Are caddies in Scotland worth it?

What's the going rate and which of the below courses should you absolutely have a caddie?

June 22 - Cabot Highlands & Nairn West
June 23 - Royal Dornoch Struie & Royal Dornoch Championship
June 24 - Kingsbarns
June 25 - Jubilee (Potentially New Course after)
June 26 - Old Course (Potentially Carnoustie after)
June 27 - Prestwick
June 28 - Dundonald Links & Western Gailes

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If I played the Old Course without a caddie I would have no idea where to aim on a lot of the holes.

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same. holes are going in every direction. If you're paying to travel overseas get the caddies. well worth the money at every stop. usually really good guys too who make the round even more enjoyable besides helping with shots.

just remember you are walking every course, you might be able to get a trolley but after 3-4 rounds, you body will feel it.

With the Old Course, we got them and they are worth it. You have holes every where and people hitting tee shots alll around, Jubilee, New Course etc.

We had a few groups hit into us from another course and never knew to think of looking at that hole to hit into us.

98Ag99Grad said:

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Quote:

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If I played the Old Course without a caddie I would have no idea where to aim on a lot of the holes.

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same. holes are going in every direction. If you're paying to travel overseas get the caddies. well worth the money at every stop. usually really good guys too who make the round even more enjoyable besides helping with shots.

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The first time I played there, the caddy gave me a line on 4 or 5 and based on where I thought the target was I thought "this *******, I know I hit a couple tee balls a little right today but it's not that bad." I went with his line and was dead center in the fairway.

We did Scotland last year....7 courses in 5 days. I would HIGHLY recommend playing with caddies. Its a much more enjoyable experience, you will score better, and you will be entertained and get some history lessons a long the way.

I played 1 of the 7 rounds without a caddy (New Course). One of the greens was a double pin hole. Ended up shooting at the wrong pin.

Looking at your list, you could probably get away without a caddy at Jubilee & New Course, but I would get caddies at all of the other courses.

Pay for the caddie and not a shared caddie. You will want your own personal caddie. Don't do shared caddies if they offer. You are going to Scotland - pay up! Caddies make the experience so much better.

Thanks for all the replies and insights. Keep them coming if you have any other suggestions you would like to share!

In line with everyone else

Take caddies

If you end up not taking them at every course I would 100% take one at prestwick. Out of all the courses you are playing that has the most blind shots and quirky holes...also the old course.

Kingsbarns, nairn, and cabbot are somewhat straightforward

cb1919 said:

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All the courses we played last summer the caddies were 60-80 pounds plus tip, which I think I did 40 pounds.

I would recommend taking them. We did for every round. If I played the Old Course without a caddie I would have no idea where to aim on a lot of the holes.

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I've played The Old Course six times and still don't know where to hit it without a caddie!

Kingsbarns and Dundonald you'll probably be ok with out. They are designed to be pretty resorty and straightforward

From your list I've palyed Old Course, Carnoustie, Kingsbarns, and Prestwick. I would suggest a caddy on all, but if not I'd priortize getting a caddy highest to lowest as follows:

Prestwick - a ton of blind shots. I honestly don't think it would be a very enjoyable first round without a caddy.
Carnoustie - very tricky course and another instance where target golf can make the round so much more enjoyable.
Old Course - Doable without a caddy for some just because you've watched so many rounds there that you have at least a feel for the course. Depending on which tees you play there are some blind shots there but nothing like Prestwick.
Kingsbarns - I'd suggest a caddy just so you can take in the panoramic views and beautiful layout. It's the pebble beach of links golf and such a fun track. The last time I played there some of the locals were pretty confident we'd eventually see Kingsbarns in the Open rotation. R&A is pretty stubborn with that though so not holding my breath.

I hope you have a great trip and if I was leaving soon I'd be walking in the evening and preparing my liver. Great golf, great scotch and great beer.

