Print this page  |  Close Window

By: David Brice
Golf International, Inc.

Crail's Balcomie Links is one of Old Tom's wonderful designs that remains a stranger to many visitors

Anyone investigating the cost of taking an international golf trip these days has discovered that just like everything else, it's more expensive this year than it was last, which was already more expensive than the year before.

The longer we postpone purchases of any kind, the more expensive they are inclined to become.

No matter how fondly we remember the good old days when we could fill the family car's gas tank for $20 and a cup of coffee cost way under a dollar, those days have gone forever.

We have adjusted to spending $50 or $60 to fill the gas tank and we all know a cup of Starbuck's coffee costs closer to $5. Everything has a way of only becoming more expensive and once the price has gone up, seldom if ever, does it come down.

Turnberry's second course, The Kintyre, is ranked # 30 in Scotland

Internationally, things are no different and as the global economy has adjusted to better reflect the true international situation, so the US dollar has adjusted in value to reflect the very same thing. It's not been a sudden occurrence, but one that has been gradually happening over the past 5 years or so.

Anyone waiting for the dollar to strengthen before taking that international trip, is likely to be in for a very long wait and chances are the dollar will never be as strong again as it is today, no matter whether we are speaking about the Euro or the British Pound.

Nairn is in hot pursuit of Royal Dornoch as the Highland's best links

The fact of the matter is that a golf trip to play only the top ranked courses in Europe, staying in the very best luxury hotels, is probably going to cost about the same as it would be to take a similar, top of the line trip in the USA and that cost will be high.

But it need not be that way and for those who still want the very special experience of traveling Across the Pond on an international golf trip, there are excellent values to be found. This is where a little professional help from an experienced golf travel company, such as Golf International, will be of tremendous assistance.

Brora Golf Links - an historic treasure, not to be missed

There are golf values to be found throughout Europe and although they may not include guaranteed starting times on St. Andrews Old Course or Ballybunion, the quality of the courses will be top drawer in every way. The secret to finding Europe's best golf travel values is to think outside of the box.

The law of supply and demand never changes and applies as much to golf travel as to any other commodity.

Wherever you find courses that every visiting golfer insists on playing, the likelihood is that you will also find prices that may have grown out of hand. Get away from the well-trodden path and you will begin to discover some of the real values. Good values exist in Scotland and Ireland, they can be found in England and Wales and for some truly exceptional bargains, think Portugal and Spain.

The Glen is special treat still unknown to most visitors

Scotland can be expensive if you limit your golf to only the championship courses of Ayrshire in the southwest and the St. Andrews area, especially if you are looking for a guaranteed time on the Old Course, but it needn't be.

You can enjoy the atmosphere of St. Andrews and take your pick of 20 other excellent courses, with green fees less likely to break the bank, all sitting within a 15 minute drive.

The wonderful links layouts at Crail, Scotscraig, Lundin Links, Elie and Ladybank are only a few names among the group, each offering exceptional values and a truly memorable Scottish links experience. Day tickets are another way to reduce greens fees significantly. Don't overlook the so-called, second courses of some clubs.

Craigielaw offers a pure, unadulterated links experience

The Westin Turnberry is the plushest golf resort in Scotland's southwest and proud owner of Britain's top ranked Ailsa Course, scheduled to host The British Open for the 4th time in 2009.

Turnberry's sparkling "second layout", the Kintyre Course, is ranked among Scotland's top 30 and a day ticket here, including both courses, reduces the average green fee considerably, with absolutely no compromises.

Kingsbarns Links, one of the St. Andrews area's very best, has introduced a new "double round" offer for next year, allowing visitors to play two rounds on Scotland's #7 ranked course at a significant savings.

Cruden Bay - an unforgetable experience and excellent value

Visit some of the other Scottish regions less traveled by the average golf visitor and there are golf bargains galore. The Scottish Highlands and East Lothian, the region just east of Edinburgh, are two prime examples.

Royal Dornoch is the shining star of the Highlands, but the championship links at Nairn is in hot pursuit for the title and there are a host of other links gems in the region, more than worthy of your time.

Tain, Brora, Golspie, Old Moray, Fortrose & Rosemarkie, are among the many historic links courses that call out to be played and all with green fees only a fraction the cost of those famous, "trophy courses".

Golf has been played at Fraserburgh since 1613

The tiny Scottish county of East Lothian sits a short 30 minute drive east of Edinburgh and although it contains over 20 excellent links courses, including a few of Scotland's very best, is all but overlooked by most American visitors.

Muirfield, Gullane, Musselburgh and North Berwick, are all names that have played an important role in golf history and among the finest examples of Scottish links golf in existence, yet they remain unfamiliar to many visitors.

And this short list doesn't include East Lothian's real hidden gems -- Dunbar, The Glen, Craigielaw, Luffness New and Longniddry being among the most notable.

Carnoustie's testy Burnside Course should not be overlooked

With reasonable green fees and a genuine Scottish golf experience, it's difficult to understand why this golf rich corner of Scotland has not yet garnered any serious attention from visiting American golfers. Take advantage of this unwarranted lack of popularity and you will discover some exceptional golf values.

There are similar good deals to be found in other regions of the country. They occur around the city of Aberdeen where Royal Aberdeen Golf Club takes most of the spotlight. But more than a dozen other links layouts in the area demand at least some attention, with Cruden Bay, Murcar, Fraserburgh and Peterhead heading an impressive list of nearby links courses, all located within a 30-minute drive of the city and all with sensible green fees.

Monifieth Links - Scottish golf at its raw best

Every Scottish golf trip should include at least one of the famous trophy courses as the highlight of your Scottish golf experience, regardless of how limited the budget might be.

If there is to be just one, British Open venue, Carnoustie calls out for the honor and it won't be as costly as other Open hosts.

A day ticket at Carnoustie includes a round on the challenging Burnside Course together with the round on the Championship Course and is only fractionally more than playing the Championship Course alone. Another advantage to staying in the Carnoustie area is the selection of well-respected courses nearby, too often overlooked by visitors and they all have attractive green fees.

Panmure, Monifeith, Montrose and Downfield each live in the shadow of mighty Carnoustie and suffer from it. As excellent a test of golf as each provides, they will never be the focus of attention, a situation that would be entirely different if they were only located 20 miles further away from the feature attraction, Open host, Carnoustie.

Once again, a lack of familiarity to visitors results in a lack of demand to play these beauties, creating more golfing bargains for the better informed visitor to take advantage of.

Yes, the cost of a golf trip has become more expensive, just as everything else has, but for the frugal golf traveler there remain many true values -- you just have to look for them, or ask the professionals at Golf International for some expert assistance.

For more ideas and suggestions on finding affordable golf trips to Scotland, click here.

© 2007 David Brice / Golf International Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Golf International -- Providers of quality golf travel arrangements since 1988.