ago, st1800e said:

Like this? My ball was about 3 feet in. 😳

 

Were you able to punch it out??? Lol

[scott_Donald]

10 hours ago, st1800e said:

Like this? My ball was about 3 feet in. 😳

 

 

its the devil!

[Yoshifan151]

Got out at Golspie today. By far the windiest round so far (and hopefully the whole trip) with 25/30 sustained and gusting up well over that. A fee times there was some drizzle as well. We practically had the course to ourselves as we arrived but there was another twosome right behind us so we decided to pair up. Turns out they are both members here and at a few other courses, and recently bought a house in Golspie where they both plan to stay in the summer. They were a blast to play with and we enjoyed some well-deserved beers in the clubhouse afterwards.

The course was awesome, just as cool and fun to play as all the other courses so far. Great rolling greens just like Brora. Having a few heathland holes around the turn going into the trees was really cool and makes me want to go to England and play all the greats over there!

Obviously with the wind I didn't care what I would shoot but ended up with a 41/37 for a 78 I'll take all day long. Hit it fine all day and honestly had fun seeing how far the wind would take my ball, as most holes were playing with crosswind. We really had the full Scottish experience today!

 

1 approach

 

2 tee shot

 

2 green

 

3 tee shot

 

3 approach

 

4 tee shot

 

4 approach

 

5 tee shot

 

5 approach

 

5 green - behind a large hill and bunker

 

6 tee shot

 

7 tee shot

 

7 approach

 

8 tee shot

 

8 approach

 

9 tee shot

 

9 approach

 

10 tee shot

 

11 tee shot

 

12 tee shot

 

11 green

 

13 tee shot

 

16 tee shot

 

17 tee shot

 

18 tee shot

 

18 approach

Edited June 23 by Yoshifan151

[Yoshifan151]

Idk why that last photo stays there even though I delete it lol

Edited June 23 by Yoshifan151

[jatrain]

These are great!  Thanks!

[Yoshifan151]

41 minutes ago, jatrain said:

These are great!  Thanks!

Btw, The Trawler for fish and chips and Mei's Food for Chinese in Golspie were both great. We didn't go here but the twosome we paired with today said Sid's Spice in Brora is great Indian food. The sandwiches we got at Royal Dornoch were very good too, our favorite from the courses so far and good bang for the buck as well.

[McMunch]

Yeah. These are indeed great. Thanks for taking the time to post. Living vicariously through you and completely jealous.

Edited June 24 by McMunch

[Yoshifan151]

41 minutes ago, McMunch said:

Yeah. There are indeed great. Thanks for taking the time to post. Living vicariously through you and completely jealous.

Glad you're enjoying following along!

[hammergolf]

3 hours ago, Yoshifan151 said:

Got out at Golspie today. By far the windiest round so far (and hopefully the whole trip) with 25/30 sustained and gusting up well over that. A fee times there was some drizzle as well. We practically had the course to ourselves as we arrived but there was another twosome right behind us so we decided to pair up. Turns out they are both members here and at a few other courses, and recently bought a house in Golspie where they both plan to stay in the summer. They were a blast to play with and we enjoyed some well-deserved beers in the clubhouse afterwards.

The course was awesome, just as cool and fun to play as all the other courses so far. Great rolling greens just like Brora. Having a few heathland holes around the turn going into the trees was really cool and makes me want to go to England and play all the greats over there!

Obviously with the wind I didn't care what I would shoot but ended up with a 41/37 for a 78 I'll take all day long. Hit it fine all day and honestly had fun seeing how far the wind would take my ball, as most holes were playing with crosswind. We really had the full Scottish experience today!