One other thing. Don't shy away from the little munis int he villages. Some amazing courses that you can play for fractions of the big boys and every bit as good minus the history.

Get a caddie for Royal Dornoch championship course for sure. Also would recommend one at Kingsbarns and Old Course obviously. Jubilee you don't need one.

If you are playing 36 on the same day, I would also get one for both rounds or at least for the more premier course of the day.

I enjoyed the caddies for the stories they told, great historians and good recommendations on places to eat and drink.

M&WAgs said:

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Are caddies in Scotland worth it?

What's the going rate and which of the below courses should you absolutely have a caddie?

June 22 - Cabot Highlands & Nairn West
June 23 - Royal Dornoch Struie & Royal Dornoch Championship
June 24 - Kingsbarns
June 25 - Jubilee (Potentially New Course after)
June 26 - Old Course (Potentially Carnoustie after)
June 27 - Prestwick
June 28 - Dundonald Links & Western Gailes

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If you can afford it, take them for everything just for the sake of not having to haul your stuff around and get worn out by the time you get to the old course.

If you're trying to save some money, I'd for sure take a caddy at Nairn, Dornoch, Old Course and Prestwick.

If you're going to Scotland for 7 days and playing 10 plus round of golf, you can afford the caddies.

Well, yeah
We've done it before and even when you're there expecting to spend a bunch of money, dropping 400-500 extra pounds on a caddy on courses like Jubilee can seem a bit silly.

M&WAgs said:

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Are caddies in Scotland worth it?

What's the going rate and which of the below courses should you absolutely have a caddie?

June 22 - Cabot Highlands & Nairn West
June 23 - Royal Dornoch Struie & Royal Dornoch Championship
June 24 - Kingsbarns
June 25 - Jubilee (Potentially New Course after)
June 26 - Old Course (Potentially Carnoustie after)
June 27 - Prestwick
June 28 - Dundonald Links & Western Gailes

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Wow that's alot of moving around but should be a great time.

I was there last month and just stuck to the Fife area. Can speak to the St Andrews courses on your list. I also skipped Kingsbarns for Crail Balcomie and Elie. Just depends on what kind of experience you're looking for.

I think taking a caddie partially depends on your skill level and how much you know about the courses in advance. Push carts are very cheap and I opted to just do that a few times. For reference, I'm a 3 handicap.

Was lucky enough to play the Old Course twice. The first time I took a caddy but didn't have a great experience with him. Couldn't understand a word he was saying because of his thick Scottish accent, except when he told me I pushed or pulled a putt because he was trying to justify the read he gave me haha. He did give a little bit of guidance on aim points but most of the targets he picked were close to what I would have hit it anyway.

Despite my experience, I'd still recommend taking a caddie on the Old Course. Guessing most will add value.

The second time I played the Old Course (thanks to the daily singles lotto), I was paired with three younger local dudes who were mostly scratch players. None of us took a caddie. Tbh it was the best experience of the trip. It was like playing a casual round with friends on the most famous course in the world. I didn't take a caddie for the Jubilee either. It's mostly in front of you.

Deluxe said:

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The second time I played the Old Course (thanks to the daily singles lotto), I was paired with three younger local dudes who were mostly scratch players. None of us took a caddie. Tbh it was the best experience of the trip. It was like playing a casual round with friends on the most famous course in the world. I didn't take a caddie for the Jubilee either. It's mostly in front of you.

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I had a similar experience my only time playing the Old Course. I got there really early (2am) to be first in line for the singles. I managed to get paired with three local guys who were all really nice. I took a "student" caddie, which was a little cheaper and basically just a kid to carry my bag. The guys I played with told me aim points and helped read putts. They invited me to their club after our round for a drink. A great experience.

Correct answer = yes, all.

