5 Golf Travel Tips from our 2023 Season
As Golf Concierge Scotland celebrates its 5th birthday, we continue to develop our golf travel knowledge while enjoying new experiences. Here are 5 golf travel tips discovered on our travels this past season.
1- Shannon Ferry
While escorting a group from Lahinch in County Clare to make a tee time at Ballybunion Old we enjoyed taking the Shannon Ferry from Killimer to Tarbert. The sailing over the Shannon Estuary takes 20 minutes and will save you about 1 hour of driving time but more importantly a chance to enjoy the scenery, craic and perhaps even spot a dolphin.
2 - Fraserburgh Golf Club
Off the beaten track in the North East of Scotland we played The Corbiehill Links at Fraserburgh Golf Club for the first time back in August. Wow, what a special part of the country, the course benefitted from a James Braid re-design in 1922 and really gets going from the 3rd tee, taking you on a journey through some of the highest sand dunes in Scotland with enjoyable risk reward holes and natural features. The 7th Oldest Golf Club in the world, Fraserburgh is a course not often featured in our Aberdeenshire packages, ranked in Scotland's Top 50 courses, Corbiehill is raw in places but one for those purists.
3- The Old Course Singles Line
If you are not lucky enough to have a pre-booked tee time on The Old Course or have any success in the 48 Hour Ballot, the Old Course singles line is a last resort which is worth a shot. But be prepared to get in line after an early dinner the night prior until The Old Course Pavilion opens at 6am. One of our groups this year discovered that there was a 4-ball opening the next day and spent 13.5 hours in line. A long night but an unforgettable evening of playing cards, eating takeaway pizza and staying up with your golfing companions to secure a round on the most iconic golf course in the world.
4- Invernairne Guest House
The Invernairne family run guest house in Nairn was our favourite golfers bar of the year. The Baronial Lounge Bar is for residents-only, operating an honesty system and featuring panoramic sea views across the Moray Firth and The Black Isle. We found no better hostelry this season to enjoy a dram of a local Speyside malt than beside Invernairne’s roaring fireplace.
5 – Dornoch Station Hotel
Golf tourists should not need more encouragement to visit this famous Highland Golf town, birthplace of Donald Ross and home to one of The World’s Top 10 Courses Royal Dornoch. However, the newly renovated 5-star Dornoch Station Hotel has had a monumental transformation into a luxury golfers retreat with views over the 1st Hole. Breakfast was the best we had this season. The property is the brainchild of Marine & Lawn who have worked their magic on other iconic golf hotels in St Andrews, Troon and North Berwick. Facilities include 89 stylish bedrooms and suites, The Golden Horse Restaurant, Bar Ross, a full size snooker table and private resident putting green on front lawn. Dornoch Station is very swish indeed and strengthens Dornoch’s standing as the ideal base for a highland golf tour.
