Back at it… 2026 Ireland/Scotland

swo83 · July 24

It’s been a while since I’ve last posted, been away from the game for a bit, but have that itch to head back to Scotland and Ireland. Historically I’ve planned some pretty massive adventure-like trips. Most recently went to England/Wales/Norway for a golf trip. This time it’ll be a lot more toned down and a quicker trip. I have two courses that I’ve been chasing the past two times to complete the Open rota. I would’ve cancelled the lofoten links portion last time if I could’ve secured a Royal Portrush tee time but came up short twice. For this trip, it’s anchored around two non-negotiable tee times. I’m not really looking for course suggestions, I’m sort of filling the gaps of some courses I wish that I captured when I originally went to Ireland and Scotland. I am looking for any recommendations on accommodations, bars, experiences from those thatve played these courses too and any suggestions. I also can set foot in Ireland and not play Carne so that’ll be the only course that I’ve played.

Here’s what I have

Sunday April 19: Arrive in Edinburgh (AM)

Play Prestwick (PM)

Monday April 20: Play Royal Troon (PM)

Tuesday April 21: hopper to Dublin (AM)

Play The Island (PM)

Wednesday April 22: Play Portstewart (PM)

Thursday April 23: Play Royal Portrush (noon)

Friday April 24: Play St Patrick’s Links

Saturday April 25: Play Carne WAD (AM)

Play Enniscrone (PM)

Sunday April 26: depart

April wasn’t the most ideal but the trip is centered around the Royal Portrush time that I’ve struck out on multiple times in the last and their only 2026 availability was a few tee times in April… I’ve also struck out on Royal Troon and need that to complete the rota courses so the Scotland first leg is non-negotiable too. Aside from Carne I haven’t played any of these courses. It’s tough to bypass RCD and North Berwick but Ive played them two years ago under near-perfect weather and really trying not to make this itinerary any longer either. I’d also love to add Macrihanish or castle Stuart or Royal Aberdeen (others I haven’t played) but they’re just too much of a stretch and don’t make sense for this. I’m also not willing to extend any further for western Gailes or any of the other west coast courses (played Turnberry 2 years ago, so not playing that either). Also thought about Baltray European Club and Ardglass instead of the Island… but keep coming back to the Island with its proximity to Dublin (already played Portmarnock two years ago).

Looking forward to this trip… just can’t really extend beyond this time frame…. Which I’m struggling with.

Greg_egg · July 24

So you will drive from Portrush to St Patricks after your round on April 23 and then from St Patricks to Carne after your round on April 24? You have to drive past Enniscrone to get to Carne so you'll be doubling back like 1-2hrs to get back to Enniscrone for your PM round.

Ultimately up to you of course but its a very busy trip for what is effectively 5 full days and two half days due to travel. You could probably squeeze more out of it if you limited the travel a bit. Western Gailes is a great course if you want to do two in one day on the Troon day.

Edited July 24 by Greg_egg

swo83 · July 24

May flip carne and enniscrone if enniscrone allows me to play early enough to fit in carne. Not the most interested in western gailes at least for this trip, maybe a future trip. Driving distance also doesn’t matter to me, it’s more about playing the courses I want to play in the limited time I have. I guess we all have our priorities, and that’s mine for this anyways. In a previous trip I play St Enodoc in the afternoon then drove across England to play RSG the next day. Not for everyone, but don’t regret it one bit, it was awesome and the only way that I could’ve played both. This trip actually seems tons more manageable than some of my past ones. Really looking for preferred places to stay, towns that make sense, good places to eat than course or routing recs. Thanks

cardia10 · July 24

We loved South Beach Hotel in Troon. Very close to the course, great breakfast and offer some great deals playing Troon.

https://www.southbeach.co.uk/

swo83 · July 25

Actually just called and got the last RCD tee time on Friday April 24th (day after Royal Portrush) - couldn’t pass it up. May also swap North Berwick for Prestwick.

Initially didn’t intend to replay courses but NB is my favorite in Scotland. RCD and Carne are my favorites in Ireland.

I could do:

Sunday April 19: North Berwick (PM)

Monday April 20: Royal Troon (AM)

fly to Dublin

Tuesday April 21: St Patrick’s Links

Cruit Island

Wednesday April 22: Portstewart

Thursday April 23: Royal Portrush

Friday April 24: Royal County Down

Saturday April 25: The Island

buckI · July 25

37 minutes ago, swo83 said:

Actually just called and got the last RCD tee time on Friday April 24th (day after Royal Portrush) - couldn’t pass it up. May also swap North Berwick for Prestwick.

Initially didn’t intend to replay courses but NB is my favorite in Scotland. RCD and Carne are my favorites in Ireland.

I could do:

Sunday April 19: North Berwick (PM)

Monday April 20: Royal Troon (AM)

fly to Dublin

Tuesday April 21: St Patrick’s Links

Cruit Island

Wednesday April 22: Portstewart

Thursday April 23: Royal Portrush

Friday April 24: Royal County Down

Saturday April 25: The Island

From a travel perspective Prestwick would be much easier than NB. I have played NB many times and one of my favorites.

Another option near Troon is Western Gailes. To me it is under rated and a really good layout. I liked it much more than Prestwick but Prestwick does have the tradition even with many changes over the years. I would take Western at least 7-8 times out of 10 over Prestwick.

