Well we aren’t really playing the actual British open on an overnight, but rather playing the 9 courses in Scotland and England where the British Open is played.
Every golfer, interliner or not, dreams of one day playing the golf courses of Scotland. From St. Andrews where it all started and Muirfield on the East Coast to Royal Troon, Prestwick and Turnberry on the West Coast there are plenty of golf courses just waiting to challenge even the best golfer.
In fact, did you know that the first British Open also known as just the Open Championship was played at Prestwick and was played only at Prestwick from 1860 (the first British Open) until 1987 when it was first played at St. Andrews? Prestwick was dropped from rotation where the Open was played in 1925. Currently, the open rotated between 9 courses with St. Andrews hosting the event every 5 years and then it rotates between the other 8 golf courses, 4 in Scotland and 4 in England.
Did you know if your layover is in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Liverpool or Blackpool International Airport is long enough you can get in a round at one of these golf courses? Trick is you need to have an overnight during the week as you pretty much can’t go onto any of these courses on the weekend and you will need a decent handicap.
The 5 courses in Scotland are: ( and drive times to the course from the nearest major airport)
Old Course at St. Andrews – The home of Golf – Last hoested the Open in 2010 and will again in 2015 – 51 minutes from Edinburg (EDI)
Old Course at St. Andrews – Visitors are welcomed to play on weekdays. The Old Course is not available for advance bookings on Saturdays and is closed on Sundays. you must call well in advance as detailed on their website www.standrews.org.uk . In addition to advance bookings, visitor tee-times are also available on the daily ballot or queuing as a single golfer on the day of play (Pro Shop Ph: +44 (0) 1334-466-666 and email is reservations@standrews.org.uk . Maximum permitted handicap is 42 for men and 36 for women and proof of handicap is required. This is a non metal spike course and caddies are available.
Old Course at St. Andrews New Course, Jubilee Course and all other Courses at St. Andrews –
Visitors are welcome to play on weekdays and weekends. You must book in advance. No handicap limit. Must book in advance (Pro Shop Ph: +44 (0) 1334 466 666 and email is reservations@standrews.org.uk. This is a non metal spike course and caddies are available. Carnoustie Golf Links — Last hosted the Open in 2007 — An hour and a half from Edinburgh (EDI) or 13 miles from Dundee Airport (DND) Visitors are welcome to play on weekdays and weekends. You must book in advance (Pro Shop Ph: +44 (0) 1241 802 270 and email is golf@carnoustiegolflinks.org.uk. Maximum permitted handicap is 28 for men and 36 for women, Juniors must be over 14 and proof of handicap is required.
Muirfield- Located near Edinburg it last hosted the Open in 2013– 42 minutes from Edinburgh (EDI) Visitors are welcomed to play on Tuesday and Thursday. You must book well in advance (Pro Shop Ph: +44 (0) 1620 842 123 and email is hceg@muirfield.org.uk . Maximum permitted handicap is 18 for men and 20 for women and proof of handicap is required. Women may only play if accompanied by a man. If booked in advance, lunch can be served to male visitors wearing a tie and jacket. Women are limited to sandwiches and drinks in the Captain’s room. Caddies available if requested in advance.
The Turnberry Resort- Located in Southwest Scotland and last hosted the Open in 2009. An hour and 10 minutes from the Glasgow Airport (GLA) or Glasgow Prestwick Airport (PIK). Visitors are welcomed to play on weekdays and weekends but most restricted on Saturdays. You must book in advance (Pro Shop Ph: +44 (0) 1253 730 094 and email is general@royallytham.org. Maximum permitted handicap is 18 for men and women, proof of handicap is required. Caddies available if requested in advance.
Royal Troon Golf Club- Located in Southwest Scotland and is set to host the Open in 2016. 42 minutes from Glasgow Airport (GLA) or Glasgow Prestwick Airport (PIK) – (Old Course or Portland Choice)- Visitors are welcomed to play on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, limited availability on some Sundays. You must book in advance (Pro Shop Ph: +44 (0) 92 313 281 and email is bookings@royallytham.org. Maximum permitted handicap is 208 for men and 30 for women and proof of handicap is required. Caddies available if requested in advance.
