Question:
<Snipped, text about going to Scotland, and some courses to be played Tuesday June 18th Carnoustie Thursday June 27th Carnoustie
I suggest taking one of those brolly-come-seats you see alot of the marshalls using. As someone who has grown up playing at Carnoustie (the Budden and Burnside course) I have found that the wind gets just a wee bitty strong, and a balancing act during you swing is required. One of these devices might help during the backswing. Lovely courses though, even when the wind is blowing. It lets you try all the shots you wouldn’t normally. — Russell McGinnis, Software Engineer RCP Consultants Ltd. Didcot, UK.
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Things are shaping up nicely for my trip to Scotland this Summer. I’ll be over there about 6 weeks. The first 3 weeks I’ll be traveling with 3 other yanks. Reservations are made, rooms booked, etc.. After they leave, the last 3 weeks are much more flexible. Hopefully I won’t be sleeping in the rental car, but hey, I’ve done it before 
. Anyone in Scotland wants to get together for a round or a few between July 2nd and July 23rd, send me mail. I have some ideas where I want to play, (have to play Machrihanish, but the rest is all up in the air). I’m working on setting up things so I can write a nightly journal and put it on the Web while I’m there. There’s been a few people who have sent me e-mail saying they’d be interested in reading it. I’m working on some sponsorships to make this happen. Wednesday June 12th Depart SFO Thursday June 13th Arrive Edinburgh 3:00 Gullane #2 (heck with jet lag) Friday June 14th Dalmahoy Golf Club "Ryder Cup Day" (The 4 of us yanks playing 4 Scots set up by Saturday June 15th West Links, North Berwick Sunday June 16th Muirfield Monday June 17th Gullane #1 Tuesday June 18th Carnoustie Wednesday June 19th Royal Aberdeen (Balgownie) Thursday June 20th Cruden Bay Friday June 21st Cruden Bay Saturday June 22nd Nairn Sunday June 23rd Old Moray (Lossiemouth) Monday June 24th Royal Dornoch Tuesday June 25th Royal Dornoch Wednesday June 26th OPEN (Maybe Golspie, Brora or Skibo Castle) Thursday June 27th Carnoustie Friday June 28th St. Andrews Old Course Saturday June 29th St. Andrews Old Course Ballot (If it doesn’t work out, maybe Lundin Links or Duke course) Sunday June 30th St Andrews New Course Monday July 1st St. Andrews Old Course Ballot (If it doesn’t work out, maybe Lundin Links or Duke course) Tuesday July 2nd Companions head for Edinburgh and flight home, I try to play the Old Course one last time. Wednesday July 3rd Machrihanish or others in proximity such as Machrie or Donaverty) Thursday July 4th Machrihanish or others in proximity such as Machrie or Donaverty) Friday July 5th Machrihanish or others in proximity such as Machrie or Donaverty) Saturday July 6th Machrihanish or others in proximity such as Machrie or Donaverty) Sunday July 7th Machrihanish or others in proximity such as Machrie or Donaverty) Monday July 8th Machrihanish or others in proximity such as Machrie or Donaverty) Tuesday July 9th Western Gailies, Troon, Prestwick or Turnberry Wednesday July 10th Western Gailies, Troon, Prestwick or Turnberry Thursday July 11th Western Gailies, Troon, Prestwick or Turnberry Friday July 12th Western Gailies, Troon, Prestwick or Turnberry Saturday July 13th Attend Scottish Open at Carnoustie Sunday July 14th Attend Scottish Open at Carnoustie Monday July 15th Braids No#1 and No#2 Tuesday July 16th Whitekirk or Dunbar or maybe West Links at North Berwick Wednesday July 17th Whitekirk or Dunbar or maybe West Links at North Berwick Thursday July 18th Powfoot or Southerness Friday July 19th Attend Open at Royal Lytham & St. Annes Saturday July 20th Attend Open at Royal Lytham & St. Annes Sunday July 21st Attend Open at Royal Lytham & St. Annes Monday July 22nd Somewhere between Royal Lythan & St. Annes and London Tuesday July 23rd Depart from London Dan King ‘Old’ Tom Morris was popular and consistently successful at endearing himself to the owners of the land for a new course by remarking on his arrival that "surely Providence had intended this for a golf links". –David Hamilton
My wife, myself, and another couple were there in Sept. My wife was the high hcp at 12. We were there for a couple of weeks: 13th – Forget Gallane #2, play #1 twice, think twice before you choose your stick on #18. 16th – How did you get a tee time at Murfield? I couldn’t get on. E-mail me 18th? - Carnoustie? Championship course I hope!!!!( If you want souveniers go across the street). SAee a few
Response:
Tuesday July 2nd Companions head for Edinburgh and flight home, I try to play the Old Course one last time. Machrihanish may be more low-key, but I suspect even it has been put on the golfing map from Bamberger’s book.
