EAST COAST OF SCOTLAND - MAY 2025
Scotland is blessed with so many wonderful courses and areas to explore. This trip takes in some of the very best that the country has to offer. We will start in my home town of Gullane, playing rounds at the likes of Dunbar and North Berwick, before winding our way up to the north east. On the way we will play some of the true classics such as Elie and Panmure before finishing in Aberdeen at both Cruden Bay and Royal Aberdeen.
This is a great way to discover not only the great courses of the East Coast, but we will also have the chance to explore the towns and places that make Scotland such a special destination.
The trip includes luxury transportation, comfortable hotels and golf, as well as some meals together (and pints for those who want) on the way.
I hope you can join me on what promises to be a very special trip.
Please email me at david@ukgolfguy.com if you have any questions or to book your place!
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL WEB BROCHURE
ITINERARY HIGHLIGHTS
Full details and course descriptions are in the brochure. Here are the highlights -
SATURDAY 17TH MAY 2025
You should meet at Edinburgh airport for an 11am departure.
We will be transported in a luxury coach for the next week which will include refreshments and comfortable leather seats to ensure we travel in style!
Our first round is a perfect warm up - the charming links course of Kilspindie on the bank of the Firth of Forth. A course to try out all those links shots you've dreamt about!
We will then head to Gullane, a wonderful spot to base oursleves in East Lothian for the next three nights. The Mallard Hotel is in the heart of the action. This four star hotel has comfy rooms, a good bar and recently refurbished restaurant.
We will have a group meal together in the hotel this evening.
SUNDAY 18TH MAY
We’re going to head down the coast tonight to Dunbar. It’s a pretty fishing village with a lovely links course playing on a thing piece of land by the water.
The course has hosted several prestigious events including The Scottish Amateur Open, the British Boys Championship, and final Open Qualifying.
After the round we will head back to Gullane for a night at leisure - there are plenty of restaurants and pub options to keep you entertained.
MONDAY 19TH MAY
Today is one of those very special days! We will start with a warm up round at Gullane 3 - literally right next to our hotel! Then we will head into North Berwick (10 minutes drive away) for a round at the famous West Links.
North Berwick is loaded with wonderful quirk and unique character, and just might be the most fun golf course in the world.
With shots over beaches, stone walls, burns, and half-par holes, what more could you want?
We’ll eat together after our round an reminisce about one of golf’s truly special day.
TUESDAY 20TH MAY
We will transfer to Elie in Fife for our round today.
The booking sheet for 2025 doesn't open until later in the summer so there is an outside chance we will have to rearrange this round for another course but I don't anticipate that's likely. If we do have to reschedule we will play somewhere like Lundin Links or Crail.
Golf has been played in Elie since the 15th century but it was Old Tom Morris who laid out 18 holes in 1895. James Braid was born and bred here and made some changes to his home course in 1921; since then it’s pretty much untouched.
You will find a course that rewards guile over brute strength in the most wonderful setting on the south Fife coast.
After playing at Elie we will make a stop in St Andrews for a walk around the town and a bite to eat. We will then head up to Dundee for a night in the Indigo Hotel.
WEDNESDAY 21ST MAY
We have a leisurely morning in Dundee before heading to the historic clubhouse at Panmure.
Panmure may not be as well known as many courses but one man always had very fond memories of the place. Ben Hogan practiced here for the two weeks before his only Open appearance (which he won) at Carnoustie. The signature hole on the course is named after him.
The course provides a real test and has been used for several highly ranked amateur tournaments as a result. A mixture of links an heathland, it is seen as one of the real hidden gems of Scottish golf.
After the round we will continue north to Aberdeen. We will spend the next two days in the central, 4 star, Sandman Hotel.
THURSDAY 22ND MAY
Another day - another historic course. Today we will play Royal Aberdeen.
Royal Aberdeen has a rich history. The club can trace its origins back to 1780 and the formation of ‘The Society of Golfers at Aberdeen’.
