St Andrews/Fife May Bank Holiday Courses - Advice/Recommendations

[rystaman]

With the St Andrews 3-day unlimited pass discontinued, I’ve been reworking my plans for the upcoming bank holiday (22–26 May). I’m heading up from the Midlands as a single golfer (with the missus who's walking the courses) and aiming to get a round a day in on Thursday to Sunday (leaving Monday free).

Elie, Crail, and Leven are all fully booked, so my usual plan of a Leven twilight round on Thursday isn’t an option this year and to be honest Crail and Elie were a little pricey if I was looking at the courses below as well.

Current plan:

Thursday:
Enter Old Course ballot to try my luck for Friday
Thinking Anstruther 9 holes before heading for some food

Friday:
Either the New/Eden or Old course (if I'm lucky and my wallet can stretch)

Saturday:
Either the Eden, Fairmont Kittocks after 3pm, or Scotscraig twilight.

Sunday:
Depending on what I managed to get on the previous days, potentially one of the above or look at Ladybank, Lundin or Arbroath.

I haven’t played Fairmont, Scotscraig, Ladybank, Lundin, or Arbroath before so any recommendations or alternative suggestions would be much appreciated.

 

[abjectplop]

Have you played Monifieth? You can get 2 rounds there (1 on each course) for £150.

Panmure? £140 for UK golf club members.

 

[rystaman]

Have you played Monifieth? You can get 2 rounds there (1 on each course) for £150.

Panmure? £140 for UK golf club members.

Played the Ashludie course a few years back but not the medal. I think the offer is only weekdays so might be a stretch tomorrow being over the bridge but definitely worth a shout.

Panmure was another I'd looked at, but just didn't really know too much about. Was also looking at Lundin too

 

[Deleted member 30853]

I might be wrong but not sure you can enter the ballot as a single golfer.

 

[rystaman]

I might be wrong but not sure you can enter the ballot as a single golfer.

There's a singles daily draw ballot - https://standrews.com/singles_daily_draw

 

[Deleted member 30853]

There's a singles daily draw ballot - https://standrews.com/singles_daily_draw

Cheers I didn't know that

 

[Bratty]

Cheers I didn't know that

I got in doing that. Go to the Pavillion the day before and enter your name using the tablets. Then pray!
It's that easy.
And if you get in:
Treat yourself to a caddie.
Favour the left for the front nine off the tee.
Don't be afraid to play sideways/backwards out of some bunkers! It will save your score.
If you hit a fade, don't aim over the 'O' of hotel on the 17th. Corner of the building will be fine.
If you want a coffee, best one I've found in St. Andrews is Dook, a beach hut cafe opposite the New Course by the West Sands car park.

Ladybank is an amazing golf course, but not cheap. Well worth the money though. I preferred it to the Fairmont courses.
If you want a bargain but cheap and cheerful, then St. Michael's (15 minutes out of St. Andrews) might be worth a look. VERY hilly though.

 

[rystaman]

Looks like Sunday is a complete washout anyway with 45mph gusts so might be limited to just the Thursday, Friday and Saturday

 

[kp17]

Scotscraig is such an underrated course, tricky but brilliant, will be a real test with how dry it’ll be after the recent weather.

You really can’t go wrong with every place you’ve mentioned, panmure, monifeith good shouts too.

I would put the fairmonts as a last resort though. Okay but not a patch on some of those listed.

 

[Deleted member 30853]

Scotscraig is ok. Great condition greens etc. played it an open for £40. That was a good deal not sure it's worth over 100 though!

 

[abjectplop]

Scotscraig is ok. Great condition greens etc. played it an open for £40. That was a good deal not sure it's worth over 100 though!

Currently £40 for late afternoon times which is a great deal.

 

[Deleted member 30853]

Currently £40 for late afternoon times which is a great deal.

That's fantastic value tbf.

 

[abjectplop]

There's a singles daily draw ballot - https://standrews.com/singles_daily_draw

Panmure is genuinely fantastic! Worth playing if you get the chance.

 

[kp17]

Currently £40 for late afternoon times which is a great deal.

Won’t get much better value than that anywhere

 

[rystaman]

Scotscraig is such an underrated course, tricky but brilliant, will be a real test with how dry it’ll be after the recent weather.

You really can’t go wrong with every place you’ve mentioned, panmure, monifeith good shouts too.

I would put the fairmonts as a last resort though. Okay but not a patch on some of those listed.

Oh really, I'm not staying too far from them so was contemplating a twilight (past 5pm) on the torrance for £70 which seemed like decent value

 

[AliMc]

Played the Ashludie course a few years back but not the medal. I think the offer is only weekdays so might be a stretch tomorrow being over the bridge but definitely worth a shout.

Panmure was another I'd looked at, but just didn't really know too much about. Was also looking at Lundin too

Panmure, Scotscraig, Ladybank, Lundin Links and Leven all great courses and worth a visit

 

[rystaman]

I mean I called up St Andrews this morning to book ahead the Eden for tomorrow and got told there’s no tee times until past 5pm. Never had this issue any other year so looks like my decisions are being made for me

 

[rystaman]

I got in doing that. Go to the Pavillion the day before and enter your name using the tablets. Then pray!
It's that easy.
And if you get in:
Treat yourself to a caddie.
Favour the left for the front nine off the tee.
Don't be afraid to play sideways/backwards out of some bunkers! It will save your score.
If you hit a fade, don't aim over the 'O' of hotel on the 17th. Corner of the building will be fine.
If you want a coffee, best one I've found in St. Andrews is Dook, a beach hut cafe opposite the New Course by the West Sands car park.

Ladybank is an amazing golf course, but not cheap. Well worth the money though. I preferred it to the Fairmont courses.
If you want a bargain but cheap and cheerful, then St. Michael's (15 minutes out of St. Andrews) might be worth a look. VERY hilly though.

Obviously different for Americans but for us brits not used to tipping, any idea what’s acceptable for the old course caddies if I do somehow get in and max the credit card haha

 

[kp17]

Oh really, I'm not staying too far from them so was contemplating a twilight (past 5pm) on the torrance for £70 which seemed like decent value

Yeah I mean if it suits they’re still decent, don’t want to put them down as you’ll still have a good time there the scenery is also brilliant looking back down into the town and along the coast, just if it was choice between there and the others mentioned there are better courses for similar or even cheaper £££

 

[Bratty]

Obviously different for Americans but for us brits not used to tipping, any idea what’s acceptable for the old course caddies if I do somehow get in and max the credit card haha

Between £50 and £70, I think, but the starter should tell you. Take £100, in case you get one of the greats!