The First Timer's Guide to Golf in Scotland and Ireland

10 Tips for Your First Golf Trip to Scotland and Ireland

Plan early.

Arguably the most important tip for your first golf trip to Scotland or Ireland is to begin the planning process earlier than you think. The marquee courses, such as The Old Course at St. Andrews, Muirfield, Royal County Down, and Royal Portrush, usually release their tee times in the spring of the year prior to your trip. And they don’t last long. This being your first overseas golf trip, there’s a good chance your ideal itinerary includes at least one of these courses. To avoid disappointment, we suggest getting started around January of the year before your trip. The guides below cover this topic in even greater detail.

• When to Begin Planning a Golf Trip to Scotland

• When to Begin Planning a Golf Trip to Ireland

But before you put any plans to paper, you’ll want to…

Be selective with your invites.

For some first-time golf travelers, the invite list is already settled. Perhaps you’re planning a family golf trip to Scotland with your siblings and dad. Or maybe you and the regular foursome want to play Royal Portrush before The Open returns in 2025. On the other hand, if your group isn’t clearly defined, you’ll want to remember an old adage before you hand out a single invite… One bad apple can spoil the whole bunch.

This wisdom absolutely holds true for golf trips. We all have that one golfing acquaintance who manages to drain the life out of the group. Make sure their invitation is lost in the mail. If you’re having a hard time deciding who should or shouldn’t make the list, this guide will provide some valuable insight.

You’re probably going to change hotels.

Golfers visiting Scotland and Ireland for the first time should know that there are some key differences between trips across the pond and those here at home. For example, at domestic destinations like Bandon Dunes and Pinehurst, you’ll generally base yourself at one accommodation and play several courses throughout the trip. But when it comes to Scotland and Ireland golf packages, the great courses are spread far and wide.

In order for your first golf trip to Scotland to include The Old Course and Royal Dornoch–as just one of numerous examples–you’re going to have to change hotels. Possibly twice, which is common for the marquee destinations in Ireland. Because of this, it’s important that you pay special attention to our next piece of advice…

Don’t overdo it.

The biggest mistake that many golfers make when embarking on their first golf trip to Scotland or Ireland is planning an overly ambitious itinerary. The tendency with the first trip is to try and squeeze as many big name courses as possible into the time allotted. But as explained above, the bucket list golf courses, which most first-time travelers want to play, are spread all across Scotland and Ireland. You would need a month or better in each country in order to play them all.

Those same courses are also concentrated in several clusters within the two countries. Whether it's your first or tenth overseas golf trip, our advice is to choose the two or three regions that appeal to you most and play all of the marquee courses within those areas. The other clusters will be waiting for you on your next journey. Of course, choosing which regions to visit presents yet another conundrum. But rest easy, the guides below have you covered.

• The Best Regions for Golf in Scotland

• The Best Regions for Golf In Ireland

“All the prep by H&B made our trip smooth sailing! I also think staying in St. Andrews and Turnberry 'only' was so much easier than moving several times during the trip.”

~Coe Brier, Charleston National

Consider who’s driving.

When golfers travel to Scotland and Ireland for the first time, transportation is often an overlooked consideration. But there’s far more to this challenge than simply getting from one region to the next. Even within a single region, you may have a commute of an hour each way to a particular course.

For this reason, the majority of H&B travelers opt to hire a Driver-Host for their Expeditions. They’d just rather sit back, enjoy the view and camaraderie on the ride, and let a local deal with driving on the other side of the road. What’s better… Each and every year, our travelers list the Driver-Host as the best part of their time across the pond. That’s because your Driver-Host, as explained in this guide, is so much more than a means to get from Point A to Point B.

“Aidan O Donoughue was our driver-host and he was fantastic! Cannot say enough positive things about the whole "driver" experience. He made dinner reservations for us, recommended sightseeing and took us there, educated us on Ireland and its customs etc.”

~Dave Kuhl, Boulder Country Club and Champaign Country Club

Prepare your body.