 

1 approach

 

2 tee shot

 

2 green

 

3 tee shot

 

3 approach

 

4 tee shot

 

4 approach

 

5 tee shot

 

5 approach

 

5 green - behind a large hill and bunker

 

6 tee shot

 

7 tee shot

 

7 approach

 

8 tee shot

 

8 approach

 

9 tee shot

 

9 approach

 

10 tee shot

 

11 tee shot

 

12 tee shot

 

11 green

 

13 tee shot

 

16 tee shot

 

17 tee shot

 

18 tee shot

 

18 approach

Following your trip has made me strongly consider adding a week to my Southport trip in the end of September and get back up to the Highlands. If I can work it out it may be epic:

 

Sept 27th Hillside GC

Sept 28th Wallesey GC

Sept 29th St. Anne’s Old Links

Sept 30th Royal Liverpool

Oct 1st Royal Lytham & St. Annes

Oct 2nd Royal Birkdale

Oct 3rd West Lancs

Oct 4th OFF Fly from Manchester to Aberdeen

Oct 5th Cruden Bay

Oct 6th International Links Aberdeen

Oct 7th Royal Aberdeen

Oct 8th Fraserburgh

Oct 9th Royal Dornoch

Oct 10th Royal Dornoch

Oct 11th OFF Fly from Inverness to Manchester

Oct 12th Fly home

 

[Yoshifan151]

7 hours ago, hammergolf said:

Following your trip has made me strongly consider adding a week to my Southport trip in the end of September and get back up to the Highlands. If I can work it out it may be epic:

 

Sept 27th Hillside GC

Sept 28th Wallesey GC

Sept 29th St. Anne’s Old Links

Sept 30th Royal Liverpool

Oct 1st Royal Lytham & St. Annes

Oct 2nd Royal Birkdale

Oct 3rd West Lancs

Oct 4th OFF Fly from Manchester to Aberdeen

Oct 5th Cruden Bay

Oct 6th International Links Aberdeen

Oct 7th Royal Aberdeen

Oct 8th Fraserburgh

Oct 9th Royal Dornoch

Oct 10th Royal Dornoch

Oct 11th OFF Fly from Inverness to Manchester

Oct 12th Fly home

That would be am amazing trip if you go for it! Definitely keep us updated, either way I would love to hear about it as those English courses are some I'd love to get out to some day.

[scott_Donald]

Are you submitting scores for handicap; interesting how it effects it compared to your norm.

 

if golspie was dead then you wouldn’t get the weather adjustment. 

[Yoshifan151]

2 minutes ago, scott_Donald said:

Are you submitting scores for handicap; interesting how it effects it compared to your norm.

 

if golspie was dead then you wouldn’t get the weather adjustment. 

Yeah I've posted every one but St. Michaels on GHIN and haven't had any PCC applied.

[LukeDonaldsTiger]

Awesome thread, thanks!!

 

I‘m a huge Scotland admirer and used to be a member at Tain GC, right across the Dornoch Firth. 
Last year, I treated myself to Royal Aberdeen (got unlucky with the harr/fog, no views at all and had to walk back after 15 or 16), Royal Dornoch (equally foggy but cleared up after 13 or so), and a couple others. 
My favorites are Aberdeen, Dornoch and Brora. Tain needs better maintenance (seems to lack the funds, unfortunately). 
Cruden Bay was great. 
Gullane #2 was fine. 
The New Course was good, just had dreadful weather. 
 

As to #2 at Dornoch, I played into a nasty headwind, clubbed up by two (6i I think) and hit it in the front right bunker. Made a 5. Tough, tough hole!

 

What I found fascinating about Brora was the layout of the Par 3s: according to a local, the front and back nines are classic Links style, outward then inward, so you have one general wind direction. But the Par 3 holes are laid out perpendicular, at different angles, so you get a lot of different crosswind angles- great idea, and very challenging. 

[hammergolf]

9 hours ago, Yoshifan151 said:

That would be am amazing trip if you go for it! Definitely keep us updated, either way I would love to hear about it as those English courses are some I'd love to get out to some day.