The four courses in England are: (and drive times to the course from the nearest major airport)
Royal St. George’s Golf Club- Located in sandwich in Kent County. Last hosted the Open last in 2011. An hour and 40 minutes form London Gatwick (LGW). Visitors are welcomes to play on weekdays but not normally permitted on weekends. You must book in advance (Pro Shop Ph: +44 (0) 1304 615 236 and email is general@royalstgeorges.com. Maximum permitted handicap is 18 for men and women; proof of handicap is required. Carts only allowed for certified medical reasons. Caddies available if booked in advance.
Royal Birkdale Golf Club- Located in Northwest England and hosted the Open last in 2008. 47 minutes from Liverpool John Lennon (LPL), an hour from Manchester Airport (MAN) or an hour and 10 minutes from Blackpool International (BLK). Visitors are welcomed to play on weekdays and Sunday but not normally permited on weekends or Tuesday mornings or Friday afternoon. You must book in advance (Pro Shop Ph:+44 (0) 1704 552 030 and email is secretary@royalbirkdale.com mention of maximum handicap to play this course.
Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club- Located in Northwest England and hosted the Open last in 2013. Just 7 minutes from Blackpool International Airport (BLK), an hour from Manchester Airport (MN) and an hour and 10 minutes from Liverpool John Lennon (LPL). Visitors are welcomes to play on weekdays and weekends but most restricted on Saturdays. You must book in advance (Pro Shop Ph: +44 (0) 1253 730 094 and email is general@royallytham.org mention of maximum handicap to play this course.
Royal Liverpool Golf Club- Often referred to as Holylake it will host the Open in 2014. Just 43 minutes from the Liverpool Airport (LPL) or an hour from Manchester Airport (MAN) and 1 hour and 30 minutes from Blackpool International (BLK). Visitors are welcomed to play on weekdays but not normally permitted on weekends. You must book in advance. Pro Shop Ph:+44 (0) 151 632 5868 and email is sec@royal-liverpool-golf.com. Maximum permitted handicap is 21 for men and 32 for women and proof of handicap is required.
The one golf course left off of this list that is well worth adding to your time to visit and play is the marvelous course and resort at Gleneagles in central Scotland. Gleneagles is where the Ryder Cup will be played in 2014. At Gleneagles you can play any of the courses: the P.G.A. course designed by Jack Nicklaus or the King’s and Queen’s courses, which date before the hotel opened in 1924.
Gleneagles is a world famous 5 Star Luxury Hotel in Scotland, award winning Spa and Golf Resort. Set within the gentle beauty of 850 acres of Perthshire countryside, this fives star Leading Hotel of the World is home to three champtionship golf courses, a sparkling, award winning spa and exhilarating array of outdoor activities. Visitors are welcome weekdays adn weekends but must book in advance (Pro Shop Ph: +44 (0) 1764 662 21 and email is sales@gleneagles.com, handicap maximum is mentioned. Golf carts are available for hire and caddies are available if requested in advance. They also have a golf academy here.
Just one hour from the international airports in Edinburgh and Glasgow, Gleneagles is rich with promise, as suited to romance as quality family time, group celebrations and corporate events. It offers more than 200 elegant bedrooms and 26 sumptuous suites no two are alike, with a choice of traditional or modern interiors. Elegant restaurants, bars, designer boutiques and a beautiful leisure club complete the picture, but perhaps not the experience. That comes with the exceptional service, as thorough and discreet as the historic setting itself. Needless to say the place is not cheap but so unique that if you are going to splurge on a hotel for one night or two, this is the place to do it at.
So let’s say you have more time on your hands than just a round of golf on an overnight. Here are some ideas on how to do a golf vacation in Scotland.
Standing on the East Coast at St. Andrews, afterall that is where golf began, links golf that is and though people would not call this the best conditioned golf course, if you love golf it is just a thrill to walk the course. it is within the city of St. Andrews, right by the North Sea. That kind of a location is what makes links golf so great, if the wind is blowing from the eat, you’re getting the wind from Scandinavia and Russia. It can be bitterly cold, and the driving rain can really make the golf more challenging. Some days you get no wind, and it’s a totally different game.
