Several friends and I are planning a little trip to the old country for a few rounds of golf. We're going in May of next year and I was wondering if anyone had any advice. Several questions:

1) Did you play the old course? If so, how did you get on (letter, daily ballot, $$ tour).

2) What about the other "rota" courses? Were you successful in getting advanced tee times by writing letters. Did you stay in the Turnberry or Carnoustie hotels to ensure tee times?

3) What where your favorite courses? I want to play Cruden Bay and Dornoch because I believe they'll be my favorite. Others in the group aren't as interested.

4) On the second tier courses, do you feel like a foursome needs an advanced tee time (playing in mid-May).

You must play the Turnberry-Ailsa course(not sure of that spelling). its just awesome. the old course will more than likely take a letter of recommendation. its been about 5 or 6 years since i've been over there. the caddies are awesome at every course there. oh, try to play Carnoustie, and Old Prestwick as well. great tracks. take caddies or else you will get lost on Old Prestwick. at Carnoustie, plan on taking a lot of balls. actually, plan on that number, then double it. its great fun though. the rough is SLIGHTLY thick. i was in there with a caddie, hit the ball 2 ft from the rough, and we LOST it. thats how bad the rough is. enjoy!