Did you enjoy Balcomie and Elie? Here is what we have planned for April:

Apr 23 - (Old Course holding)
Apr 24 - Elie
Apr 25 - (Old Course holding)
Apr 27 - New Course
Apr 28 - Carnoustie
Apr 29 - (Old Course holding)
Apr 30 - Balcomie

_lefraud_ said:

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Did you enjoy Balcomie and Elie? Here is what we have planned for April:

Apr 23 - (Old Course holding)
Apr 24 - Elie
Apr 25 - (Old Course holding)
Apr 27 - New Course
Apr 28 - Carnoustie
Apr 29 - (Old Course holding)
Apr 30 - Balcomie

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Yessir. Really enjoyed both of them. Classic links courses. No Laying Up did a few videos on them a few years ago that are good primers. TC put Elie in his top 10 courses in the world. I don't know if I'd go quite that far but it's great.

At Elie, def grab a bite/pint at the pub off #4 tee after your round. Crail has a nice restaurant overlooking Balcomie 15-18 as well.

I like the loose itinerary you have setup. Good optionality and you won't feel too rushed. On the days you aren't able to get on the Old Course, Jubilee and Eden course are solid fallback options if you don't feel like driving (neither is too difficult to get on).

Do you have lodging yet? I stayed at Hotel Du Vin. It was about a 3 minute walk from Old Course #1 tee. Plenty of parking.

Elie is awesome, don't miss it. Did a Scotland trip last summer and it was one of my favorite rounds. Take a push cart and walk it.

Appreciate the info, listened to No Laying Up and based our selections on their podcast, just wanted to verify. We are staying in Fife for the entire trip (a few minutes walk from The Old Course), outside of the day trip to Carnoustie. We left a few different days to camp out for The Old Course, assuming we don't get on the ballot. Also, leaving some time for non golf activities.

Keep the tips coming.

_lefraud_ said:

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Appreciate the info, listened to No Laying Up and based our selections on their podcast, just wanted to verify. We are staying in Fife for the entire trip (a few minutes walk from The Old Course), outside of the day trip to Carnoustie. We left a few different days to camp out for The Old Course, assuming we don't get on the ballot. Also, leaving some time for non golf activities.

Keep the tips coming.

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There is no more camping out for the Old Course. You will go to the main clubhouse by the New Course and Jubilee and register by I think 3pm the day before to enter the lottery. Make sure to take off your hat when you take a picture at the kiosk so that you aren't disqualified like my dad was. You'll get a text later that evening (I believe 5pm) to tell you if you were selected like I was lucky enough to be. I think on day of you can hangout by the starters shack of the Old Course to see if there are any no shows.

It's such a shame they got rid of the queue. It was strangely a great time lining up with a bunch of other golf sickos at 3am to play a round of golf.

I found myself on the other side of the world at 3 am talking to a guy about a Mexican restaurant in San Antonio.

https://standrews.com/singles_daily_draw

Quinn gave a good synopsis of the Old Course daily singles draw above. I was also lucky enough to win as well.

Additionally, I'm not sure if they do this every year, but last year there was a Swilcan Package that you could apply for in ~September for the following year. It's like 680 pounds for a round at the Old Course, a round at the Castle course, and some food/beverage and driving range credits. I was initially notified that I hadn't been selected, but then in November I got an email from a lady at St Andrews saying they had a few open spots if I was still interested. So I was able to lock up an Old Course tee time through that as well.

I had heard iffy things about the Castle course, so I emailed her and I asked if I could transfer that tee time to the New course instead. She said that was fully booked, but I could have the Jubilee. So I took that. I'm guessing this is where you'd need to look around September to find a link to apply for the Swilcan Package...

https://standrews.com/offers-and-packages

AI/Google can give you more precise advice as well. One caveat is that you may not be able to secure a tee time in April via the Swilcan Package. My only options were in June/July.

Also, while you're there, for 12 pounds you can use this site to get connected with other singles trying to play St Andrews. I was unsuccessful but I've seen positive testimonies.

https://gingerbeergolftravel.com/st-andrews-links-old-course/