What golf travel service are you using?

Hidden Links. They've been flexible with our requests and have seemed helpful so far.

Quinn said:

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Hidden Links. They've been flexible with our requests and have seemed helpful so far.

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We are using them also!

Ha me too. My wife goes with me but I'm the only golfer. They're one of the only services I've found that help a single player.

Leaving on our trip this Saturday. Can't wait to get over there!

So my friends and I are planning on a trip (with wives) when we all turn 40 in the spring of 2027, which will likely be Old Course, North Berwick, Carnoustie etc.

But next summer I am going to be going with my wife and in laws to Scotland and think I may go in a handful of days earlier than everyone else and have some solo golf time. We'll be near Loch Lomond, so I think I'd like to visit a bunch of the courses on the western side since I don't think our trip in a couple years will include any of those.

I am thinking:
Machrihanish and possibly Machrihanish Dunes (David McClay Kidd course next door)
Prestwick
Royal Troon
TBD. Maybe Western Gailes... but open to suggestions.

I'd like to get up to the highlands and Royal Dornoch, Nairn, Castle Stuart... but I don't think I want to do all that driving by myself.

Has anyone stayed in the area around Prestwick or Troon? Is it a fun town or dead?

Next time I go to Scotland I am playing Kingsbarns.

Royal Dornoch is amazing, but it is a LONG drive.

If you want an interesting course, and the oldest in the world, go to Musselburgh.

JimbloFisher said:

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Aggie369 said:

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We used Perry Golf this time. Previously we have used Haversham and Baker.

10 days but 2 are travel days

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Any feedback on the two tour companies? Looking to plan a trip, curious if you'd recommend one over the other

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We used Perry golf last year for a Scotland trip.....they were excellent in every aspect.

What does an Old Course tee time cost when booked through a service? $500ish?

Sick!

Kingsbarns is the best we played.

Kingsbarns over Dornoch?

Kingsbarns is certainly more forgiving but man I loved Dornoch

I see you drove through Aberdeen.... didn't stop for Cruden Bay, Trump Aberdeen, or Royal Aberdeen?

AggieDruggist89 said:

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Kingsbarns is the best we played.

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Love Kingsbarns. I will always remember this hole from our trip. One of the guys we were playing in our match went left and his ball rolled literally into the stone wall down off the fairway. I walked up to it first and yelled "oh you're F*****!"

We walked off the 11th green down 5 holes and the 12th here was the start of the comeback!

Absolutely,

Here's my ranking.

A+: Kingsbarns, St. Andrews Castle, par 3 17th perhaps the best I've played

A: Cabot Highlands(Castle Stuart)

B: Royal Dornoch, Nairn, Carnoustie, St Andrews New Course, St. Andrews Jubilee

C: Old Course - mind numbing course.

F: Crail Golfing Society - Balcomie. It's a goat track.

My ranking completely disregards historical importance of the course.. I account for green fees and the quality of golf holes/course for my play and the scenery.

Castle Course is the only one that would make my top 10 list. But will be back to play Troon, Turnberry.. Etc.

Going with my in laws to the UK in May and we're going to be spending a few nights on Loch Lomond. Looks like we'll just have time for one round, so I figured I'd make it a good one and booked Trump Turnberry last night. I'm beyond excited.

Also happy that I'm seemingly slipping in before the price hike that I'd heard about. We're going last week of May and its $360. Starting June 1 its $1000 for non resort guests.

Question for those who've played it: Caddies? Anyone use their rental clubs? Shipsticks quote was $650 so I'll be going rental route.

AggieDruggist89 said:

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Absolutely,

Here's my ranking.

A+: Kingsbarns, St. Andrews Castle, par 3 17th perhaps the best I've played

A: Cabot Highlands(Castle Stuart)



Castle Course is the only one that would make my top 10 list. But will be back to play Troon, Turnberry.. Etc.