I will definitely be positing daily on the courses. That are has so many great courses in such a small area. I’m still going to be missing a few (Formby, Southport & Ainsdale) that I want to play

[thecraw]

On 6/23/2025 at 11:28 PM, hammergolf said:

Following your trip has made me strongly consider adding a week to my Southport trip in the end of September and get back up to the Highlands. If I can work it out it may be epic:

 

Sept 27th Hillside GC

Sept 28th Wallesey GC

Sept 29th St. Anne’s Old Links

Sept 30th Royal Liverpool

Oct 1st Royal Lytham & St. Annes

Oct 2nd Royal Birkdale

Oct 3rd West Lancs

Oct 4th OFF Fly from Manchester to Aberdeen

Oct 5th Cruden Bay

Oct 6th International Links Aberdeen

Oct 7th Royal Aberdeen

Oct 8th Fraserburgh

Oct 9th Royal Dornoch

Oct 10th Royal Dornoch

Oct 11th OFF Fly from Inverness to Manchester

Oct 12th Fly home

 

 

I had the pleasure of Southport and Ainsdale yesterday and loved it. Probably more so than West Lancs. Well worth a visit while you are in that area. 

[El Gringo]

1 hour ago, thecraw said:

 

I had the pleasure of Southport and Ainsdale yesterday and loved it. Probably more so than West Lancs. Well worth a visit while you are in that area. 

Yes, I won’t say S&A is better than West Lancs, but I like it more. 

[Yoshifan151]

After a fun few days at some excellent golf courses in the Highlands (with some not so excellent weather), we drove back down to Crail yesterday, and today got out at Elie. Weather was nice with some overcast and minimal wind.

The course is very unique as it has 16 par 4s and 2 par 3s, no par 5s. Even better, each par 4 is different enough from the rest that it never felt repetitive. Plenty of blind tee shots with alignment sticks in the fairway, notably the 1st where you can look through the periscope in the shop/starter shack to check that the landing zone is clear. There's a few short par 4s that can be driven, with a couple that stretch out to mid 400 yards. The routing also goes all over the place, probably one of the wonkiest I've ever played. But the holes were very straightforward compared to some of the crazy holes on just about every other course I've played so far. The large and undulating greens rolled very nicely and were extremely firm, difficult to really spin it.

I didn't really play that great but managed to score decently, thanks to some of the par 4s being so short. Driver was a bit all over the place, easily the worst of the trip so far. Slight pulls and some block fades but a handful of ripped ones. Approaches weren't the best, save for a few. Wedges were a coin flip, some absolutely embarrassing and took easy bird looks to hopeful par saves. A few wedge shots were very good though, so the touch was there on occasion. Putts were alright, great birds on 13 and 18. 38/36 for a pretty mediocre 74. But this was one of my favorite courses so far, I had a blast.

 

The Periscope - a majority of the holes are visible through this

 

1 tee shot

 

1 green

 

2 tee shot

 

2 green

 

3 tee shot - 1st par 3

 

3 green

 

4 approach

 

4 green

 

5 green

 

6 tee shot

 

6 approach

 

6 green

 

7 green

 

8 approach

 

9 tee shot

 

9 approach

 

9 green

 

10 tee shot

 

10 approach

 

10 green

 

Bell to ring after 10

 

11 tee - 2nd and last par 3

 

11 green

 

12 tee shot

 

12 green

 

13 tee shot

 

13 green

 

14 tee shot

 

15 tee shot

 

15 approach

 

16 approach

 

17 tee shot

 

17 green

 

18 tee shot

 

18 green

[jatrain]

6 hours ago, Yoshifan151 said:

After a fun few days at some excellent golf courses in the Highlands (with some not so excellent weather), we drove back down to Crail yesterday, and today got out at Elie. Weather was nice with some overcast and minimal wind.

The course is very unique as it has 16 par 4s and 2 par 3s, no par 5s. Even better, each par 4 is different enough from the rest that it never felt repetitive. Plenty of blind tee shots with alignment sticks in the fairway, notably the 1st where you can look through the periscope in the shop/starter shack to check that the landing zone is clear. There's a few short par 4s that can be driven, with a couple that stretch out to mid 400 yards. The routing also goes all over the place, probably one of the wonkiest I've ever played. But the holes were very straightforward compared to some of the crazy holes on just about every other course I've played so far. The large and undulating greens rolled very nicely and were extremely firm, difficult to really spin it.

