Royal Birkdale visit

[gyippie]

Need help from London England WRXers please :)

 

I will be accompanying my high school students on their 'Europe trip' in March (London, Paris, Rome). I will have one day in London where I will be free of the students. I would love to play Royal Birkdale or Lytham & St Anne's - just wondering how feasible it is?

 

INFO

The day will be March 5-7

I will be staying minutes from Wembly stadium.

I will have all morning and the first part of the afternoon

I don't mind paying for a taxi to drive me directly there (I know this may be expensive, but 'once in a lifetime' has no price tag ;)

I've already checked the visitor info and guests are welcomed

 

I guess I'm just asking which course would be easier to get to, which one is more 'friendly' and finally if this is even possible because of the distance from my hotel!

 

I would love to add one of these to my 'bucket' list as this past summer I had the privilege of playing the Old course, Carnoustie, Turnberry and Troon.

 

Thank you all in advance :)

 

G

[jaskanski]

London is mowhere near Lytham - it's about a 4.5 hour journey of 250 or so miles if you drive it. Excellent course though and certainly worthy of a visit, but there are some top courses a bit closer to London to keep travelling down to a minimum. Obvious courses like Wentworth West course (about 30-40 minutes from your location perhaps) would be a good choice, as well as Sunningdale Old, Walton Heath within easy reach. A bit further out (within an hour or so) Woburn Dukes would be worth a visit and slightly further still would be your nearest Championship course - Royal St. Georges in Kent around 70 miles away.
Here's the links:


[url="http://www.royalstgeorges.com/"]http://www.royalstgeorges.com/[/url]

[url="http://www.wentworthclub.com/"]http://www.wentworthclub.com/[/url]

[url="http://www.woburn.co.uk/golf/"]http://www.woburn.co.uk/golf/[/url]

[url="http://www.sunningdale-golfclub.co.uk/site/home/"]http://www.sunningda...o.uk/site/home/[/url]

[url="http://www.waltonheath.com/"]http://www.waltonheath.com/[/url]

Hidden gem : [url="http://www.addingtongolf.com/"]http://www.addingtongolf.com/[/url]

[jrg9]

Played Royal St. Georges in October. Great links course on the cost, but it did take a little while to get there from Surrey. You might not have enough time. Sandwhich does have a good pub across from the Bell Hotel if you do go down there.

[chrisday83]

Only options near London are Sandwich or Royal St George's.
All the other Open rota courses are Northern based.
Play St George's, you can say you played the course that the Open was played on that year...

[Hogan's Cardy]

If it were me I wouldn't want the stress of a long journey and London traffic is no picnic. It could be hard to predict how long it will take you to get to the Kent coast. In early March you'll have daylight up to around 5.30pm so a late morning/lunchtime tee may save you the perils of rush hour if you really feel drawn to an Open venue. However they are supposedly very fussy about when visitors can play so make sure you do your homework first.

I'd go for Sunningdale over Royal St George's due to being so much nearer, plus it's a gem. jaskanski's list just about covers all the biggies but only ever having played Sunningdale (Old) I can't comment on them.

[astamm8]

If I'm not mistaken there's a fast train from London to Kent and then it's pretty easy to get from the station to Royal St. George's via cab. That's probably the easiest way to get there, and I think it's a pretty easy trip. Or just do both courses at Sunningdale! Although I'd go for links golf...

[mbbrewer]

I'd say Walton Heath or Wentworth. Both easy to get to by Train and very good
Courses. Shoot me a pm and I could join up with you if you'd like.

[gyippie]

Thanks again for the advice - I kind of knew birkdale and lytham were not realistic but I guess I needed to hear it
So I guess I'll concentrate all my efforts on St georges ( no disrespect to the other courses but it has to be a rota course)

So some more help please... I've tried to check for the train to St georges but it seems the are a couple of connections. Would it be way too much money to take a taxi there (would someone knew an approximate cost?) or is it possible to 'hire' a driver? I dont mind paying more if I know it'll be easier travelling

To mbbrewer , your offer is much appreciated ... I'll only know 2days before hand if I can play - technically I m supposed to be supervising / chaperoning kids;)...I'll try to let you know

[astamm8]

http://www.southernrailway.com/

I think that's the train company, and you'll notice that there are slow trains and fast trains. I don't think you're going to get there any quicker than the faster of these trains. i think a taxi would be crazy, crazy expensive.

