Tips for a Scotland Golf Trip...

Save yourself some money and just go to Bandon Dunes.

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just go to Bandon Dunes

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Went to St. Andrews in late August as a single. Waited in the queue and was second out. I think they have changed the process, so you need to do your research. Lucked out on the weather. No rain on any of the three days I played.

Whomever gave Bandon a down vote is just an old curmudgeon.

Been to both St. Andrews and Bandon. For the history and the tradition, there is nothing better than The Old Course. Goosebumps as I walked down to the starter house. Other than 1, 16, 17, and 18. The course is forgettable.
That being said, Bandon is the all-around better golf experience, and I’d fight you for it!

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played Kingsbarn

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FANTASTIC course! My favorite of the three I played.
(Old Coures, Kingsbarns, North Berwick)

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We used Perry Golf They were amazing.

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Thanks, just sent them an email. Edit: Guy called me back almost immediately to talk about it, already liking them.

A travel company I got in touch with yesterday quoted $5,332 for 8 nights (not including travel days) with all accommodations and rounds at Royal Dornoch Championship Course, Cabot Highlands Links, Dumbarnie Links, and the the Old Course. With a backup plan if I can't get on at St Andrews. $3,336 for my wife as a non golfer.

Seems fairly high for the non golfer aspect of it.

I think I'm going to look into a few travel agencies but look into booking myself as well.

I'm not super concerned about playing The Old Course and looks like for singles I'd have to enter the draw the night before anyway. The travel agencies only guarantee a round there if you have a group of four. So many cool courses there I don't think I'll feel like I missed out if I didn't play.

Looks like I could play 3-4 courses on the country side that are better courses, just don't have the history, rent a car and book a hotel and just go have fun. But I really do like the convenience of everything being laid out for me

That would be an epic trip. I assume you would start in St Andrews. The town is great with lots of history and good restaurants. Dornoch and Cabot are around Inverness. The drive through the Cairngorms from St Andrews to Iverness is amazing. It’s where the Scottish highland whiskey is made. You or your wife could also visit Loch Ness which is nearby and beautiful.

Dornoch is amazing. I loved Cabot but some think the greens are too penal. I hate to say it but I didn’t love the old course for whatever reason. I went to Dumbarnie to look around, looked amazing and wanted to play but it was flooding that day so decided against it.

An easier trip that you could easily do yourself, save money and avoid having to drive on the left hand side or rent a car is to go to East Lothian where Muirfield, North Berwick, Gullane 1/2/3, Kilspindie, Dunbar and several other courses are within 10 miles. Stay in Gullane which is a great little town or at the Ducks Inn (recently changed names it appears to The Leddie). Only about 20 minutes by light rail or car from Edinburgh which is a beautiful city with lots to see, wife could do day trips etc.

One thing I would say is that I enjoyed the unheralded links courses like Dunbar and Gullane nearly equally to the famous courses. They are also a lot cheaper. Only problem is no one has heard of them

1, Use Ship Sticks or any other service to have your clubs shipped.
2. Unless you have done so before, hire drivers and stay away from trying to drive on the "wrong side of the road."
3. On sites like this it is all about the golf, but do some sightseeing and exploring, the little towns and natural beauty of the country are amazing and very underrated.
4. If you can, play Carnoustie, please do so. I promise you will understand why it is often called CarNASTY.
5. Because of the historical nature of the Old Couse, it was my favorite, however, Kingsbarns was a very close second.
6. If you can, both North Berwick CC and Kittock are sweet and often unspoken of.
7.The weather is very much like south Louisiana in that it can have many diiferent changes every hour.

Went a few years ago in October. We got there on the Sunday of the Dunhill Links Championship. Awesome to watch then play the Old Course, Kingsbarns, New Course following the tournament. I’m sure Brandon is fantastic, but the history makes the trip for me!