Then depending on time take in a round at Carnoustie or Muirfield. Now if you only have 3 or 4 days fly in and out of Edinburgh, spend some time exploring Edinburgh and then head home and start planning your next trip to Scotland and play the west coast. If time is not a factor spend the night in Edinburgh, take in a Military Tattoo if that is going on, visit the Castle, explore the city, the shops and pubs.
Next you need to head for Gleneagles in central Scotland for a round of golf and if you can afford it a night or two at the Gleneagles Hotel. www.gleneagls.com Gleneagles you can play any of the three golf courses: the P.G.A. course designed by Jack Nicklaus or the King’s and the Queen’s courses. There is a lot to do besides golf at Gleneagles including the spa, the Michelin-starred Andrew Fairlie restaurant, tennis and whisky tours!!
From Gleneagles head towards the Southwest Turnberry on the Atlantic which also has a fantastic hotel and Alisa course is incredible. The ruins of the Scottish King Robert the Bruce’s Castle you can see from the ninth hole. Around the area there are a whole host of hidden gems like the Prestwick and the Royal Troon, and that’s the golf you really want to get to in Scotland.
That brings us to our second 3 or 4 day interline golf getaway to Scotland. Fly in and out of Glasgow and play Turnberry, Prestwick and Royal Troon. All of these courses are within an hour or so of the Glasgow Airport.
Now if you have the time to head to Aberdeen and play the Royal Aberdeen Golf Course Ph: +4 (0) 1224 702 571 and email is admin@royalaberdeengolf.com. You can play on weekdays and after 3:30 pm on weekends. Maximum handicap is 24 on Belgownie Links and must book in advance. There is limited availability for caddies, which must be booked in advance. If you can afford it you will want to stay at the 4 star hotel, the Marcliffe Hotel . Visit the Marcliffe Hotel Spa and Restaurant during your visit, it is an intimate five-star luxury hotel set on scenically ravishing Royal Deeside against a backdrop of 11 acres of beautiful grounds on the western fringe of the historical City of Aberdeen which has achieved a new pre-eminence as Europe’s energy capital.
From Aberdeen you can head farther north to play Nairn Golf Club Pro Shop Ph: +4 (0) 1667 452 787 and email is bookings@nairngolfclub.co.uk. Proof of handicap is required and you can play weekdays or weekends and still farther you will find Royal Dornoch Golf Club Ph: +44 (0) 1862 810 902 and email is bookings@royaldornock.com. Visitors are welcomed weekdays and after 2 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Must book in advance and proof of handicap is required. Caddies are available but book them in advance. Tom Watson says is one of his favorite golf courses.
Now where can you find discounts to play these marvelous courses? One place to look is in some of the British newspapers. The Telegraph for instance from time to time you will find a promotion for two golfers for the price of one.
Now that works fine if you want to play a course or two say on an overnight but if you want to play multiple courses on your trip, getting the reservations made at each course in an orderly manner for your longer trip takes very careful planning. If you are not lucky you could end up one day on the East Coast, the next day on the West and back on the East the next or having to skip courses because you could not get he right tee times or reservations for when you needed them.
That my friend is where you need the help of a travel agent! You need an agent who knows golf and knows the right golf tour companies to put together the entire trip and lock in savings. Yes you can do it yourself, email every course, request a confirmation, email all of the hotels along the way, get the clubs reserved and book a rental car for the trip. But if you book a golf package with the right golf tour company, they have discounted rates at many of the hotels near the golf courses, they know the golf pros at each course and have a discount rate with car rental companies. Thus the total price on the package is often less than what you put together yourself spending hours doing.
Interlinetravel.com deals with airline employees as well as public. They deal with several knowledgeable golf companies who can put together just such a package and at no additional cost to you. Contact Interlinetravel.com, let them know your travel dates, what courses you want to play and let hem do the work. Now realize the more time you give them, the better the odds of getting all of the courses you want on the days you want to play them. So call InterlineTravel.com at 800-766-2911 and tell them you want an Interline Golf Getaway to Scotland today!