Scotland Golf Itinerary

[McMunch]

Looks like you're pretty much in Fife with the Carnoustie exception. When you're at Carnoustie as Deets mentioned look at Panmure right around the corner. Great history with Ben Hogan and an amazing layout. My favorite course in Scotland.
In Fife also close look at Lundin Links, Leven Links and Elie is super quirky and a lot of fun. You can't go wrong anywhere really...and for what it's worth I loved Kingsbarns and hated the Castle course. Enjoy!

 

[El Rayo X]

Sorry - is something missing? Going to SA and no Old Course?

I would definitely add Cruden Bay - that would be a huge miss.

The only other consideration (with area as a parameter) would be to include Ladybank.

Other than those - great trip.

Cruden Bay may be my favorite of the 7 courses I played in May.
Absolutely beautiful and a good design as well.

 

[huskie]

We went in 2010. Kingsbarn was my favorite over carnoustie by far. Loved the old course for history but man Kingsbarn was awesome

 

[Supersport]

Don’t skip Kingsbarn’s……. Everything else is negotiable.

 

[TheHeez]

Great itinerary; I would just maybe swap out Balcomie for the Castle Course.

I would strongly suggest getting at least a forecaddy for every round - they make the experience much more enjoyable.

I loved Balcomie, super fun course, some great tee shots over water and a nice reprieve after Old and Kingsbarns. Price is right too. They had the best tee gift box..pro tip, the sugar tablet pairs wonderfully with the Kingsbarns whisky.

I think you would be remiss to skip Kingsbarns. It’s like Pebble went full Scottish links and it’s fantastic.

I think the itinerary looks great, just get the Old and you are set! Memories of the Old Course still bring a tear to my eye.

 

[Bad Cog]

Kingsbarns is amazing. Do not skip it!

 

[McMunch]

The Heez reminded me of another cool thing about Scottish golf.
Almost everywhere you go the course thanks you for playing and gives you some little trinket/ keepsake. You usually get a course book and pin sheet for the day everywhere but there was always some other thing to say thanks.

I use the little tin Crail box for mementos. . Other stand outs were the cloth bag, course book and pitch mark fixer at TOC. A wee dram of whiskey meets you at the first tee at Dumbarnie plus a cloth bag with tees and ball marker. Panmure take a picture of you at the Club logo rock and you get an 8 x 10 print when done with your round. Got a nice scorecard holder and ball marker from Kingsbarns. Plus a personalized Kingsbarns bag tag that I'll never take off.

I need to go back.

 

[Deets]

The Heez reminded me of another cool thing about Scottish golf.
Almost everywhere you go the course thanks you for playing and gives you some little trinket/ keepsake. You usually get a course book and pin sheet for the day everywhere but there was always some other thing to say thanks.

I use the little tin Crail box for mementos. . Other stand outs were the cloth bag, course book and pitch mark fixer at TOC. A wee dram of whiskey meets you at the first tee at Dumbarnie plus a cloth bag with tees and ball marker. Panmure take a picture of you at the Club logo rock and you get an 8 x 10 print when done with your round. Got a nice scorecard holder and ball marker from Kingsbarns. Plus a personalized Kingsbarns bag tag that I'll never take off.

I need to go back.

 

[bkuehn1952]

I hope you have a great trip. A guaranteed tee time at the Old Course is so pricey, I would hesitate to plunk down the money. On the other hand, it was exhilarating to tee off on #1 with the crowd of wannabees watching and the starter yelling at a couple with a stroller walking across on Grannie Clark’s Wynd. Hitting over the “railroad shed” on the Road Hole, hitting into the Hell Bunker, photos on the Swilcan bridge, is hard to beat.

I agree with everyone that Kingsbarns is a wonderful course.

I hated Carnoustie but that was probably because I played so poorly there.

The New Course is a solid track and convenient to swap out for the Old if you get lucky. We played it in the afternoon after the Old in the morning.

The Castle is a fun course. I am not familiar with the others as we went to Gleneagles (nice but not must plays).

