A first-timers golf trip to Scotland: Tips & tricks

Something that most people worry about when it comes to a golf vacation to countries like Scotland and Ireland is the weather. Most of these courses had only been open for the season for a couple of weeks, so I was expecting it to be a little chilly.

I’d say that May-August is the best time to take a trip over there so you can enjoy some warmer weather. Rain will come and go, but it never stayed long enough to dampen our golf game. The weather is just another part of the experience. In the States, we never hope for a rainy or windy day, but these courses are built for this type of weather and offer a great challenge that we wouldn’t be able to compare to any domestic trip.

Another topic people brought up that I gained some clarity on was the caddy, pushcart, and golf cart situation. Typically, I play with my golf bag and use a golf cart for every round I play throughout the year. When I first learned I was going on this trip, I started to walk and carry my bag a few more times to get acclimated to the whole walking experience.

You should experience Scottish golf for what it is – so I walked every round I played. In total, this was about 4 rounds in 5 days, so my legs were definitely feeling it on that fifth day. It was not the easiest thing, but it was very much well worth it. If you are able, I recommend walking all rounds of golf and even hiring a caddy here and there. It gives you the chance to take in every aspect of the course, gain a level of respect for the terrain, and makes the pint of beer after completing one of the most prestigious courses in the world taste that much better.[/woodmart_info_box]