Clayton Posted April 26, 2022 Share Posted April 26, 2022 (edited) 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 May 10, 2022 by Clayton MGoBlue100, Kanoito, Kenny B and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyStayPlay.com Posted May 3, 2022 Share Posted May 3, 2022 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! GaDawg and Clayton 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GolfX360 Posted May 3, 2022 Share Posted May 3, 2022 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 Clayton 1 Quote Phil. p Golfim360 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clayton Posted May 4, 2022 Author Share Posted May 4, 2022 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clayton Posted May 4, 2022 Author Share Posted May 4, 2022 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clayton Posted May 10, 2022 Author Share Posted May 10, 2022 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. tommc23, GaDawg, Kenny B and 6 others 4 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveP043 Posted May 10, 2022 Share Posted May 10, 2022 Congratulations, that's a great score, and I know it was a great experience. Clayton, GaDawg and sirchunksalot 3 Quote Irons Titleist T200, AMT Red stiff Rogue SubZero, GD YS-Six X T22 54 and 58 wedges 7-wood 5-wood B60 G5i putter Right handed Reston, Virginia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GaDawg Posted May 11, 2022 Share Posted May 11, 2022 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. You look like Lee Westwood standing on Swilcan Bridge! Shapotomous, sirchunksalot and Clayton 3 Quote Driver: TSI3 - 10*, Hzrdus Smoke 6.0 Stiff Driver: Stealth Plus - 10.5*, Oban Kiyoshi Purple O4Flex-65 Grams Purred 3 Wood: SIM - 15*, Graphite Design Tour AD DJ5 Stiff Hybrid: TS3 - 19*, Hzrdus Smoke 6.0 Stiff Irons: 5 - PW T150, with Nippon Zelos 7 Reg, 4 iron - U505 with Project X HZRDUS Black Stiff Wedges: Vokey SM 8 - 50*, 60* Standard Wedge Shafts Wedge: Milled Grind 3 MG3 56* S200 shaft Putter: Studio Select Newport 1.5 Putter: Phantom X 5.5 Ball: Pro V1x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clayton Posted May 15, 2022 Author Share Posted May 15, 2022 Just an FYI for any of you that would like to see what golf is like at the Old, Jubilee, and at the Torrance and Kittocks courses, I've uploaded over 300 photos here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10227750640622701&type=3 GaDawg 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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