Frequently Asked Questions
We hope the following information is helpful to you. If we have not answered
your question, then please
contact us and we will be delighted to be of assistance.
Most, but not all, of the courses we use do request visitors are able to
produce a handicap certificate, so if you have one we would always recommend
you bring it with you. Where courses have a minimum handicap requirement, we
will always advise you of this at the time of booking. The best advice is to
let us know what your handicap is when you make an enquiry and we will advise
on what courses are best suited to your abilities.
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The more popular the course you want to play, the earlier you should think
about your trip. For example, applications to play Muirfield are required 15
months in advance of when you wish to play and St Andrews Old course bookings
open up at the start of September.
For courses such as Royal Troon, Carnoustie
and Kingsbarns Links it is best to have written requests in place with the
clubs before the booking diary opens in the Autumn if you have a set date on
which you would like to play. Summer times for these courses can be very busy
by the beginning of the year.
For other courses it can depend on the size of your party. Large groups should
look to book several months in advance to have a choice of tee-times, small
groups will find more availability. The general rule however, is to think about
your trip, and consult us on your plans, as far in advance as possible.
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While use of ride on buggies is not widespread in Scotland, there are always
alternatives available to carrying your clubs. You will not find buggies in use
on any of the championship courses and we would always recommend anyone who
will have difficulty walking a course should consult us on the best courses for
their needs before committing to an itinerary.
Pull trolleys are generally available for hire for a modest fee and many
courses will be able to arrange caddies to accompany you on your round. In
addition to the standard cost, which is currently around £35 GBP per caddie, you
are expected to also offer a gratuity or tip at the end of the round. Some
courses also arrange junior caddies or bag carriers for a reduced charge.
Caddies should always be arranged in advance of your round to be sure of their
availability.
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Scotland may be famous for our golf courses, but we are also known for our
changeable weather. Summer temperatures range between 60-74F (15-23C) and
sunshine can not be guaranteed.
Websites that are useful for checking the weather in Scotland at any time of
year are www.weather.com and
www.bbc.co.uk/weather
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A traditional links course is normally a course alongside, or close to, the sea
and the soil will generally be sandy and drain easily. The course will normally
be laid out using the natural lie of the land so fairways, and greens, can be
undulating and the natural humps and bumps have been left in place.
There are likely to be a lot of bunkers, often 'pot' bunkers which are small
and deep. There tend to be few, if any, trees so the course can be heavily
affected by the wind from the sea.
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If you have not played links golf before, the first thing to be aware of is the
wind factor. A change in wind direction or strength can make a huge difference
to the way in which the course plays. It can be useful to know how to keep the
ball low into the wind.
One option is to place the ball slightly further back in your stance and to
grip the club just a little further down than normal.
Fairways and greens tend to be undulating so the ball will not necessarily run
straight - the ground tends to play naturally firm and fast.
To make the most of your golfing trip, we can arrange a lesson with a teaching
professional at the start of your stay to give you some hints on taking on
links courses.
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Most stores, hotels and restaurants in Scotland will accept credit cards. The
most commonly accepted are Visa and Mastercard. Small stores may have a minimum
transaction value before they will accept a credit card.
It is always sensible to carry some cash in pounds sterling. ATMs (Automatic
Teller Machines) are widely available and will work with your debit or credit
card and four digit pin. Some machines will charge you so be sure to check what
cards are accepted without charge.
Banks are generally open Monday to Friday between 9am and 4pm, with a few
opening later on one evening each week, normally Thursday, or Saturday morning.
Scottish banks issue their own bank notes for all denominations so there are
several types of note in circulation. These all differ from Bank of England
notes but are of the same value and accepted throughout the United Kingdom.
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Throughout Scotland most shops are open between 09:00 and 17:30. Small towns
may still have one day a week where shops shut for one afternoon which will
vary from town to town. In the larger towns such as Glasgow, Edinburgh and
Aberdeen, late night shopping is often available on a Thursday when the larger stores will open
up to 20:00. Most towns will have convenience stores which open later.
Pubs are generally open from 11 am to 11 pm but in most towns they are open
later at the weekends.
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