You’re going to “get your steps in” during your first overseas golf trip. Golf carts - or “buggies” as they’re called - are virtually unheard of in Scotland and Ireland. In addition, most courses require a signed note from your physician in order to take one of the few carts they do have. You should be prepared to traverse the courses each day on foot.

The tradeoff to the lack of golf carts is actually an upgrade... Because at virtually every course across the pond, you’ll have the opportunity to take a caddie. And just like your Driver-Host, your caddies are certain to be among the highlights of your trip. Of course, navigating the ins and outs of caddies in Scotland and Ireland could fill a guide of its own. Which is why we’ve put one together for you here.

"Get in shape before you go. Maybe even incorporate 2 off days into your itinerary." 
~Jim Laubacher, Western Hills Country Club

Consider a day off.

Most travelers will play more rounds in the span of a week-long golf trip than they might over a few months, or even longer, back home. Although the desire to play as much golf as possible during your first trip to Scotland or Ireland is an understandable one, that many rounds can take a toll on both the mind and body.

For this reason, you should consider taking a day off the golf course. We know that’s easier said than done, especially when it’s your first trip. But at the end of it all, your body - and probably your scorecards - will appreciate the rest. And if your travel companions need a little convincing, this guide explains in detail why you should plan a day off the golf course during your trip.

"Take a day off from golf to be able to explore some local attractions and give the body a rest. We found a local pub in Inverness where we were the only Americans and enjoyed getting to interact with the regulars. People of Scotland are very warm and welcoming."
~Matt Hulse, Oaks Country Club

Don’t forget the Good Life.

Another common mistake golfers make during their first golf trip to Scotland or Ireland is putting all of the emphasis on golf and not much else. Ask any H&B traveler and they’ll tell you that the time off the golf course is just as important to your overall enjoyment of the trip as the time on it. We call it the Good Life, and it’s the foundation that separates Haversham & Baker from other golf travel companies.

Whether it’s a guided tour of Dublin or Edinburgh, a whisky tasting at Glenmorangie, or marveling at the view from the Cliffs of Moher or the Giant’s Causeway, no journey is complete without enjoying the history, culture, and people of your destination.

Take time to eat in the pubs, walk the cities, and take lots of photos.

~Ron Lessnau, Colorado Golf Club and Glenmoor Country Club

Prepare your game.

For many, the first golf trip to Scotland or Ireland delivers a rude introduction to links golf. During the course of your trip, you’re certain to encounter a variety of shots that you wouldn’t dream of playing back home. Our advice is to spend a few sessions at the range practicing your bump and run, keeping it low in the wind, and lengthy lag putts. You should also have a look at our guide to how to play links golf. By the time your departure date arrives, your game will be ready and your travel companions won’t know what hit them.

Pack less.

At the end of every H&B Expedition, we ask our travelers if there is any advice that they’d pass along to those making their first golf trip across the pond. Without question, the most common advice is just two words… Pack less.

What most fail to consider is that cooler weather often means that some articles of clothing can be worn more than once. But there’s another, more common reason why you should pack less than you think… Souvenirs. Along the way, you’re all but certain to pick up a variety of golf shirts and other fashionable keepsakes. Leave extra room in your luggage for your purchases, and put them to use during the trip itself.

For more helpful packing tips, see our guide to packing for a golf trip to Scotland and Ireland.

“Pack light. Most of our guys packed pretty heavy bags. You end up buying souvenirs along the way so be prepared to bring it all back.”

~Arthur Hoffmann – Fountaingrove Golf & Athletic Club

Bonus: Stay in the Moment.

Our last piece of advice for first-timers is something that most golf travel companies would rather not bring up… We would love nothing more than to say that every H&B Expedition goes off without a single hitch. But occasionally, stuff happens. It just comes with the territory these days with travel.

When you travel with H&B, in those rare cases when something goes awry, the combination of our 30 years of expertise, our dedicated partners on the ground, and our 24/7 support team are all called into action to get your trip back in the fairway. Whether you travel with us or not, if something goes sideways with your first trip, it’s important to stay in the moment, work through it quickly, and not let those momentary blips get in the way of enjoying your journey...

Because it’ll be over before you know it.