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Booked 3 weeks holiday in Scotland in August and looking for some tips on what courses to play. My 15 year old is golf daft and I just can't keep up with him so ideally I'll be looking for courses that allow junior non members to play without an accompanying adult.
First 2 weeks we'll be up at Rosemarkie on the Black Isle and then a week at Dunbar before heading home.
Any tips welcome.
Personally I would look at the Glen in North Berwick if your staying in Dunbar (and have transport). Great course and scenery and NB is always a nice place to wander about if your laddie is playing golf.
There's any number of great courses but to some extent, it'll depend on how much you want to spend.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hibrandenburg
For example, North Berwick is a cracking course but it'll cost you £285 for a round there.
The Glen will be about £70.
Gullane which is about 30 minutes from Dunbar, has 3 courses. No1 will be similar to North Berwick, No.2 about half that and No.3 about £70 again.
Fortrose and Rosemarkie is a brilliant links course and it's in the Black Isle. I'd make a point of playing that although it'll be circa £100 unless you can get a deal or a twilight price.
This is why I posted, for some reason this wasn't on my radar. Thanks.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hibee87
Had a look at those Dave and have definitely got Rosemarkie and Fortrose on my list, Rosemarkie in particular is about 150 yard walk from where we're staying and they have reduced prices for juniors, the boy can spend all day on the course as far as I'm concerned.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hibbyradge
I've read Dunbar is worth playing but have never played it myself.
Yes, you'd enjoy Dunbar GC. It's £150 a round during the week.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hibrandenburg
Dunbar is a superb course.
Of the courses in that area, Dunbar is my favourite. They’re all fairly pricey but if money’s no object, you’ll like all of them. If you’re looking for a cheaper deal, Winterfield at the west end of Dunbar is fine. Shorter than the big, more prestigious courses.
I am a member of Dunbar so I am obviously biased but it is a great course and always in great condition.
Far far better course than North Berwick West IMO and at far lesser cost.
I would say in this area that the Glen despite awful first hole and Winterfield are worth playing and at reasonable cost both are a wee bit different with some really good holes
I like the 9 holer at Gifford too
You would be best to book far in advance though at all these courses, accept maybe Winterfield & Gifford, they will be rammed in August
A junior playing isn’t a problem but what may be is their looking to maximise revenue per visitor time by wanting more than 1 player
I would strongly recommend checking in advance
Enjoy!
How far would you be prepared to travel?Quote:
Originally Posted by Hibrandenburg
Roughly what is your budget?
Do you want any suggestions on the route up or will your travelling just be travelling?
What’s the young man’s handicap / what sort of standard of course does he enjoy playing?
Another vote for Dunbar, couple mates members so player a few time always in great condition
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Is that a typical cost for a non member at a decent course in Scotland? Seems incredibly expensiveQuote:
Originally Posted by Hibbyradge
Golf has got ridiculously expensive in recent years.Quote:
Originally Posted by JimBHibees
You can still get a game on less celebrated but still excellent courses for a decent-ish price.
But the fancy ones especially have gone wild. It used to be that you could do one once in a while for a treat but it's now a case of "f that".
For me anyway.
(As an aside - I feel it a bit strange that whilst prices to watch Hibs rocketed during the late 90s/ 00s, prices haven't risen that much in recent years whilst other things have skyrocketed. If the price of a season ticket to watch Hibs had risen at the same rate that the price of a round of golf has risen, for example...)
The likes of N Berwick, Gullane and Dunbar have really costly green fees, partly because they attract well off visitors who are willing to pay these silly prices. In fact it’s often said that Americans won’t play at courses which are reasonably cheap, as they think they’ll be rubbish. Their loss, in my opinion.Quote:
Originally Posted by Smartie
I paid £50 to play Gullane 2 yesterday. I wouldn't pay their silly summer rates now. The Yanks will thoughQuote:
Originally Posted by Jim44
Playing Gullane 3 next week for £30 well worth it!
Tbh for a course of that standard it’s pretty cheap, but people’s idea of what is a decent course will vary from person to person.Quote:
Originally Posted by JimBHibees
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder in so far as how people choose to spend their cash and there are things I would pay significantly for that others would not.
Likewise those others would pay significantly for things I wouldn’t pay a penny for.
Golf on Scotland’s Golf Coast has become very expensive but it purely as a result of supply and demand
There are some great courses in Scotland that can be played for far cheaper but you may need to travel far for them and if you are trying to arrange a golf trip proximity to cost is a consideration.
Having numerous great courses in close proximity drives up the cost of all, even the lesser lights.
I played Silverknowes through most of the summer and surprisingly there was lots of Americans there.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim44
You could always spot them because they ALWAYS had a cart.. and I’ve never seen anyone other than an American in a cart at Silverknowes :greengrin
Gullane 2 and 3 are superb courses in their own right. 3 in particular has always been great value, albeit it’s fairly short for bigger hitters who like a big and long course.Quote:
Originally Posted by BroxburnHibee
They also hold up very well through the winter, in my experience, so those prices are actually very decent.
Almost tempts me to dig the clubs back out…
The links courses always attract folk but I actually really like a lot of the inland courses, which are generally in cracking condition over the summer and much cheaper. Scotland is quite ridiculously well served by a huge number of what are imo very good courses.
A wee plug for my own club here, Peebles. A few weeks ago I was chatting to a Canadian couple who were having an extended (several weeks ) golfing holiday. They had played courses in East Lothian and in the East Neuk of Fife and, while they thoroughly enjoyed them, they genuinely enjoyed their game at Peebles so much that they spent their last week in Peebles and played the course almost every day. While Peebles might not have compared with the big, prestigious links courses, they were struck by the condition of the course, it’s scenic beauty and magnificent views and the interesting variety of holes on the course. Plus of course, value for money.Quote:
Originally Posted by Paulie Walnuts
A lot of course's increased their prices to try to attract visitors!!! With so many Americans coming to Scotland for a golf trip they generally would ignore courses that cost under £100 as they assumed they were not very good. You wont see many decent courses that are part of the usual American tour route for less than £150.Quote:
Originally Posted by JimBHibees
Just seen JIM44's reply who has said the exact same thing
Thanks for all the tips guys, I'm now looking at a couple of overseas membership deals as it looks like it would work out cheaper than paying daily greenfees. Downside is we would be restricted to playing 2 courses, 1 up north and 1 in the Lothians.
Does anyone use the GN app? It looks like you can get some decent deals if you're flexible.
Golf now is good but it’s limited for the popular courses
I'll probably go for a couple of overseas memberships and use GN to add some variety if we feel like it.Quote:
Originally Posted by patch1875
Not read the full thread but of the many golfers on here have any offered to sign the young lad on as a guest and play with him? I know it’s difficult if it’s a work day etc. but if your boy doesn’t mind tagging along with an old duffer he is welcome to play with me at Pumpherston if that’s on your route. Last time I checked it was a tenner for a guest playing with a member might be even less for a junior.
That's a very kind offer Alfie, I never thought of that and might take you up on that if you're around mid August next year. :thumbsup:Quote:
Originally Posted by Alfiembra
You are welcome, when I said old duffer it’s not just age it’s standard of play as well :wink:Quote:
Originally Posted by Hibrandenburg
You might get an affordable deal at the Royal Musselburgh, it will be in good nick in August too [emoji106]
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Pumpherstons a nice course :agree:Quote:
Originally Posted by Alfiembra
Don't worry, he's used to that from a close family member who won't be named. :wink:Quote:
Originally Posted by Alfiembra
Oddly enough, that's the only course he has expressed a specific wish to play. :dunno:Quote:
Originally Posted by gordie18