Running Scotland Trip report…

[MongoSmash]

Who doesn’t love a good trip report….😁

 

yesterday was day 1. I played/survived Gullane 1. 
Jet lag, 30mph+ winds, rain, and deceptively thick rough made it a challenge! I would love to have a crack at it on a more normal day. 
 

There are some holes here I would put up against any in the world. Beautiful views and strategy. Nice elevation change. You HAVE to be accurate. I lost several balls that were within 5 yards of the fairway. We would see it down, and then not be able to find it. 🤦‍♂️ frustrating. I ran into a nice member, and he said they were letting it grow high/thick for a tournament coming up. 
are some pics. My lovely wife soldiered the walk with us. Apologies on format of pics. I need lessons on how to post them. Some upside down. 🤷‍♂️

[jatrain]

Love a trip report, keep it going!  I recommend the Main Course in Gullane for dinner, it was very good.  

[hammergolf]

9 hours ago, MongoSmash said:

Who doesn’t love a good trip report….😁

 

yesterday was day 1. I played/survived Gullane 1. 
Jet lag, 30mph+ winds, rain, and deceptively thick rough made it a challenge! I would love to have a crack at it on a more normal day. 
 

There are some holes here I would put up against any in the world. Beautiful views and strategy. Nice elevation change. You HAVE to be accurate. I lost several balls that were within 5 yards of the fairway. We would see it down, and then not be able to find it. 🤦‍♂️ frustrating. I ran into a nice member, and he said they were letting it grow high/thick for a tournament coming up. 
are some pics. My lovely wife soldiered the walk with us. Apologies on format of pics. I need lessons on how to post them. Some upside down. 🤷‍♂️

Perfect day! 

[MongoSmash]

Round 2 in the books at N Berwick!

 

Gullane 1 and N Berwick are only a few miles apart, but their personalities are so different! Gullane had large elevation changes and smooth fairways. N Berwick is a fairly flat piece of land, but the fairways and greens are rumpled beauty. Both courses had lovely views; Gullane more hilltop/far seeing views, NB was closer to the water. 
We had much better weather today; no rain, and only 10-15 mph winds. 
 

You really have to be on your game early, as the first 8 play into the wind (my tee game was not), then thankfully the last 9 play downwind, and the views and greens get even better. 😁

 

Comparing the 2 courses would be like comparing apples and oranges. 
We had fun. I’ve seen 3 pro’s around, and Iona. 

[MongoSmash]

Update from Kingsbarns!

 

A new Heavyweight contender has entered my top 5 best courses. Kingsbarns was incredible. The views, the strategy off the tee. Simply awesome. 
Small gripes…there were a LOT of gnats near clubhouse, driving range, and 1/18. The gnats migrated inside the dining area too. 😬

skip the clubhouse food. My wife had the worst Club Sandwhich ever. 
 

Overall, it is a highly recommend. If the dang green fee was a bit lower, it might be my number 1 (including value in the equation).

[MongoSmash]

Update from Crail (Balcomie).

 

Crail is a lovely course. Quite a few short par 4s, but also a few long ones. 2 of the par 3s were very long. 
It has what I envisioned for typical old links charm/quirks. 
also, great views. It is very close to Kingsbarns and Castle course…so killer views. 
 

I enjoyed it, and it was a great change of pace to the bigger and Open rota courses. 

[MongoSmash]

Also, random thoughts comparing towns…

 

the area containing Gullane, Renaissance, North Berwick, Muirfield is so quaint, quiet, peacful. 
 

st Andrews is a bustling hub in comparison. 
 

it’s a double edged sword; There weren’t a lot of dining options around N Berwick (especially on a Monday Tuesday). But I did love the slower pace/less people. 
 

there seems to be a lot more dining/shopping options around St Andrews, but a LOT more people. 

Edited July 11 by MongoSmash
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[MongoSmash]

I played the Castle Course today. 
I heard the greens were crazy and difficult, but I thought the driving was the most difficult. For a modern course, there were a lot of blind/semi-blind tee shots. There were lots of mounds, bunkers, and rough. 
I played the back nine with a New course member. He said the Caslte is the toughest in his opinion. 
 

the stretch of 6-9, and 16-18 were great. 
 

I kinda wish I would have had a caddy for strategy/advice off the tee. 

[MongoSmash]

[Yrrdead]

Love this , hammering out details for my own trip Sep 2026. 

 

Edit- my wife will be going as well, has she been playing or just walking with you ? 

Edited July 11 by Yrrdead

[MongoSmash]

Just walking. All the courses are totally cool with it, and no additional cost

[TBD203]

If you don't need your clubs a day or two after you get home (I was planning to play so checked them), and are going through Heathrow I would really suggest shipping them. I am now waiting for my clubs to get to me as they were left in London... and have a 4 day tournament Thursday. Fun times.

[hammergolf]

1 hour ago, TBD203 said:

If you don't need your clubs a day or two after you get home (I was planning to play so checked them), and are going through Heathrow I would really suggest shipping them. I am now waiting for my clubs to get to me as they were left in London... and have a 4 day tournament Thursday. Fun times.

That sucks, but not surprising. Heathrow is famous for “misplacing” golfers clubs. I NEVER connect through Heathrow with my clubs. I don’t care how much cheaper a flight may be, it’s not worth it if you can’t get your clubs. 