The course at Balgownie, just a couple of miles north of the City of Aberdeen, came into existence some years later in 1888. Archie and Robert Simpson were the architects behind the initial layouts, with James Braid lengthening the course and adding 40 bunkers some years later.
It is a classic Scottish Links course and the holes in the dunes on the front nine are amongst the very best in the land.
We’ll have a group dinner together tonight in Aberdeen.
FRIDAY 23RD MAY
I think it’s safe to say that today’s course is another all-worlder that will last in your memory for a lifetime. Such is the splendour of Cruden Bay.
Set against the backdrop of the eponymous bay from which the club derived its name and the North Sea visible beyond, nestled among the towering sand dunes lies the rugged links of Cruden Bay Golf Club. Cruden Bay is best described as an adventure.
As you scale the massive dunes, hitting tee shots from high above to rumpled fairways or hidden, punchbowl greens, mystery and surprise seems to be around every corner.
After our round we will head down to Edinburgh airport where we will stay for the night so people are well positioned for their flights home. There will be time for a stop for a meal and a few last drinks on the way.
SATURDAY 24TH MAY
Departure from airport.
PACKAGE PRICE
· £4,295 per person, based on twin/double accommodation. Single supplement of £750.
· A 50% non-refundable deposit is required at time of booking, with the balance due 90 days before travel
· We strongly recommend that insurance be purchased at time of deposit
PACKAGE INCLUSIONS
· 7 nights accommodation as itemised above, on a bed and breakfast basis
· 8 rounds of golf as itemised
· All transfers to/from airport and golf courses. This is based on the whole group arriving and departing from the airport at the same time
· 5 group meals as itemised
WHO IS A UK GOLF GUY TRIP AIMED AT?
It's a very broad church!! Basically if you love playing great golf courses and exploring new places I’m pretty sure you will have a great time.
Often singles come along - you may find your friends aren't quite as passionate as you to discover new courses and this is a great way to meet like-minded souls.
Groups of friends do come too and that's great - the only thing I ask is that you are prepared to break your group up sometimes to play with others on the trip so we can mix things up a bit. But don't worry, I'll make sure you get to play with your travelling companions plenty too.
I run a few little competitions over the course of the trip but they are just for fun really - the focus here is on the courses and camaraderie rather than winning a trophy. If you'd rather not take part in that element, that's absolutely fine too.
I'll try to introduce a few other factors beyond just playing the golf courses - maybe a tour of the clubhouse, a talk from a local expert. Just some little touches to add a bit more colour to the trip.
So wherever you come from, whatever your golf is like - the most important thing is that you play at a good pace with a smile on your face wherever possible!
FEEDBACK FROM PREVIOUS UK GOLF GUY TRIPS
Just back from an amazing trip with David to Ireland. Thank you so much for an amazing time - couldn’t have asked for a better week, better organisation or better company
PT - DUBAI
It was a group of golfers who didn’t know one another. We had an absolute blast. David’s attention to every detail is superb. The courses in Melbourne and Tasmania were awesome to the say the least. I will go on another trip with UK Golf Guy and Outpost Overseas
JA - USA
A wonderful trip with a terrific itinerary all magnificently organised. Every 'i' dotted and every 't' crossed. Thank you.
DT - WALES
Great trip that exceeded expectations. David's passion and attention to detail was obvious from start of trip to finish of trip
PH - CANADA
I can honestly say this trip was perfect! David thought of everything down to the very last detail. He set us up at the best courses in Australia, every hotel was top notch, the included meals were terrific and the chartered flights to Tasmania were amazing! I would strongly recommend David if you’d like a high end fabulous golf trip. I will definitely be joining him again!
MG - USA
David ran an amazing trip. A few highlights on organisation I'd call out: - you had everything organised and it ran like clockwork - I really liked how you mixed us up so we played with different people throughout the trip - you gave us just the right amount of information at the right time leading up to and during the trip - a nice balance of meals together and evenings free to do our own thing. - good choice of accommodation throughout the trip I had a wonderful time, and really enjoyed the overall experience.
JR - ENGLAND