My first trip to Scotland with my father, uncle and cousin was the birth of my love for links golf. The mix of of golf and sea while golfing through the coveted linksland on which the game was founded was a spellbinding experience. I was hooked and already craving more on our return flight. I spent years dreaming of the next adventure. I realized that the least expensive way to craft a memorable trip to Ireland that we would have to seek out lthe inks less traveled!
I returned in 2006 with three cousins and set off on a budget minded and golf crazy trip to Donegal County. With L.C. Lambrecht’s book Emerald Gems serving as my guide, I put together an itinerary that had us visiting every links course that we could find. From th e ned of the earth 9 holer Cruit Island with an honesty box on the first tee to legendary Royal County Down, it was a true golf adventure! We played 15 rounds in 10 days.
Our next trip was to County Kerry and County Clare, where we rented a couple of great houses from which we toured the great links golf courses of Southwest Ireland. From Ballybunnion to Spanish Point (where there is a mail slot on the pro shop door for grreens fees when the shop is closed) we had an amazing golf adventure playing 18 rounds in 13 days.
Our next trip to Scotland is for a week of golf in the St. Andrews area, followed by a week of golf in East Lothian . From Anstruther and the Old Course in Fife to North Berwick and Winterfield in East Lothian. From the “Home of Golf” to “Scotland’s Golf Coast”, the itinerary of links less traveled will leave meories of a lifetime. And due to less drive time: 22 rounds in 13 days.