which courses are you going to play ?

I'll have to get the itinerary from my buddy. I know on the last day of the trip we get a draw for 4 of our 8 total to play St. Andrew's. Aside from that, I don't want to derail this great thread. When I get the full list of courses from him I'll post it up for a bit of a discussion.

these are cool BO...i would kill to go on a UK golf trip, i need to try to talk my uncle into doing it because non of my golfing friends will

There probably aren't any bad courses to play, some might just be more memorable than others but that is for each individual to decide. For example, my second favorite course over there is one that few will have heard of. But you definitely want to spend a few days in the town of St. Andrews.

Why do you need accompaniment? It's quite easy to get on the Old Course as a single for openers. Plus on other courses you could get paired up with a local or something which would be a great experience. And I think many hotels charge by the person and not by the room.

BO

Haha, I think a lot of foreign visitors change their mind on Carnoustie once they've played it. Not the easiest course you've ever come across is it?

I'm starting to think about planning a scotland golf trip with my wife, but I have no idea how to get started and which courses discriminate against women and which don't.

10 years ago there were a few courses that did not allow women such as Royal Troon, but I've heard that is no longer the case, not positive though.

While the Old Course doesn't discriminate against gender, they do discriminate against lack of skill. There is a handicap requirement in order to play and it must be displayed when you check in at the starter's hut. None of the other courses at St. Andrews have that requirement however.

BO

FWIW I never had to show proof. They did ask when they went through the line of singles in the morning and told us we'd have to show proof at the starter's hut when we paid, but when I got to the starter he didn't ask for it. But I've heard stories of having to show proof, so to be on the safe side I'd take something with you (and fake it if necessary).

Also, to go along with what Bo said earlier, even if you can't get anyone to go with you to St. Andrews, go anyway. Plenty of b&b's have single rooms, all you have to do to get on the Old Course is show up early (okay, very early) in the morning, and all the other courses I was able to walk on pretty much whenever I wanted. I can't comment about any of the courses outside of St. Andrews, but if you can do a trip, then go, regardless of whether anyone wants to come along.

i played the gleneagles king's course it was very beautiful. I really also liked blairgowrie's two courses as well....

we ended up also playing prestwick...lols windiest day ever, course wasn't in good shape and I may have shot 100 who knows...so i don't have the fondest memories.

Carnoustie I found to be odd, and your descriptions to be spot on. By far the greenest course of all i played that week which were
St. Andrews
Carnoustie
Prestwick
Blairgowrie 2
some municipal course that was crappy (no idea what it was, we got in and planned no golf that day but me and my dad's buddy talked our group into gambling)
King's course at gleneagles.

what's the handicap requirements at Old Course?
can't find the info on the website

http://www.standrews.org.uk/Playing-...w-to-book.aspx

To the right under "How to enter the ballot".

BO

When I think home of golf, I think FAIRWAY MATS: http://www.standrews.org.uk/Playing-...rews/Mats.aspx

WTF

Your link explains why they are used. Did you not like their explanation or do you think that they should close the course during those months?

That does suck and because of such would not play during that time of year. Until very recently, the mats were only used on the Old Course, not sure when it moved to all courses.

This started in late 1999 when the Old Course required fairway mats to eliminate thousands of divots in preparation for the Open Championship in 2000. It worked so well that the Links Trust instituted this policy the following year as well and have sadly continued such every year since. I can certainly understand doing such prior to the Open, but don't think it's necessary the other years.

BO

Yeah that is absurd and would keep me from playing the course.