We recently returned from a great golf experience in Scotland!  Courses played were Royal Dornoch, Castle Stuart, Carnoustie, St. Andrews Julilee and Kingsbarns.  Kingsbarns and Castle Stuart were the favorites.  Carnoustie was the most difficult and the only day it rained.  Weather was incredible for October.  The final itinerary is here:

https://yourgolfapi.globetrack.ie/document/view/150442.html?vk=6daa61445385f513cf067d438662f72aa8d7749b

We worked with Premier Golf and they were excellent – assisting us with selecting the best courses, hotels and logistics. The six night and 5 rounds of golf fit in everyone’s budget and time frame. We had 18 travelers (16 golfers [4 foursomes] and 2 non-golfers) which was manageable.

Although everyone wants to play the Old Course in St Andrews, unless you are planning more than 2 years in advance, it most likely can’t be guaranteed.  We were put in a lottery for the Old Course and one foursome was able to get on (they had to forfeit prepaid green fees of the other course to do that).

The two hotels we used were perfect – Ness Walk in Inverness (Signature preferred) and the Old Course Hotel in St Andrews – both 5-star with exceptional service. We included three group dinners (one user pay) which people seemed to enjoy.

Other:

• Bill Hogan at Premier was excellent to work with and did a Zoom meeting with all to present the trip
  
  
• Brian our driver-guide in Scotland was efficient, fun and always punctual
  
  
• Scotland’s weather can always be challenging but we only had one day of rain

• Could have skipped the Culloden Battlefields Tour on 10/15/24 but some liked it

• Added Urquhart Castle Tour https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/urquhart-castle/ for the arrival day – was well worth it

• Enjoyed the Balblair Distillery Tour (who goes to Scotland without visiting a distillery)

• You must walk these courses in Scotland unless you have a physician’s note to request cart – we only had two people that requested a cart – everyone did well walking

It was an ambitious itinerary but everyone had a great time and wants to travel together again!