 

[ClaytonP]

We are planning our fist guy trip to Scotland - specifically the St. Andrews area. This is the proposed golf itinerary from the tour company:

Balcomie Links at Crail Golfing Society
Championship Course at Carnoustie Golf Links
Dumbarnie Links at Dumbarnie Links
Kingsbarns Golf Course at Kingsbarns Golf Links
New Course at St Andrews Links

Should we ask for any substitutions - or is it a pretty solid grouping

7 nights - 5 rounds. Accomodations in St. Andrews. Driver included.

See if you can play both Crail courses in one day. Cost me 110 to play both in one day. They are an easy walk and it even snowed/hailed, and rained all in the same day - windy too. Same with Carnoustie. We finished the Championship Course in 3:31 so you'll have so much time left maybe play one of the other courses too. If I could only play one of the courses at the St. Andrews trust I'd do the Jubilee. It's a really good course. Nothing wrong with the New but that's what I'd do. I also second the idea to do Cruden if you can. I played it 2X in one day and that is one special place. WAY out of the way, however.

I haven't played Kingsbarns or Dumbarnie as they were just really really expensive. Wish I had but my trips were very low budget, except for playing The Old.

 

[JohnnyO3478]

We booked our trip. We got quotes from Hidden Links, Celtic and Golfbreaks. Golfbreaks was the clear winner. Very responsive and helpful. We are booked to be in the St. Andrews area in the latter half of June 2026 - staying in a 4 person cottage and playing:

Crail Balcomie
Elie
Dumbarnie
Kingsbarns and
The New Course

We have a built in off day (Saturday on the current schedule) - and we may try to fill it with an Old Course (via lottery) round - or a round at one of the local parkland courses if we do not luck out.

All in all - the pricing seems reasonable for 7 nights and 5 rounds at $3400ish each. That includes a driver to and from the airport and golf.

Thanks for all the input.

 

[TheHeez]

We booked our trip. We got quotes from Hidden Links, Celtic and Golfbreaks. Golfbreaks was the clear winner. Very responsive and helpful. We are booked to be in the St. Andrews area in the latter half of June 2026 - staying in a 4 person cottage and playing:

Crail Balcomie
Elie
Dumbarnie
Kingsbarns and
The New Course

We have a built in off day (Saturday on the current schedule) - and we may try to fill it with an Old Course (via lottery) round - or a round at one of the local parkland courses if we do not luck out.

All in all - the pricing seems reasonable for 7 nights and 5 rounds at $3400ish each. That includes a driver to and from the airport and golf.

Thanks for all the input.

I would highly recommend doing the 48 hour ballot and the single player lottery for the Old every day. The other courses are very accommodating for successful ballots. Kingsbarns invited us out a day early and made the process very painless.

 

[JohnnyO3478]

I would highly recommend doing the 48 hour ballot and the single player lottery for the Old every day. The other courses are very accommodating for successful ballots. Kingsbarns invited us out a day early and made the process very painless.

Yeah - that's already in the plan. The Golfbreaks guy said he will help us with all that and make all the adjustments if successful.

 

[Deets]

We booked our trip. We got quotes from Hidden Links, Celtic and Golfbreaks. Golfbreaks was the clear winner. Very responsive and helpful. We are booked to be in the St. Andrews area in the latter half of June 2026 - staying in a 4 person cottage and playing:

Crail Balcomie
Elie
Dumbarnie
Kingsbarns and
The New Course

We have a built in off day (Saturday on the current schedule) - and we may try to fill it with an Old Course (via lottery) round - or a round at one of the local parkland courses if we do not luck out.

All in all - the pricing seems reasonable for 7 nights and 5 rounds at $3400ish each. That includes a driver to and from the airport and golf.

Thanks for all the input.

AWESOME!!!! You won't have a problem finding a place to golf on your off day @ St. Andrews with Jubilee and Castle right there. From here on out not a day will not go by where you don't think about your trip. If this happens we can do this or if that happens with can do this. As someone already mentioned, the Daily Ballot is your BEST friend. Do it every day before 5 pm, regardless of where you are playing the next day. This doesn't need to be said but I'll say it anyway, this is going to be so unforgettable for you and your friends!!!! Can't wait to see pictures.

