2025 St. Andrews trip planning, looking for advice

[mshills]

IIRC there is a mass notification on Oct. 22 

[Yoshifan151]

@Poor Mans Ty Webb @mshills hoping we all get a good news email on the 22nd!

[Cincy_Ken]

I was notified Friday that our application was accepted for May 2025.  Trying to build out a trip and it seems we're behind.  Courses with online availability look full but all have email contacts; am I best to contact them via email.  Are we best to AirBNB in Fife and concentrate in that area.  Really just trying to find out about where to start aside from our times we have at old course and castle course.

[ALTSean]

2 minutes ago, Cincy_Ken said:

I was notified Friday that our application was accepted for May 2025.  Trying to build out a trip and it seems we're behind.  Courses with online availability look full but all have email contacts; am I best to contact them via email.  Are we best to AirBNB in Fife and concentrate in that area.  Really just trying to find out about where to start aside from our times we have at old course and castle course.

 

We stayed at 5 Pilmour Place last summer in August and it was great. It's less than 100 yds to the 18th green at TOC and it's a smaller B&B with ~8 rooms and daily breakfast.

 

Check their availability on booking.com:

 

https://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/five-pilmour-place.html?aid=311088&label=five-pilmour-place-zrqQIMhF0_V3Y78UgBKC3AS466272917470%3Apl%3Ata%3Ap1%3Ap2%3Aac%3Aap%3Aneg%3Afi%3Atikwd-11793891788%3Alp9008123%3Ali%3Adec%3Adm%3Appccp%3DUmFuZG9tSVYkc2RlIyh9YcUc3ZfdbbfEjx46svoSs2o&sid=03468e7571bd2eeb4e7e9c705d48ffa1&dest_id=-2606781;dest_type=city;dist=0;group_adults=2;group_children=0;hapos=1;hpos=1;no_rooms=1;req_adults=2;req_children=0;room1=A%2CA;sb_price_type=total;sr_order=popularity;srepoch=1728322493;srpvid=db407b9b745a04fd;type=total;ucfs=1&

 

 

[italianstallion]

My wife and I stayed here and we both thought it was absolutely fantastic. 
 

https://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/beautiful-property-in-a-fantastic-location.html?aid=318615&label=New_English_EN_FL%3A_Florida_23537581825-bBXid_y1Bc5T4w9deIIT1gSM217272425162%3Apl%3Ata%3Ap1%3Ap2%3Aac%3Aap%3Aneg%3Afi%3Atidsa-64415224945%3Alp9011779%3Ali%3Adem%3Adm&sid=5bcc29666dc25a9159b6688f29fdf050&checkin=2025-04-18;checkout=2025-04-20;dest_id=-2606781;dest_type=city;dist=0;group_adults=1;group_children=0;hapos=1;hpos=1;no_rooms=1;req_adults=1;req_children=0;room1=A;sb_price_type=total;soh=1;sr_order=popularity;srepoch=1728345978;srpvid=3e4600baf81e0414;type=total;ucfs=1&

[Messma]

My family stayed at 10a Pilmour Links this summer, and we absolutely loved it. Can’t recommend it highly enough. 

[scott_Donald]

I know of two amazing 2 bedroom places in St Andrews, both amazing locations and the second one gets finished renovating this week; the owner is awesome.

 

On a side note, book direct you save the owner money and yourself. booking.com takes 17%, Airbnb 16% and so on.

[ahelix]

Sorry OP, gonna jump on this bandwagon.

 

How does this look for a 4-day stretch? 

1. Carnoustie

2. North Berwick

3. Castle course

4. TOC

 

Muirfield fully booked.

 

Was trying to minimize long drives and there's plenty in this one region as it is.

[ALTSean]

48 minutes ago, ahelix said:

Sorry OP, gonna jump on this bandwagon.

 

How does this look for a 4-day stretch? 

1. Carnoustie

2. North Berwick

3. Castle course

4. TOC

 

Muirfield fully booked.

 

Was trying to minimize long drives and there's plenty in this one region as it is.

Skip the Castle course and play 18-36 at Crail or 18-36 at Lundin & Leven.

 

[tad950]

On 10/7/2024 at 10:36 AM, ALTSean said:

 

We stayed at 5 Pilmour Place last summer in August and it was great. It's less than 100 yds to the 18th green at TOC and it's a smaller B&B with ~8 rooms and daily breakfast.