I didn't really play that great but managed to score decently, thanks to some of the par 4s being so short. Driver was a bit all over the place, easily the worst of the trip so far. Slight pulls and some block fades but a handful of ripped ones. Approaches weren't the best, save for a few. Wedges were a coin flip, some absolutely embarrassing and took easy bird looks to hopeful par saves. A few wedge shots were very good though, so the touch was there on occasion. Putts were alright, great birds on 13 and 18. 38/36 for a pretty mediocre 74. But this was one of my favorite courses so far, I had a blast.

 

The Periscope - a majority of the holes are visible through this

 

1 tee shot

 

1 green

 

2 tee shot

 

2 green

 

3 tee shot - 1st par 3

 

3 green

 

4 approach

 

4 green

 

5 green

 

6 tee shot

 

6 approach

 

6 green

 

7 green

 

8 approach

 

9 tee shot

 

9 approach

 

9 green

 

10 tee shot

 

10 approach

 

10 green

 

Bell to ring after 10

 

11 tee - 2nd and last par 3

 

11 green

 

12 tee shot

 

12 green

 

13 tee shot

 

13 green

 

14 tee shot

 

15 tee shot

 

15 approach

 

16 approach

 

17 tee shot

 

17 green

 

18 tee shot

 

18 green

Elie is one that I really want another shot at. It was my first round last year and the only one with any real weather - rain and fog that obscured any real sense of the landscape and totality of the course.  
 

I’m not going to make it back there this year as I’m mostly highlands focused but can’t wait to give it another shot in a couple of years. 

[El Gringo]

Elie is sublime…fine pix…cheers.

[Yoshifan151]

Yesterday was at Panmure. Wind was steady around 20ish, similar to what we had at North Berwick. The pro Andrew and his assistant Fraser were great gentlemen and made us feel very welcomed, and took a nice commemorative photo of us. At the turn, a twosome behind joined up with us. They had just joined the club and were playing their 2nd round! Great guys and we had a nice chat with food/drinks in the clubhouse afterwards.

The course was fun as it is a heathland style, different from the seaside links we've been playing so far. They holes were very straightforward with only a couple that had some hidden streams or hazards to watch for. There was a big premium on hitting the fairway as the fescue was quite nasty and deep of you were off. Hole 6, the Hogan hole, was very challenging especially into the green. Miss it and you're dead.

Unfortunately this was by far the worst I played during the trip. Tee to green was really bad, I think all the golf finally caught up to me and my body was collapsing lol. I didn't feel sore or anything but my body just didn't seem to want to really cooperate. Not sure if I had a single solid drive, irons and wedges were a coin flip, but putting was alright. I had a few decent holes with birdie looks but no conversions.

Today we're taking the day off and touring around Edinburgh, hopefully I can regroup for a very windy day at Crail tomorrow, and what is looking like a very nice one at Carnoustie on Sunday. And of course we failed the 2 day for TOC today, we'll see how that goes for Monday or Tuesday. At this point I don't even care if we get on or not, we've played some incredible golf regardless.

 

1 tee

 

1 approach

 

2 tee

 

2 approach

 

3 tee

 

3 approach

 

4 tee

 

4 green

 

5 tee

 

5 green

 

Hole 6 sign

 

6 tee

 

6 approach

 

6 green

 

7 green

 

8 tee

 

8 approach

 

9 tee

 

9 green

 

10 tee

 

10 approach

 

11 tee

 

11 green

 

12 tee

 

12 approach

 

12 - death awaits

 

13 tee

 

13 approach

 

13 green

 

14 approach

 

14 green

 

15 tee

 

15 green

 

16 tee

 

16 approach

 

17 tee

 

17 approach

 

18 tee

 

18 approach