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St. Andrews May 9-12th - updated with pics.


Clayton

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Hey MGS - My wife bought me a ticket to Manchester on the 8th.  It was only $125 WITH golf luggage from where I'm currently staying. She doesn't know how difficult it is to "just go play the Old Course" like any other golf course and I didn't tell her.  I rented a car and will make the 6 hour drive up to St. Andrews on the morning of the 9th.  As long as the car pick up in the morning is quick, I'll be there in time for a round on the 9th. Otherwise just the 10th-12th. I will have absolutely every opportunity to play 18-36 or more holes each day as I have nothing else to do.

As a single, I'm not allowed to make tee times until the day before on any of the courses that are part of the St. Andrews golf "resort" or whatever to call it. The Castle course has a "play one get one 50% off within 7 days" and as that's my favorite Trackman course for true links, I plan to do that where it fits. I e-mailed St. Andrews and fortunately they have reopened the possibility of checking in at the Old Pavilion in the morning and being inserted into a 2-3 some as is the tradition there.  It was actually still closed when we bought the ticket so I see this as a total bonus that I might get to play the "Old Lady."

I mostly play with Brits at my home course and they have recommended that I play the Torrance course just a little south of the main St. Andrews courses "best greens in the UK" they said. Like I said, I REALLY want to play the Castle Course.  I also want to play the Old if I can get on but who knows how that will work out. I plan to check in each morning but if it doesn't happen, that's fine... I just wasted like 10 hours practicing on Trackman for it... the Jubilee sounds not so fun but the Eden course looks to be really great. I do LOVE a course with holes along the sea or ocean so that's always a priority for me.  I'll have a car so I can drive a little bit to play but don't want to burn up a potential round driving instead of, well, driving the ball on-course.

If there's any local MGS members in the area, we should meet up if you want to!  That sure would be cool and fun. You can make fun of my American accent.  I'll do my "If it's not Scottish, it's CRAP!" Mike Myers imitation. Then you can do it for real. LOL.

I'm on a tinsy tiny budget so, for example, I'm renting a bedroom at a really cool looking house in the city for like $40/night... I plan to mostly eat food from a grocery store.  But I might indulge myself one night and have fish and chips and a "pint" (not a big drinker these days!).

Edited by Clayton

 

 

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I have played the old course twice and both times, I showed up to the starter shack at ~3am and waited for them to open.  Both times, there were already several people waiting and more people showed up the closer it got to opening time.  Both times, I was easily able to get out and it appeared that most of the other people in line were able to get tee times as well, so if you have a few days and there are no special events, I would get out there by ~5:30am and you should be able to score a tee time at some point during the day.

Alternatively, this website has a "ballot buddy" program that allows you to team up with other singles to get on the ballot for tee times.

Using both methods above, you have a 99%+ chance (IMO) of being able to play the old course if you are there for a few days.  Enjoy!

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On 5/3/2022 at 11:05 AM, GolfX360 said:

Hi Clayton, using the search you will find the Old Course & Eden 360° course maps : https://bre.is/RqDCeyGq

If you download them to your mobile you can use the GPS to have the distance during your round. Sure you will have fun

Fantastic, thank you!

 

 

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On 5/3/2022 at 4:23 AM, FlyStayPlay.com said:

I have played the old course twice and both times, I showed up to the starter shack at ~3am and waited for them to open.  Both times, there were already several people waiting and more people showed up the closer it got to opening time.  Both times, I was easily able to get out and it appeared that most of the other people in line were able to get tee times as well, so if you have a few days and there are no special events, I would get out there by ~5:30am and you should be able to score a tee time at some point during the day.

Alternatively, this website has a "ballot buddy" program that allows you to team up with other singles to get on the ballot for tee times.

Using both methods above, you have a 99%+ chance (IMO) of being able to play the old course if you are there for a few days.  Enjoy!

Thanks for the link. I was wondering if there was something like that, but hadn't found one yet.  Cool!

 

 

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Well, thanks for the comments guys. I got up 4am and was at the booth by about 4:45. They had 12 spots open when I checked the day before and I was number 14. A couple was in front of me and when they got up to the counter the starter said the last spot was the first tee time in 20 minutes, do they have gear?  No… but I did so I got out!

it was really cold, maybe 7* or mid to high 40s. My hands hurt etc, especially after waiting for hours outside. 
 

Was probably a good thing I didn’t have time to stress. Hit an ok opener and although I duffed a couple tee shots and there were 20-30mph winds, I still managed some pars and birdied 7, 15, and 16. Ended up with 82 and with my current hcp index I’m mighty happy with that result. More golf tomorrow and Thursday!!! So happy I got the OC accomplished first day.

 

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  • Clayton changed the title to St. Andrews May 9-12th - updated with pics.
7 hours ago, Clayton said:

Well, thanks for the comments guys. I got up 4am and was at the booth by about 4:45. They had 12 spots open when I checked the day before and I was number 14. A couple was in front of me and when they got up to the counter the starter said the last spot was the first tee time in 20 minutes, do they have gear?  No… but I did so I got out!

it was really cold, maybe 7* or mid to high 40s. My hands hurt etc, especially after waiting for hours outside. 
 

Was probably a good thing I didn’t have time to stress. Hit an ok opener and although I duffed a couple tee shots and there were 20-30mph winds, I still managed some pars and birdied 7, 15, and 16. Ended up with 82 and with my current hcp index I’m mighty happy with that result. More golf tomorrow and Thursday!!! So happy I got the OC accomplished first day.

 

7D285397-1F23-4B30-8E3A-C0627DF62E9E.jpeg

CB4159DE-E28C-41B5-9300-23CC5B530A38.jpeg

2882C04E-23DD-45F6-A355-2054C3E348B6.jpeg

1881C6BD-5E54-40FB-9D11-532F36FE4293.jpeg

4CC78195-C7EB-40D1-ADDE-22E7C6CC3000.jpeg

4ABD1030-AD46-454D-AF66-8434E8F0F9EE.jpeg

96EEC3FA-8D21-4F40-814B-06E1576316D3.jpeg

A7ACD705-5314-4071-9656-C783D3156591.jpeg

40E04372-0BA8-4898-A4B1-215B24F5C131.png

You look like Lee Westwood standing on Swilcan Bridge!

Driver: :titelist-small: TSI3 - 10*, Hzrdus Smoke 6.0 Stiff

Driver: :taylormade-small: Stealth Plus - 10.5*, Oban Kiyoshi Purple O4Flex-65 Grams Purred
3 Wood: :taylormade-small: SIM - 15*, Graphite Design Tour AD DJ5 Stiff
Hybrid: :titelist-small: TS3 - 19*, Hzrdus Smoke 6.0 Stiff
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Putter:  :scotty-cameron-1: Phantom X 5.5
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