Welcome to the golf trip of all golf trips, where we visit some of the finest links in the world, all within a short distance of each other. Get ready to experience the lucky and unlucky breaks from the humps and hollows, bring your imagination (not your 60 degree wedge), and be prepared to putt from 50 yards! This is going to be a hell of a ride – buckle up friends!
Gullane #1
Thursday, September 1st
Tee times 3:04, 3:12, 3:20
Gullane Golf Club was established in 1884 but records of golf being played here go all the way back to the 1600’s so nobody is quite sure of who designed the Gullane No.1 Course. Willie Park Jnr. later added two more courses, Gullane No.2 in 1898 and Gullane No.3 in 1910.
St. Andrews, New Course
Friday, September 2nd
Tee times 11:12, 11:20, 11:28
Bordering the Old, The New Course is regarded by many as the best on the links, with some of the most famous holes in world golf.
After a gentle start, the New has many difficult driving holes, bordered tightly by huge banks of yellow-flowering gorse. Played into the teeth of a strong wind, the par-4 sixth is one of the toughest in St Andrews, while the par-3 ninth which skirts the Eden Estuary is a beast, often requiring a solid 3-wood.
Kingsbarns
Saturday, September 3rd
Tee times 9:40, 9:50, 10:00
Kingsbarns Golf Links is one of the finest golfing experiences around and one of the most picturesque courses you will play.
You and your friends should make this a part of any trip to St Andrews, a visit to Kingsbarns is an essential part of any bucket list Scottish golf break. The most popular option is to stay in one of the great hotels in St Andrews and enjoy the coastal drive on your way to a round of golf you will never forget.
Carnoustie
Sunday, September 4th
Tee times 1:00, 1:10, 1:20
Carnoustie’s storied reputation is among the most well-known in all of golf, as it is considered by many to be the most difficult golf course in the world. However, do not let this fearsome legend put you off, Carnoustie remains a truly spectacular layout, one that should be on the bucket list of every golfer.
Dumbarnie Links
Monday, September 5th
Tee times 10:30, 10:40, 10:50
The golf course at Dumbarnie Links has quickly become one of the most talked-about courses in Scottish golf. Located on the north shore of the Firth of Forth, a mere 9 miles from the centre of St Andrews, the Home of Golf, Dumbarnie Golf Links occupies some of the most revered links turf in the whole of the world.
Muirfield
Tuesday, September 6th
Tee times 8:30, 8:40, 8:50 (4ball) & 2:30, 2:40, 2:50 (alt shot)
Muirfield Golf Club, the home of The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, is entrenched among the elite of world golfing venues, and boasts one of the finest links courses to be found anywhere in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
As one of the most historical golf clubs in the world, the clubhouse is almost that of a museum with golfing traditions that go back over hundreds of years.
St. Andrews, Old Course
Wednesday, September 7th
Play The Old Course at St. Andrews (via ballot or walk-up – not guaranteed). We will enter you each possible day into the ballot that we can while you are in St. Andrews and will work around conflicting golf as needed to accommodate the Old Course. In the absolute worst-case scenario, you would get up early in the morning on your last day in St. Andrews and wait at the starters’ hut. The starter fills out all groups of less than 4 with people standing in line. Here’s a link to a short video interview with the GM of St. Andrews Links that explains the ballot and walkup processes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhKq3uEFdlM.
North Berwick
Thursday, September 8th
Tee times 11:20, 11:30, 11:40
The stunning vistas that North Berwick Golf Club is famous for are clear for all to see from the opening hole, a short par-4 of 342 yards off the white tees, with a green framed by the sea to the 18th hole which encourages you to play towards to the sea to avoid an expensive errant tee-shot to the right-hand side. At just 277 yards the closing hole is a very scorable final test, and as we all know a closing birdie is the best way to enjoy the 19th hole.
After all of this, I am sure we will all look at golf a little differently as we step foot on the parkland courses of our respective nations. Links golf hit’s you differently; it feels different under your feet, it plays different in the air and on the ground, it is different….it’s good for your soul!
The competition…
It has been decided that during our trip we will keep things interesting, and by interesting, I mean we shall run a singles competition for the entire trip, excluding the days we are playing our Ryder Cup event. Below are the details around how we plan to do this, and what’s in it for the winners…
Individual Stableford
- 12 in individual players
- Stableford will be played across; Gullane #1, New Course, Kingsbarns, Carnoustie, Dumbarnie, North Berwick (we will adjust as needed depending on our access to the Old Course)
- Each player will then have their handicap adjusted as per the course rating, and then take 95% of the adjusted handicap as the ‘cap for the day
- We will then play stableford points for every round (it will keep things easy and quick while on the course)
- Each player will have their stableford points marked by someone else in the group
- We do not have to putt everything out, but please be realistic with the gimme’s
- Everyone’s cap will be calculated each day, following the previous day’s submission of score into the respective handicap systems
- Total points scored over the 5 rounds will calculated
- We will play for honor and for fun, and maybe a small trophy
Ryder Cup
- We will play a Ryder Cup event during our time at Muirfield and at North Berwick
- We will play one round of fourball, one round of alt shot, one round of singles
- Ryder Cup matches will be match play, at 95% of adjusted playing handicap
- The team listings are as follows:
- USA
- Andy Luther (Captain)
- Eric Siegel
- Matt Robertson
- Matt Bonica
- Barry Kaye
- Wayne Lanchester
- Europe
- Simon Roberts (Captain)
- Martin Roberts
- Alun Morgan
- David Lovett
- Adam Podzka
- Paul Griffith
- USA
- Each match is worth 1 point, with a half a point going to each team should the match result in a tie after 18 (there will be no playoffs)
- We will draw the Muirfield fourball matches an alt shot matches the night before we go to Muirfield, and then the singles draw will take place back in St. Andrews (at some random bar) the night before the singles matches are due to be played
- Team attire is mandatory, and the captain is to take the responsibility for arranging this
- Ryder Cup matches will not count towards the stableford