[MongoSmash]

Round 6 update from Western Gailes…

 

western Gailes is tough! Lots of awkward tee shots with bunkers, mounds, and deep rough. The green complexes don’t let up either; lots of deep bunkers and creeks. 
 

some very nice views, but not as many as Crail, kingsbarns, Castle, N Berwick, Gullane. 
 

I would only recommend it to single digit players. I am a 10, and felt a bit bludgeoned. 😝

[El Gringo]

Western Gailes specialises in cross winds. On the front nine holes leg left against left to right wind. It’s the opposite on the back nine. Not my favourite course, but it will test  your driving skills. 

[buckI]

I really enjoyed Western Gailes.    Doesn’t get the love given it’s neighboring courses but tough track.   I agree the winds can play havoc.

[hammergolf]

2 hours ago, El Gringo said:

Western Gailes specialises in cross winds. On the front nine holes leg left against left to right wind. It’s the opposite on the back nine. Not my favourite course, but it will test  your driving skills. 

If you’re not driving it good, Western is TOUGH. 

[MongoSmash]

Ended the trip with a bang! Turnberry in heavy winds. 😁😬

 

The starter informed us since there was virtually no play for the last 9 months, and a wet winter…the rough was up! Combine that with heavy winds, and the into the wind holes were almost unplayable for this mortal. 🤦‍♂️

 

Turnberry would be a challenge on a calm wind day, with those winds it was tough tough tough! The challenge off the tee was just tight fairways lined with thick rough, and some strategically placed bunkers. The green complexes had MANY deep bunkers. 
 

the views were spectacular!

 

i think if I were a low single figure player, this would have been my favorite course to of the trip, but the difficulty brings it lower on my “favorites” list. 
 

other things to know…the only water is at the halfway point!!! Nobody informed me of this, and I ran out of water on 13. Kind of unacceptable to not have coolers out on 4 and 14 when you charge what they charge. It would be so easy. 
 

No more golf for this trip. Back to reality tomorrow. I’ll post a final thoughts, wrap up, and ranking. 😝

[MongoSmash]

trip wrap up. I’ll try not to rehash anything said above. I’ll provide rankings as well. All of these courses were in very good to great shape, and all were great settings…

 

1. Kingsbarns. Friendly enough for a double digit cap, stern enough for a good player. Great views, great strategy. 
2. Turnberry. Too tough a test for me I think. A better player MIGHT have it ranked 1. I would love to play it on a calmer day. 
3. N Berwick. Beautiful land movement and greens. Nice strategy. Better views than a I thought. 
4. Crail. Tough to slot it here (ahead of Gullane). If the rough at Gullane was lower, it might be 2 or 3 on my list!! I love that Crail gives you 1 side to bail out on usually. It’s not just thick rough or ocean on BOTH sides. 
5. Gullane. I hate to slot it here. Like I said, if the rough was down, I think it would be #2 or 3 for me. Also, shout out their green keeper. I think Gullane was the best condition, and that’s saying something!!!

6. Castle course. Again, a better player might have it higher. I would recommend a caddy for strategy off the tee. Great views. Greens were NOT off putting. 
7. western Gailes. Some nice views, but a stern test. 
 

again, all of these courses were in great shape, and had their own beauty and strategy and demands. If you are a single digit cap, I would recommend them all! They were lovely. 
 

restaurant recommendations;

not much was open in N Berwick on a Monday-Tuesday so watch out. And they close “early”.

The fish and chips at The Old Clubhouse was good. 
 

st Andrews:

burger at Mitchell’s was awesome!

steak and oyster and Rogue were awesome - get a reservation!

Mussels and Mac and cheese at The Saint were great!

 

Troon:

Tempura restaurant was awesome.

Lamb and duck at Piersland hotel were top notch. 

[hammergolf]

42 minutes ago, MongoSmash said:

trip wrap up. I’ll try not to rehash anything said above. I’ll provide rankings as well. All of these courses were in very good to great shape, and all were great settings…

 

1. Kingsbarns. Friendly enough for a double digit cap, stern enough for a good player. Great views, great strategy. 
2. Turnberry. Too tough a test for me I think. A better player MIGHT have it ranked 1. I would love to play it on a calmer day. 
3. N Berwick. Beautiful land movement and greens. Nice strategy. Better views than a I thought. 
4. Crail. Tough to slot it here (ahead of Gullane). If the rough at Gullane was lower, it might be 2 or 3 on my list!! I love that Crail gives you 1 side to bail out on usually. It’s not just thick rough or ocean on BOTH sides. 
5. Gullane. I hate to slot it here. Like I said, if the rough was down, I think it would be #2 or 3 for me. Also, shout out their green keeper. I think Gullane was the best condition, and that’s saying something!!!

6. Castle course. Again, a better player might have it higher. I would recommend a caddy for strategy off the tee. Great views. Greens were NOT off putting. 
7. western Gailes. Some nice views, but a stern test. 
 

again, all of these courses were in great shape, and had their own beauty and strategy and demands. If you are a single digit cap, I would recommend them all! They were lovely. 
 

restaurant recommendations;

not much was open in N Berwick on a Monday-Tuesday so watch out. And they close “early”.

The fish and chips at The Old Clubhouse was good. 
 

st Andrews:

burger at Mitchell’s was awesome!

steak and oyster and Rogue were awesome - get a reservation!

Mussels and Mac and cheese at The Saint were great!

 

Troon:

Tempura restaurant was awesome.

Lamb and duck at Piersland hotel were top notch. 

GREAT trip! Thanks for sharing.

[Schley]

Mongo one for the memory books, glad you had a wonderful time.