[chrisday83]

Driving in central London is just about the biggest mistake you could make!
London St Pancras to Sandwich is one change, 1hr 45 journey. Cab at the other end.

[mbbrewer]

[quote name='gyippie' timestamp='1322107829' post='3845043']
To mbbrewer , your offer is much appreciated ... I'll only know 2days before hand if I can play - technically I m supposed to be supervising / chaperoning kids;)...I'll try to let you know
[/quote]

Sounds good. I have an extremely flexible schedule. Let me know.

[gyippie]

Thanks chrisday83 and astamm8...info was good

Can you please verify that the ride from Charing Cross or St pancras to Sandwhich is only 1H45? on the schedule it's 2H20!?
Further, on the info site for the Sandwhich station, it says taxis are not available. Any suggestions?

Finally to mbbrewer, if the total travel time is only 1:45 as stated by the above two WRXers, this may work, otherwise if it's a 5 hour round trip we may not have our round

[astamm8]

[quote name='gyippie' timestamp='1322159548' post='3847299']
Thanks chrisday83 and astamm8...info was good

Can you please verify that the ride from Charing Cross or St pancras to Sandwhich is only 1H45? on the schedule it's 2H20!?
Further, on the info site for the Sandwhich station, it says taxis are not available. Any suggestions?

Finally to mbbrewer, if the total travel time is only 1:45 as stated by the above two WRXers, this may work, otherwise if it's a 5 hour round trip we may not have our round
[/quote]

Not sure about cabs at Sandwich. For the Open I think people were walking maybe, so it's probably not too far if you don't have clubs. I'd think there'd be a cab, but I'd ask the club. Many people that play there will be coming from London via train, so I'm sure they'll be happy to give you the options.

[chrisday83]

Use www.thetrainline.com to plan your journey.
Trains in England all go at different speeds... Pick a fast one!
I think the "no taxis" statement merely means there is no waiting taxi rank. You'd have to call one when you got there.

[mbbrewer]

If you want you could get a train from paddington to Reading (20 mins). I could pick you up at the station and could drive to RSG which is ~ 2 hrs from reading.

[gyippie]

[quote name='mbbrewer' timestamp='1322164761' post='3847597']
If you want you could get a train from paddington to Reading (20 mins). I could pick you up at the station and could drive to RSG which is ~ 2 hrs from reading.
[/quote]
You are very kind mbbrewer... I will pm you closer to the date. By then I'll have my itinerary and will know if I can even go

[grant7]

Regarding St George's; at the Open the walk was around 20 mins from station to course, it may be better booking a taxi to meet you at the station. I would also consider the travel time within London, TFL (tube) website suggests 28 mins from wembley park to kings cross st pancras. If you allow extra time needed to get lost, find platforms, buy tickets, change shoes... etc I would think you'll be about 3hrs 30mins hotel to first tee, minimum.

It's an awesome course, perhaps the best in England, but If i was in your position I would seriously consider Walton Heath, Sunningdale or the expensive Wentworth. Having said that I fully understand, and have experienced the draw of the rota courses.

[gyippie]

[quote name='grant7' timestamp='1322170521' post='3847851']
Regarding St George's; at the Open the walk was around 20 mins from station to course, it may be better booking a taxi to meet you at the station. I would also consider the travel time within London, TFL (tube) website suggests 28 mins from wembley park to kings cross st pancras. If you allow extra time needed to get lost, find platforms, buy tickets, change shoes... etc I would think you'll be about 3hrs 30mins hotel to first tee, minimum.