 

Check their availability on booking.com:

 

https://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/five-pilmour-place.html?aid=311088&label=five-pilmour-place-zrqQIMhF0_V3Y78UgBKC3AS466272917470%3Apl%3Ata%3Ap1%3Ap2%3Aac%3Aap%3Aneg%3Afi%3Atikwd-11793891788%3Alp9008123%3Ali%3Adec%3Adm%3Appccp%3DUmFuZG9tSVYkc2RlIyh9YcUc3ZfdbbfEjx46svoSs2o&sid=03468e7571bd2eeb4e7e9c705d48ffa1&dest_id=-2606781;dest_type=city;dist=0;group_adults=2;group_children=0;hapos=1;hpos=1;no_rooms=1;req_adults=2;req_children=0;room1=A%2CA;sb_price_type=total;sr_order=popularity;srepoch=1728322493;srpvid=db407b9b745a04fd;type=total;ucfs=1&

 

 

I stayed there this past June. Great location. My room was tiny, and the walls were a little thin, but the price, and their staff was terrific. I believe the Dunvegan is their sister property next door. So their historic pub is just a few steps away! 

[ahelix]

@ALTSean, I don't know if I can skip The Castle course because it's part of the "Swilcan package" that got me a tee time at TOC.

 

I now have times for 

1. Carnoustie

2. North Berwick

3. Castle course

4. Kingsbairns

5. TOC

 

I can either add Trump Turnberry (maybe just 36 at Ailsa) or Lundin & leven 36. (No times at Crail for when I'm there). Royal Troon MIGHT be doable but I might have to shuffle my other times to accommodate.

 

Thoughts??

[ALTSean]

52 minutes ago, ahelix said:

@ALTSean, I don't know if I can skip The Castle course because it's part of the "Swilcan package" that got me a tee time at TOC.

 

I now have times for 

1. Carnoustie

2. North Berwick

3. Castle course

4. Kingsbairns

5. TOC

 

I can either add Trump Turnberry (maybe just 36 at Ailsa) or Lundin & leven 36. (No times at Crail for when I'm there). Royal Troon MIGHT be doable but I might have to shuffle my other times to accommodate.

 

Thoughts??

Any availability at Elie?

[ahelix]

12 hours ago, ALTSean said:

Elie

Yes! But kind of mid or late in the day. Might try to find a less popular spot nearby to play in the morning on the same day. 

[Poor Mans Ty Webb]

13 hours ago, ahelix said:

I now have times for 

1. Carnoustie

2. North Berwick

3. Castle course

4. Kingsbairns

5. TOC

 

I can either add Trump Turnberry (maybe just 36 at Ailsa) or Lundin & leven 36. (No times at Crail for when I'm there). Royal Troon MIGHT be doable but I might have to shuffle my other times to accommodate.

 

Thoughts??

 

Links golf is links golf, and if I were in your shoes I'd look to stay close to the Fife area just to minimize travel (versus trying to get all the way out to Troon, for example), although I'd be curious where this "extra" course fits into your itinerary.  Just give serious consideration to some of the "lesser known" links courses.  You're doing yourself a disservice if you overlook some of the hidden gems.  If you're in St. A's, New, Jubilee, and Eden are all worth playing....Monifieth and Arbroath in the Carnoustie area...Dumbarnie right on the Fife coast...A million good options near N. Berwick...

[ALTSean]

44 minutes ago, ahelix said:

Yes! But kind of mid or late in the day. Might try to find a less popular spot nearby to play in the morning on the same day. 

 

You could do a morning 18 at either Lundin or Leven and then drive ~15 minutes to Elie for an afternoon 18.

 

[Bsarosi]

14 hours ago, ahelix said:

@ALTSean, I don't know if I can skip The Castle course because it's part of the "Swilcan package" that got me a tee time at TOC.

 

I now have times for 

1. Carnoustie

2. North Berwick

3. Castle course

4. Kingsbairns

5. TOC

 

I can either add Trump Turnberry (maybe just 36 at Ailsa) or Lundin & leven 36. (No times at Crail for when I'm there). Royal Troon MIGHT be doable but I might have to shuffle my other times to accommodate.

 

Thoughts??

 

You'll be zig-zagging a bit the first few days (maybe switch Carnoustie/North Berwick, if possible?) but I assume you're aware and have made accommodations to minimize the commuting as much as possible.

[kevinricci]

ahelix, have you checked driving time from St. Andrew’s to some of the courses that you asked about? Even with long days it would be tough to Turnberry or Troon, play 36 then get back home. Not to mention wear and tear on your body.

[ahelix]

@Bsarosi and @kevinricci: you guys are totally right. i've checked on the driving times... that's why i think we'll prob just skip turnbery/troon. 

 

thinking i might cancel berwick because it's so out of the way from everything else we're checking out. great suggestions of filling in with other st andrews courses, lundin & leven, elie, or dumbarnie.