 

[Leftyuk]

Where and when do you fly in and out? If you are going through Edinburgh, then you might sneak a round in Edinburgh, Gullane No 1

 

[JohnnyO3478]

Where and when do you fly in and out? If you are going through Edinburgh, then you might sneak a round in Edinburgh, Gullane No 1

We have not made flight arrangements yet - but surely Edinburgh. Arrive on Tue 6/16/26. Staying 7 nights.

 

[G-Man]

We are planning our fist guy trip to Scotland - specifically the St. Andrews area. This is the proposed golf itinerary from the tour company:

Balcomie Links at Crail Golfing Society
Championship Course at Carnoustie Golf Links
Dumbarnie Links at Dumbarnie Links
Kingsbarns Golf Course at Kingsbarns Golf Links
New Course at St Andrews Links

Should we ask for any substitutions - or is it a pretty solid grouping

7 nights - 5 rounds. Accomodations in St. Andrews. Driver included.

I played balcomie links, Dumbarnie and those are great courses to enjoy. Kingsbarns is top tier.

If I go back I'd play New and make a trip to carnoustie.

Check out my recap but have so much fun and buy some parting gifts at each.

 

[G-Man]

 

[G-Man]

Cheers to you... In your honor I'll have some Balcomie whisky....

 

[ClaytonP]

Where and when do you fly in and out? If you are going through Edinburgh, then you might sneak a round in Edinburgh, Gullane No 1

Didn't they recently remove the public play at Gullane? Maybe I'm thinking of another course near there...

 

[Deets]

Didn't they recently remove the public play at Gullane? Maybe I'm thinking of another course near there...

I played Gullane #1 & 2 this past April. Are you thinking of the The Renaissance Club? Although they have recently went to what they are calling a "one time experience". You can play it once in your lifetime.

 

[ClaytonP]

I played Gullane #1 & 2 this past April. Are you thinking of the The Renaissance Club? Although they have recently went to what they are calling a "one time experience". You can play it once in your lifetime.

I believe the change begins in the 2025 season. Probably says on the website.

 

[ClaytonP]

I played Gullane #1 & 2 this past April. Are you thinking of the The Renaissance Club? Although they have recently went to what they are calling a "one time experience". You can play it once in your lifetime.

I had it wrong. It’s Elie. From UK Golf Guy on X. “
A bit of Fife golf news. Elie is closing to visitors next summer. No outside bookings are being taken from 14th July to 17th August.

I guess they are making enough green fee revenue at other times so they can afford to restrict visitor play in the summer”

 

[Tee/Ski]

We booked our trip. We got quotes from Hidden Links, Celtic and Golfbreaks. Golfbreaks was the clear winner. Very responsive and helpful. We are booked to be in the St. Andrews area in the latter half of June 2026 - staying in a 4 person cottage and playing:

Crail Balcomie
Elie
Dumbarnie
Kingsbarns and
The New Course

We have a built in off day (Saturday on the current schedule) - and we may try to fill it with an Old Course (via lottery) round - or a round at one of the local parkland courses if we do not luck out.

All in all - the pricing seems reasonable for 7 nights and 5 rounds at $3400ish each. That includes a driver to and from the airport and golf.

Thanks for all the input.

This sounds so awesome!

 

[G-Man]

We are planning our fist guy trip to Scotland - specifically the St. Andrews area. This is the proposed golf itinerary from the tour company:

Balcomie Links at Crail Golfing Society
Championship Course at Carnoustie Golf Links
Dumbarnie Links at Dumbarnie Links
Kingsbarns Golf Course at Kingsbarns Golf Links
New Course at St Andrews Links

Should we ask for any substitutions - or is it a pretty solid grouping

7 nights - 5 rounds. Accomodations in St. Andrews. Driver included.

Let me know if you need restaurants / Bars...

Definitely need to hit these two spots


Jigger Inn
Dunvegan

Lots of good stuff in the small town of St. Andrews!