Hawkeye77 · July 25

It's been a bit since we were in Troon - 2019. We stayed at Sandhill House - just about the best B&B we've stayed in, and some views out to the course - you can see the building from the course and usually on TV when they are on a couple of holes. If the same owners, it would be great. We ate at Scott's (I didn't remember the name, just looking at the location so I assume it hasn't changed) and went back again because it was good - we ate out on the glassed in porch. We also had a good meal at Piersland House which I assume is also a pretty nice place to stay. It's right by the course. To me it looks like they've done some updating - my recollection is more classic old style gentleman's club decor and I'm not seeing that in the current pics. We enjoyed a great lunch at Royal Troon after golf looking out to the 18th green. There was a really good place for pizza/Italian in Prestwick - Vito's. If you venture north there were some good little restaurants in the towns along the sea - I guess check Tripadvisor for current ideas. We walked around downtown Ayr one morning, it smells, frankly, and don't try and eat a sausage pie on the street unless you want to be attacked by a seagull and see your pastry crashing to the pavement and then eaten.

Edited July 25 by Hawkeye77

Chanceman · July 26

4 hours ago, swo83 said:

Actually just called and got the last RCD tee time on Friday April 24th (day after Royal Portrush) - couldn’t pass it up. May also swap North Berwick for Prestwick.

Initially didn’t intend to replay courses but NB is my favorite in Scotland. RCD and Carne are my favorites in Ireland.

I could do:

Sunday April 19: North Berwick (PM)

Monday April 20: Royal Troon (AM)

fly to Dublin

Tuesday April 21: St Patrick’s Links

Cruit Island

Wednesday April 22: Portstewart

Thursday April 23: Royal Portrush

Friday April 24: Royal County Down

Saturday April 25: The Island

I like your Irish itinerary- Portrush and RCD back to back is quite a pickup.
Try the Harbor Bar in Portrush. I don’t recall anything much in Newcastle.

hammergolf · July 26

7 hours ago, swo83 said:

Actually just called and got the last RCD tee time on Friday April 24th (day after Royal Portrush) - couldn’t pass it up. May also swap North Berwick for Prestwick.

Initially didn’t intend to replay courses but NB is my favorite in Scotland. RCD and Carne are my favorites in Ireland.

I could do:

Sunday April 19: North Berwick (PM)

Monday April 20: Royal Troon (AM)

fly to Dublin

Tuesday April 21: St Patrick’s Links

Cruit Island

Wednesday April 22: Portstewart

Thursday April 23: Royal Portrush

Friday April 24: Royal County Down

Saturday April 25: The Island

NB is great, but it’s adding a ton of windshield time. If it was me, I’d keep Prestwick and Troon and

Sunday 19th Arrive in Edinburgh, Drive to Prestwick (1.5hrs) and play. Stay in Troon.

Monday 20th Play Troon then drive to Edinburgh (1.5hrs) fly to Belfast on 8:15pm flight stay in Belfast.

Tuesday 21st Drive to Downings (2hrs) and play St. Pats then Cruit, stay in Downings.

Wednesday 22nd Drive to Portstewart (2hrs) and play. Stay in Portstewart.

Thursday 23rd play Portrush then drive to Newcastle (2hrs) to spend the night.

Friday 24th play RCD then drive to Swords (1.5hrs) to spend the night.

Saturday 25th play The Island and Corballis spend the night in Swords.

Sunday Depart

brownm · July 26

Just got back from a trip to Ayrshire, Kintyre, and Islay. South Beach hotel was fine, perfect for playing Prestwick and Troon given the proximity. But if you want to step it up, the Marine Hotel next to Troon looked fantastic. We had dinner at The Rabbit (the hotel restaurant that overlooks the 17th hole of the same name) there after our Troon round and it may have been the best meal of the trip. For our Royal Troon day, we arrived about two hours early for our afternoon time and had a beer and lunch in the clubhouse. We took our time enjoying the views and talking with members and other visitors. We brought a change of clothes (lucky since this was the most rain we got on the trip) and used the locker room to shower and change for dinner. While the South Beach hotel was nice, the showers at Troon were fantastic and much better than the hotel. We then had a post round drink, watched some more golfers finish up, and then headed next door to the Marine for dinner. Absolutely fantastic day!

Chanceman · July 30

On 7/26/2025 at 10:01 PM, brownm said:

Just got back from a trip to Ayrshire, Kintyre, and Islay. South Beach hotel was fine, perfect for playing Prestwick and Troon given the proximity. But if you want to step it up, the Marine Hotel next to Troon looked fantastic. We had dinner at The Rabbit (the hotel restaurant that overlooks the 17th hole of the same name) there after our Troon round and it may have been the best meal of the trip. For our Royal Troon day, we arrived about two hours early for our afternoon time and had a beer and lunch in the clubhouse. We took our time enjoying the views and talking with members and other visitors. We brought a change of clothes (lucky since this was the most rain we got on the trip) and used the locker room to shower and change for dinner. While the South Beach hotel was nice, the showers at Troon were fantastic and much better than the hotel. We then had a post round drink, watched some more golfers finish up, and then headed next door to the Marine for dinner. Absolutely fantastic day!

I’d say you did it right! Well played.