Its still pretty low key, its so bloody hard to get to (by UK standards) that many people (especially the locals) dont make the long trip down the Mull of Kintyre. (Go to the end and youll see why Paul Mc Cartney wrote that song…just beautiful) If you don’t then I humbly recommend you play some of the small "village courses" off the beaten tourist track. Many are rough around the edges 9 hole tracks where you may not need to tee-off with anything longer than a 3-iron. There’ll be rock boulders and rabbit burrows in the fairways, with sheep dung loose impediments from sheep grazing the courses overnight, deer browsing the forest edgelines, and small, round, simple, shaggy greens that hold well. You’ll pay around 8-15 pounds for an all day pass,
Well said, when my wife and I were touring the UK for 7 weeks last year on a golfing pilgrimage, we stopped on our way back from Dornoch to Glasgow at a little town called Fort Augustus, which had a 9 hole course. Since it was only 7pm we figured we could fit in a quick 9…we ended up whippiong through it so fast we fit in 18 holes beforew darkness. It was a beautiful little 9 hole course set in the most incredible highland scenery. No bunkers, but wall to wall heather off the fairways…much harder than bunkers. Sheep everywhere, on the fairway on the green. It is a surreal experience trying to chip over the back of some sheep to get to the hole. Or driving off to a chorus of baaa’baaa’s. When you play these courses you need to perfect the caroom shot, whiuch I guarentee you will play in very few places. My uncle in Glasgow used this to good effect in one of his matches…. He was about 40 yards from the hole, lying draped around the flagstick was a big ram. His opponent had just hit on about 30 ft from the hole. My uncle carefully selected his 3 iron with which he rammed the ball off the sheep to be about 1 ft from the hole. The flabbergasted opponent tried to convince him he was not allowed to do such a dasterdly thing after he had holed out for birdie. Better get your sheep wedge out Dan. Cheers, Brett
Response:
Need a caddy Dan? Translator? Sounds like a great trip – hope you can find a way to keep us posted. Robbie
Response:
If you have something lined up from the 3rd of July to the 8th with British hosts, that’s a possibility not to be turned down. If you don’t then I humbly recommend you play some of the small "village courses" off the beaten tourist track.
Yeah, that’s a big part of the reason why I’m leaving the last half of my trip up in the air. I want to get out and try some of the courses that don’t show up on everyone elses list. I put down some courses I might play during this time, but that was more for an idea of what portion of the country I’ll probably be in. There are two courses I’m going to make sure I play during this time, Machrihanish and Machrie. The rest, who knows. I’d prefer to play Links courses over parkland courses, because I think that is more a flavor of Scotland than I can get at home. Plus, I just love playing golf near the ocean. I also am interested in some of the courses that influenced many of the architects I know from the U.S. I’d like to see the work of John Sutherland, James Braid, Tom Simpson, George Lowe, Willie Park Sr. and Jr. and Tom Morris. I’m also a Alister MacKenzie fan and I look forward to seeing the designs of the architects whom he worked with such as H.S. Colt, C.S. Alison and J.S.F. Morrison. Almost all worthwhile course architecture ideas originated in Scotland. Plus I’m very excited about going somewhere and seeing golfers walking. I’m sick of seeing golf courses over-run with motorized carts. Dan King The playing fields of the game evolved into what are today called golf courses. The earliest of these playing fields were found on Scottish linksland. The location of linksland, often publicly owned, in a northern latitude where summer daylight hours extended from 3 a.m. to 11 p.m. made it possible for persons other than those of a leisure class to use them. Thus, golf established an early democratic tradition in Scotland. –Geoffrey S. Cornish and Ronald E. Whitten
Response:
Tuesday July 2nd Companions head for Edinburgh and flight home, I try to play the Old Course one last time.