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At first I was confused that your top 3 in Scotland were all too young to buy a beer and 2/3 designed by Americans... but then remembered your hot take that you dont like links golf.

Yeah
Kingsbarns and Castle Stuart are open, forgiving, and not super linksy

Itinerary just came back for SW Ireland 2026

11 rounds on 8 different courses

Land in Dublin and play Portmarnoch then head to SW coast

Dooks
Tralee (36)
Old Head
Ballybunion
Waterville (36)
Lahinch
Doonbeg (36)

Adare manor is essentially closed to guests to prep for Ryder Cup in 2027

Aggie369 said:

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Yeah
Kingsbarns and Castle Stuart are open, forgiving, and not super linksy

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St Andrews Castle Course down the street from Kingsbarns.

Same style?

Is that the course up by the fairmont?

Aggie369 said:

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Itinerary just came back for SW Ireland 2026

11 rounds on 8 different courses

Land in Dublin and play Portmarnoch then head to SW coast

Dooks
Tralee (36)
Old Head
Ballybunion
Waterville (36)
Lahinch
Doonbeg (36)

Adare manor is essentially closed to guests to prep for Ryder Cup in 2027

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Doing a shorter version of that trip in June this year. Fly to Shannon
Doonbeg
Lahinch
Tralee
Waterville
Dooks
Ballybunion (36)
Old Head

8 rounds in 7 days.

Aggie369 said:

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Same style?

Is that the course up by the fairmont?

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No, it's right before it.

Fairmont courses are The Kittocks and Torrance Courses and I don't think they're a part of the St. Andrews Golf Links.

Aggie369 said:

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Itinerary just came back for SW Ireland 2026

11 rounds on 8 different courses

Land in Dublin and play Portmarnoch then head to SW coast

Dooks
Tralee (36)
Old Head
Ballybunion
Waterville (36)
Lahinch
Doonbeg (36)

Adare manor is essentially closed to guests to prep for Ryder Cup in 2027

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- Portmarnock is legit. We did it early in our trip and I don't think we appreciated how good it was. So take it all in and know that it might be playing a top tier course right out of the gate. Also had some of the best gear. They've got a great logo. Because it was early I didn't buy a ton of stuff there but wish I'd picked up a couple more things.

- Dooks is fun. It was our last stop so we were pretty wiped when we got there. Very much a muni vibe. If your group doesn't always play side games or goof around, this is a good spot to do it.

- Tralee doesn't have the history of some of the others on your list but it is a FREAKING BLAST. Some of my favorite holes of our entire trip were on this course.

- Ballybunion is a freaking test and a half. VERY difficult to hold greens.

- Lahinch was my favorite of the Ireland trip I took. It's got the history and the vibe, but we all agreed it was much more playable and forgiving than Portmarnock or Ballybunion. Could've been the course setup as well. Also top notch when it comes to gear. The Rampant Goat is iconic.


Jealous you're going to get to Old Head, Waterville, and Doonbeg. All are supposed to be fantastic. I was especially bummed that we didn't get to Waterville. Looks unreal.

I've played a few before (ballybunion, doonbeg, lahinch)

Most excited for Portmarnock, Tralee, and Old Head

Looks like we are going to add The Island and maybe RCD as well because we fly into Dublin

The Island is fun.

If you get an opportunity to play European Club while you're in Dublin just get someone to punch you in the balls a few times. That'll give you the experience but you'll save a little money.

My favorite pic from The Island.

[url=https://ibb.co/YT9TFqb][/url]

went in 2012 and played all of those except Tralle. Haven't been back to Doonbeg since it became a Trump property but loved the course and hotel. Everything there was 1st class. The day I played Old Head was some of the worst weather I've ever played in. Driving rain, wind, then fog on the back 9 so bad we couldn't see the ball past 100 yards. part of the draw is how beautiful it is so missed out on that. Hopefully you have better luck.

Are you basing out of Killarney for the others? Killarney Park Hotel is a great place to stay.