Planning a Pilgrimage

With the Open Championship at St. Andrews this year it may inspire you for a journey to Scotland for the first time, or perhaps a return visit.
I have made a few trips across the pond to the “Home of Golf”. Are you passionate about golf? Yes, then you must make a trip to Scotland at least once in your life. Here are a few suggestions that may assist in your planning and enjoyment of a trip to Scotland.
I was reminded the other day of a quote about traveling: “Bring half as many clothes and twice the money”. One part of this is far easier than the other.
Packing the suit case may seems endless: shirts, trousers, socks, sweaters, rain gear, hats, gloves, and a vast supply of golf balls just to mention a few items. Reduce your luggage weight total by taking fewer items. You may purchase some shirts, hats and other souvenirs while traveling. A good rain suit is required (hopefully never to be used); if you currently don’t have one then that would be an excellent item to purchase while in Scotland.
How many golf balls do I bring? This depends on two things: how many rounds will you play, and how often you lose golf balls? Chances are you will find as many golf balls as you lose while looking for your own orb in gorse, heather, “whins”, or the varied vegetation found so close to the fairways and greens. A good rule is 3 golf balls per round. Run out of golf balls and you can always borrow from your golf partners that have brought 6 dozen for a ten day excursion.
Take a caddie or not take a caddie? If you can afford a caddie then you would be crazy not to. Insight to playing a golf course you have never played is invaluable. It will make for a far more enjoyable round of golf and will cut down on the lost golf balls for sure. Another option is to have a fore caddie for the group. One caddie will give you the line of play, yardage, breaks on the greens, and any other pertinent information required.
Don’t focus on your score as links golf can be punishing to a score card. Stableford points are always a good option or best ball games.
More golf courses are offering all day tickets. You can play two rounds for a set price. You best be physically ready for 36 holes of walking before taking on that challenge. A day ticket is money well spent though and the second time around you will have a far better idea of the golf course.
Do not bring more than fourteen clubs. We all have that golf club in our bag that we rarely hit at our home course; leave it at home. Clean out your golf bag of any other items not needed. You may have a caddy but you still have to lug the golf bag in the airport and from the hotel room.
Finally, don’t try to see all the country on one visit. You will just burn yourself out. Pick a region and explore that area. My first choice would be the Kingdom of Fife and the Kingsbarns Golf Links.

Gord McGarva has been playing golf for over 30 years and has traveled to Scotland on ten different occasions. For any individual questions, Gord may be contacted at his blog http://writedownthefairway.blogspot.com/