This is an itinerary to drool over! I’m sure I join everyone on r.s.g in the hope that you can arrange sponsorship for daily journal postings from Scotland, Dan. Early July is where you’ve arrived at the heart of your itinerary, you’ve now ditched "the yanks" and are on your own. One major item I noticed in the top section of your plans is that you’re hitting all the "big name" Scottish courses. From my experience at a couple of these courses, for sure they are not to be missed. Your group of yanks though is likely to tee off behind a foursome of Italians and be in front of a group of Japanese, with the car parks full of tour buses and rental cars disgourging people of all nationalities. Machrihanish may be more low-key, but I suspect even it has been put on the golfing map from Bamberger’s book. What I suggest is that you *take your time* getting over to Macrihanish. If you have something lined up from the 3rd of July to the 8th with British hosts, that’s a possibility not to be turned down. If you don’t then I humbly recommend you play some of the small "village courses" off the beaten tourist track. Many are rough around the edges 9 hole tracks where you may not need to tee-off with anything longer than a 3-iron. There’ll be rock boulders and rabbit burrows in the fairways, with sheep dung loose impediments from sheep grazing the courses overnight, deer browsing the forest edgelines, and small, round, simple, shaggy greens that hold well. You’ll pay around 8-15 pounds for an all day pass, and enjoy playing and talking with local golfers who’ve paid 60-90 pounds for their unlimited seasonal passes. You can try up to three of these courses per day. When you find one you like you’ll want to stay there all day. Admittedly, some will be unchallenging and uninspiring tracks. Finding that one perfect hole where your blind tee-shot lies perfectly at the neck of the dogleg with a downhill 8-iron to a small green nestled into the edge of a forest glen will be inspiring. And I guarantee that the simplicity of these courses will put you in touch once again with everything elemental about the origins of the game we love! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Wednesday July 3rd Machrihanish or others in proximity such as Machrie or Donaverty) Thursday July 4th Machrihanish or others in proximity such as Machrie or Donaverty) Friday July 5th Machrihanish or others in proximity such as Machrie or Donaverty) Saturday July 6th Machrihanish or others in proximity such as Machrie or Donaverty) Sunday July 7th Machrihanish or others in proximity such as Machrie or Donaverty) Monday July 8th Machrihanish or others in proximity such as Machrie or Donaverty)
Response:
Things are shaping up nicely for my trip to Scotland this Summer. I’ll be over there about 6 weeks. The first 3 weeks I’ll be traveling with 3 other yanks. Reservations are made, rooms booked, etc.. After they leave, the last 3 weeks are much more flexible. Hopefully I won’t be sleeping in the rental car, but hey, I’ve done it before . Anyone in Scotland wants to get together for a round or a few between July 2nd and July 23rd, send me mail. I have some ideas where I want to play, (have to play Machrihanish, but the rest is all up in the air). I’m working on setting up things so I can write a nightly journal and put it on the Web while I’m there. There’s been a few people who have sent me e-mail saying they’d be interested in reading it. I’m working on some sponsorships to make this happen. Wednesday June 12th Depart SFO Thursday June 13th Arrive Edinburgh 3:00 Gullane #2 (heck with jet lag) Friday June 14th Dalmahoy Golf Club "Ryder Cup Day" (The 4 of us yanks playing 4 Scots set up by Saturday June 15th West Links, North Berwick Sunday June 16th Muirfield Monday June 17th Gullane #1 Tuesday June 18th Carnoustie Wednesday June 19th Royal Aberdeen (Balgownie) Thursday June 20th Cruden Bay Friday June 21st Cruden Bay Saturday June 22nd Nairn Sunday June 23rd Old Moray (Lossiemouth) Monday June 24th Royal Dornoch Tuesday June 25th Royal Dornoch Wednesday June 26th OPEN (Maybe Golspie, Brora or Skibo Castle) Thursday June 27th Carnoustie Friday June 28th St. Andrews Old Course Saturday June 29th St. Andrews Old Course Ballot (If it doesn’t work out, maybe Lundin Links or Duke course) Sunday June 30th St Andrews New Course Monday July 1st St. Andrews Old Course Ballot (If it doesn’t work out, maybe Lundin Links or Duke course) Tuesday July 2nd Companions head for Edinburgh and flight home, I try to play the Old Course one last time. Wednesday July 3rd Machrihanish or others in proximity such as Machrie or Donaverty) Thursday July 4th Machrihanish or others in proximity such as Machrie or Donaverty) Friday July 5th Machrihanish or others in proximity such as Machrie or Donaverty) Saturday July 6th Machrihanish or others in proximity such as Machrie or Donaverty) Sunday July 7th Machrihanish or others in proximity such as Machrie or Donaverty) Monday July 8th Machrihanish or others in proximity such as Machrie or Donaverty) Tuesday July 9th Western Gailies, Troon, Prestwick or Turnberry Wednesday July 10th Western Gailies, Troon, Prestwick or Turnberry Thursday July 11th Western Gailies, Troon, Prestwick or Turnberry Friday July 12th Western Gailies, Troon, Prestwick or Turnberry Saturday July 13th Attend Scottish Open at Carnoustie Sunday July 14th Attend Scottish Open at Carnoustie Monday July 15th Braids No#1 and No#2 Tuesday July 16th Whitekirk or Dunbar or maybe West Links at North Berwick Wednesday July 17th Whitekirk or Dunbar or maybe West Links at North Berwick Thursday July 18th Powfoot or Southerness Friday July 19th Attend Open at Royal Lytham & St. Annes Saturday July 20th Attend Open at Royal Lytham & St. Annes Sunday July 21st Attend Open at Royal Lytham & St. Annes Monday July 22nd Somewhere between Royal Lythan & St. Annes and London Tuesday July 23rd Depart from London Dan King ‘Old’ Tom Morris was popular and consistently successful at endearing himself to the owners of the land for a new course by remarking on his arrival that "surely Providence had intended this for a golf links". –David Hamilton