It's an awesome course, perhaps the best in England, but If i was in your position I would seriously consider Walton Heath, Sunningdale or the expensive Wentworth. Having said that I fully understand, and have experienced the draw of the rota courses.
[/quote]
I appreciate the advice grant7
If the logistics do not work I'll be going to plan b ..most likely scenario ....and many have also mentioned the courses you've suggested
But will do my best to make plan a happen

[royalgingerness]

I'd recommend getting up as early as possible with a view to being on the first train from London to the Kent Coast, assuming visitors can play St George's in the morning and on the day you're looking to play.
Driving in / out of London in the mornings can be a disaster and you'd certainly be quicker by train.

Good luck and hope it works out..

[two putt shakur]

I could try to arrange a complimentary round at Sunningdale as I used to work there on the greenstaff. Still know heaps of people there so let me know nearer the time via pm and we'll see what we can do.

[gyippie]

[quote name='two putt shakur' timestamp='1322209913' post='3849645']
I could try to arrange a complimentary round at Sunningdale as I used to work there on the greenstaff. Still know heaps of people there so let me know nearer the time via pm and we'll see what we can do.
[/quote]
This community is awesome- already 2 offers from 'strangers' who i've never met nor proba ly ever run into again- but i guess that's why golfers are a special breed and so are wrxers;)
To two putt shakur, so appreciate the offer ... But it'll be a last minute thing (review quickly, im part of the teaching staff taking kids on europe trip starting with london, there may be an entire free day while in london- no guarantees- will only know the day before) literally! But im keeping my fingers crossed and hoping my students are well behaved so they earn a day off!

[gyippie]

Hi all
So I've come to the realization that Royal St Georges, Birkdale and Lytham & St Anne's are out :(
I've narrowed it down to two Walton Heath - because it seems more 'links' like. I can get real Parkland style at home AND Sunningdale because of two putt shakur

I've also done some research on google about travel times. I'm staying at the Premier Inn Wembley. Does it really take 2 hours and 30 min to get to Walton Heath?? And is it complicated? Lots of transfers etc,...Similar, Sunningdale takes 3 hours! And on the map it's a straight forward straight line from East to west. Can someone chime in here and give me the 'real scoop' about London travel and if the google directions are correct and time accurate?

The day will be March 2nd - if I can get out of chaperoning the students!!!

Mucho appreciation

[jaskanski]

The best tip for London travel is to avoid commuting times. that means anything between 7.00am to 9.00am Mon-Fri and likewise 4.00pm to 6.00pm. Trying to get across London or around the M25 (by car) during these times is an absolute nightmare or painfully slow at best. If you're planning to do Sunningdale or Walton Heath by rail and tube you need to get into Central London and back out again for your connecting trains etc. which just adds up time and frustration. You may need to change trains 3 or 4 times! Your best bet is to travel by road outside business hours to Sunningdale (about 40-50 mins max from Wembley - Walton Heath about 1 hour max). Realistically for a good trip it would be a shorter time for either journey. You could get a quote based on travel to Sunningdale for an airport transfer - Heathrow isn't a million miles away. Likewise Walton Heath isn't a million miles from Gatwick either. If you have a hire car, it should be fairly straightforward journey around the good old M25 for either venue.

[gyippie]

[quote name='jaskanski' timestamp='1322848768' post='3881247']
The best tip for London travel is to avoid commuting times. that means anything between 7.00am to 9.00am Mon-Fri and likewise 4.00pm to 6.00pm. Trying to get across London or around the M25 (by car) during these times is an absolute nightmare or painfully slow at best. If you're planning to do Sunningdale or Walton Heath by rail and tube you need to get into Central London and back out again for your connecting trains etc. which just adds up time and frustration. You may need to change trains 3 or 4 times! Your best bet is to travel by road outside business hours to Sunningdale (about 40-50 mins max from Wembley - Walton Heath about 1 hour max). Realistically for a good trip it would be a shorter time for either journey. You could get a quote based on travel to Sunningdale for an airport transfer - Heathrow isn't a million miles away. Likewise Walton Heath isn't a million miles from Gatwick either. If you have a hire car, it should be fairly straightforward journey around the good old M25 for either venue.
[/quote]
Merci
I'll look into it