Does anyone have experience booking a golf trip vacation to Scotland? Do you recommend booking via a package or individually at the courses? We are a bit late to the party in getting into the annual lottery at St. Andrews and it is not a deal breaker if we can't get into the old course (although we would do what is needed to get onto it). Any tips or recommendations would be greatly helpful.

Our plan is to fly into Edinburgh and travel through rental car to Aberdeen and maybe even the Highlands. Planning around June.

With a little work you can book yourself. If you are dead set on playing St. Andrews, you might employ a specialist, but most courses are pretty easy?

How long are you going to be there. Flying into EDI, and then driving up to Aberdeen and then to the Highlands is a lot of travel. I'd pick 1 area and stick with it. Plenty of courses in East Lothian or the Highlands or the West Coast to spend an extended period.

Planning on being there 7 nights. Yeah, I agree that the Highlands may be a bit of a stretch.

Ive booked thru a service and Ive also been on a trip that my dad booked all of the golf and lodging.

Once you go and have a driver its hard to go back!

Im happy to share my email if you'd like some detailed info.

garym2001 said:

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With a little work you can book yourself. If you are dead set on playing St. Andrews, you might employ a specialist, but most courses are pretty easy?

How long are you going to be there. Flying into EDI, and then driving up to Aberdeen and then to the Highlands is a lot of travel. I'd pick 1 area and stick with it. Plenty of courses in East Lothian or the Highlands or the West Coast to spend an extended period.

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I disagree on the travel. I did a trip that included west coast, the Highlands, Aberdeen then Carnoustie which is just outside Fife. Its doable, just depends on where you want to play. If this is a once-in-a-lifetime trip do all you can. If you are going back you can be more selective.

you can do it all. i did scotland, northern ireland and western ireland in one trip. that was much more than going up to the highlands.

Good luck with St. Andrews......it's a tough one to get on.

Dgrimesag92 said:

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Good luck with St. Andrews......it's a tough one to get on.

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Thats a benefit of using a travel company like Haversham & Baker or Perry Golf. Its too late to get on The Old Course for 2020 but Im sure you will be good for 2021.

If this is a once in a lifetime trip, I'd suggest flying into EDI and playing for 3-4 days in East Lothian/Fife. Then Drive 2.5 hours over to Ayershire and play 3-4 days and then fly out of Glasgow. Trying to squeeze in the Highlands is too much for 7 days. You could plan an entire trip and stay up there the entire time.

East Lothian/Fife- St Andrews (Old, New Castle), Kingsbarns, Muirfield (AM & PM), North Berwick
Ayershire- Royal Troon, Turnberry, Prestwick, Western Gailes, Dundonald

The best golf money I ever spent was getting a "coach and driver" on our most recent European trip.

I think it was something like 250 per person (6 guys in a Mercedes sprinter). Made the trip!

I would do a service. They are able to get better tee times and they will set ur schedule to maximize golf time and minimize drive times. Also a lot of courses dont allow play every day and you wont be guaranteed a caddie either.

I've done both and you will save some money but I dont think it's worth the extra $$ saved.

If you're willing to get up early, it isn't too difficult to get on. I got on this summer going that route.

How many of you are there? I was able to get one of my buddies and I on at St. Andrews, together, by getting to the club house around 4 am.

Guys, really appreciate all the feedback. It's just me and my Dad so hopefully this makes it easier to get into the Old Course if we don't go through a service.

I don't know if it's been mentioned but if you have two you can do the lottery 48 hours before the day you want to play.

I'm currently planning a trip with Pioneer Golf and am really happy with their services.

Pioneer Golf trips and packages to Scotland, Ireland, England ...https://www.pioneergolf.com

Yeah this can be your best bet, but you have to have at least 2 players. Singles this doesn't work.

When I played there I got lucky that the weather was lousy, showed up as a single at 7 and played at 10

I have a little specialist knowledge....I lived in Edinburgh for six years.

I have never paid anyone to get me on the Old Course. You can try the ballot on the day before. This works well up until the end of May and then it gets crowded. You can always go to the caddie house and put your name on the waiting list. The first time that I played St Andrews, you had to wait around. The last trip over there in 2015, the caddie master told us to come back at 5:00pm and check with him. Sure enough, they got us on the course. And yes, you have plenty of sunshine in the middle of June to get 18 holes in after 5:00pm.

If you absolutely have to have certainty of time and date when you'll get on the Old Course, then you might want to use one of the services.

The last time that I made a trip over to Scotland was for golf in 2015. My golf buddy always wanted to go, so I put together an itinerary. I had tee times at Carnoustie, Turnberry, Kingsbarns and Gleneagles booked ahead and let the rest float. We ended up playing the Prince's Course, The New Course, The Old Course and Crail. We also played Bruntsfield in Edinburgh with a friend of mine who is a member there.

For accommodation, I booked a short-term flat 2 blocks from the first tee at the Old Course through these people: Fife Cottages.

The total cost for this little adventure was $4,900 per man. That includes airfare and rental car.

oldflyer said:

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I have a little specialist knowledge....I lived in Edinburgh for six years.

I have never paid anyone to get me on the Old Course. You can try the ballot on the day before. This works well up until the end of May and then it gets crowded. You can always go to the caddie house and put your name on the waiting list. The first time that I played St Andrews, you had to wait around. The last trip over there in 2015, the caddie master told us to come back at 5:00pm and check with him. Sure enough, they got us on the course. And yes, you have plenty of sunshine in the middle of June to get 18 holes in after 5:00pm.

If you absolutely have to have certainty of time and date when you'll get on the Old Course, then you might want to use one of the services.

The last time that I made a trip over to Scotland was for golf in 2015. My golf buddy always wanted to go, so I put together an itinerary. I had tee times at Carnoustie, Turnberry, Kingsbarns and Gleneagles booked ahead and let the rest float. We ended up playing the Prince's Course, The New Course, The Old Course and Crail. We also played Bruntsfield in Edinburgh with a friend of mine who is a member there.

For accommodation, I booked a short-term flat 2 blocks from the first tee at the Old Course through these people: Fife Cottages.

The total cost for this little adventure was $4,900 per man. That includes airfare and rental car.

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Can I be your friend

Rustys-Beef-o-Reeno said:

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oldflyer said:

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I have a little specialist knowledge....I lived in Edinburgh for six years.

I have never paid anyone to get me on the Old Course. You can try the ballot on the day before. This works well up until the end of May and then it gets crowded. You can always go to the caddie house and put your name on the waiting list. The first time that I played St Andrews, you had to wait around. The last trip over there in 2015, the caddie master told us to come back at 5:00pm and check with him. Sure enough, they got us on the course. And yes, you have plenty of sunshine in the middle of June to get 18 holes in after 5:00pm.

If you absolutely have to have certainty of time and date when you'll get on the Old Course, then you might want to use one of the services.

The last time that I made a trip over to Scotland was for golf in 2015. My golf buddy always wanted to go, so I put together an itinerary. I had tee times at Carnoustie, Turnberry, Kingsbarns and Gleneagles booked ahead and let the rest float. We ended up playing the Prince's Course, The New Course, The Old Course and Crail. We also played Bruntsfield in Edinburgh with a friend of mine who is a member there.

For accommodation, I booked a short-term flat 2 blocks from the first tee at the Old Course through these people: Fife Cottages.

The total cost for this little adventure was $4,900 per man. That includes airfare and rental car.

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Can I be your friend

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Yes, but I'm planning on going to Ireland the next time!