 

given the limited availability of tee times at some of the more popular spots, i just prioritized getting times first. 

Edited October 16, 2024 by ahelix

[scott_Donald]

St Andrews is still busy today even in heavy rain. Collegiate was good to see the finish…

 

 

but yes Scotland is slow to get about… north Berwick is great fun though so might be worth it; drive down early, morning on royal mile in Edinburgh, play golf in north Berwick after lunch, eat at Bonnie badger in Gullane, drive back to St Andrews and that would be a great day.

[hammergolf]

On 10/7/2024 at 12:32 PM, Cincy_Ken said:

I was notified Friday that our application was accepted for May 2025.  Trying to build out a trip and it seems we're behind.  Courses with online availability look full but all have email contacts; am I best to contact them via email.  Are we best to AirBNB in Fife and concentrate in that area.  Really just trying to find out about where to start aside from our times we have at old course and castle course.

Congrats! 

[tad950]

8 hours ago, scott_Donald said:

St Andrews is still busy today even in heavy rain. Collegiate was good to see the finish…

 

 

but yes Scotland is slow to get about… north Berwick is great fun though so might be worth it; drive down early, morning on royal mile in Edinburgh, play golf in north Berwick after lunch, eat at Bonnie badger in Gullane, drive back to St Andrews and that would be a great day.

I agree. Some of the holes at North Berwick are pretty unique,

 

[JungleJimbo]

9 hours ago, scott_Donald said:

St Andrews is still busy today even in heavy rain. Collegiate was good to see the finish…

 

 

but yes Scotland is slow to get about… north Berwick is great fun though so might be worth it; drive down early, morning on royal mile in Edinburgh, play golf in north Berwick after lunch, eat at Bonnie badger in Gullane, drive back to St Andrews and that would be a great day.

 

The collegiate players were persuaded to try the haggis, at the turnaround / packed lunch ...

 

Somehow, it got the Mike Myers 'So... I Marrried an axe murderer" comedy into my memory

w.r.t. "Harriett... hard hearted harbinger of haggis"

 

 

 

 

 

 

[El Gringo]

13 hours ago, ahelix said:

@Bsarosi and @kevinricci: you guys are totally right. i've checked on the driving times... that's why i think we'll prob just skip turnbery/troon. 

 

thinking i might cancel berwick because it's so out of the way from everything else we're checking out. great suggestions of filling in with other st andrews courses, lundin & leven, elie, or dumbarnie.

 

given the limited availability of tee times at some of the more popular spots, i just prioritized getting times first. 

I would strongly suggest you play Gleneagles Kings. Loads of people overlook it while in St Andrews. It is one of the best courses in Scotland.

[Yoshifan151]

Welp, no luck with an advanced TOC tee time, gotta get lucky with the 2 day or singles ballot when I'm over there. At least if I can get on one of those ways I'll be saving like $200+ vs the Swilcan package. 

[mshills]

Deee-nied here too. Bummer. 😕

[Yoshifan151]

I've secured times at Elie, Panmure, and Crail Balcomie!

 

As for the 2 day and singles TOC ballot, if I luck out on those, is there a good chance I'll be able to fill in a round at one of the other courses later in the day? I assume they'll have some openings but I'm wondering if it's better to just secure a time. Obviously I want to get on TOC and have the most chances possible but don't want to just sit around all day if other courses have no openings... Any advice or people with experience doing this would be appreciated!

[Messma]

5 minutes ago, Yoshifan151 said:

I've secured times at Elie, Panmure, and Crail Balcomie!

 

As for the 2 day and singles TOC ballot, if I luck out on those, is there a good chance I'll be able to fill in a round at one of the other courses later in the day? I assume they'll have some openings but I'm wondering if it's better to just secure a time. Obviously I want to get on TOC and have the most chances possible but don't want to just sit around all day if other courses have no openings... Any advice or people with experience doing this would be appreciated!

My understanding is they at least keep some times open at the other courses. When I was there this summer, I was walking around in the morning (around 7ish) and the first tee at the New Course was open. The starter said I could go off if I’d like, but unfortunately I couldn’t. I’m not sure what it is like in the afternoon though. 

[mshills]

@scott_Donald one of these days you’ll see me on #1 tee at TOC. I’m easy to spot, look for the guy playing with one arm.

 

I will get there to play.  This game is a gift that’s been given back to me and I’m going to get there, but 2025 is not looking real good. 

 

Hope those of y’all on here who are selected have a bucket list experience and please post pics, videos, and anything else to share the day!  👍

[hammergolf]

Wah wah, denied….. 

[flognut]

sadly, i have been denied also.