Caddie Golf Tours

A look through my golf bag and the back of the car the other day and I discover 70+ golf balls with many no longer fit for purpose, 'tatties' in other words! The good, scuffed and bruised balls were cleaned, the worse of them discarded and the rest placed into the practice bag. I was left with 22 quality golf balls that will be used for my winter golf season here in St Andrews. A wee bit of time was taken to place my identity mark on them with a sharpie, then throw 1/2 a dozen into the golf bag and I am ready to go...Fore!

A wonderful winter's golf on the Old Course this afternoon with our golfers from Sweden who were taken by surprise at the warmth, sunshine and little wind during their round. Driving from par 3, High In, 11 tee Old Course Putting out on Par 3 11th green Approaching the tough Par 4 13th green The drive from 18th tee Old Course St Andrews An excellent day with our golfer, Anders, who had a super round of golf on the Old Course, especially his 39 on the front 9 holes...Fore!

While golfing the Old Course St Andrews yesterday I landed my drive from the 18th tee onto the road that bisects the fairway at 250 yards. It is now commonly known as 'Granny Clark's Wynd' but during the 19th Century, and before, it was always called the Shore Road. The local rule on the Old Course offers no relief and the ball must be played from where it lies. So I did. Using my 9 iron I picked it clean and knocked it onto the centre of the green 120 yards up the wee hill. I produce 2 putts and par was secured...Fore! Always great fun to golf the Old Course with the occasional unexpected golf shots that present themselves...Fore!

The Old Course is a special place to golf and all golfers do have the opportunity to play this historic golf links and with some forward thinking, a wee bit of planning, it is achievable. If an advanced and guaranteed Old Course tee time is not purchased for next season, through the recognised tour operators, the golfer should not despair as The Ballot is the obvious way to receive a tee time and with a minimum of 2 and maximum of 4 golfers you apply to the St Andrews Links Trust with the names, handicaps and home club online, by phone or in person the 2 days before your day of play and before 14:00 pm. The result of the draw is known that same afternoon after 16:00 pm. Caddie Golf Tours are here to assist you and your golfers to play the Old Course and get the tour group to enjoy our exceptional links courses in and around St Andrews and throughout Scotland. Please contact us through the usual channels for honest advice about real golf in Scotland...Fore!

Great to have the European Tour arriving in St Andrews this week with the 'Alfred Dunhill Links Championship' at the Old Course, Carnoustie the 2018 Open venue and Kingsbarns which hosted the 2017 British Women's Open from Monday 2nd October. It is time to pull out the yardage books for #Kingsbarns Golf Links and #Carnoustie  and I have been lucky enough to have golfed both tracks a couple of times this year. I also walk the Old Course every day but a wee reminder with the caddies course guide will not go amiss for our golfer this week...Fore!

The Old Course St Andrews...Fore! Old Course St Andrews 18th tee Dear golfers the time is fast approaching for you to make your application for 2018 Old Course St Andrews tee times. The applications for dates next year can be submitted using an online form between Wednesday 23rd August through to Wednesday 6th September 2017. The following link takes you to the current information page for 2018 tee times on the official St Andrews Links Trust web site: https://play.standrews.com/ Old Course St Andrews 18th green A minimum of 2 and up to a maximum of 8 golfers can apply. May I suggest you appoint a Lead Golfer and they sub mit the application  on a date that suits all. The best dates, in my opinion, are from mid April and then the second week in May through to the end of August. There are no 'advance Old Course tee times' during September. This is a 2 course policy with a choice of the New or Jubilee courses added to your desired Old Course tee time request. The ...

18th green Old Course St Andrews.  The 2018 British Seniors Open , July 26-29, will not only be a joy but a wonderful opportunity to see this great event on the Old Course St Andrews. It begins the week immediately after the The Open Championship at Carnoustie with so many of our legendary golfers taking part.  The qualifiers will have options to golf their way into the tournament on our local courses at lovely Ladybank, super Scotscraig and the fabulous Fairmont Torrance, all were past previous Open Championship qualifying courses. Caddie Golf Tours 18th green Carnoustie.  Please contact Caddie Golf Tours to include these excellent Scottish links golf courses, and many others, in your trip to St Andrews and Scotland...Fore!

Last evening we attended the book launch of 'A History of Golf' written by our friend Roger McStavrick, at the wonderful book store Topping & Co here in St Andrews. Roger addressing audience in Topping & Co Roger is a golf historian, author and local St Andrews golfer who over the last 3 years has published the award winning 'St Andrews, In the Footsteps of Tom Morris' and the delightful children's book 'Little Tommy Morris'. LB with Roger McStavrick A lovely evening hosted by Topping & Co with Roger regaling the audience with some selected golf stories from his extensive research in St Andrews and further afield. A joy to meet up again and arrange that round on the Old Course in October...Fore!

We are delighted to report that the wee ducklings are still with us on the Old Course at St Andrews. There have been a few casualties but the mother does have 3 little ducklings to guide and look after.

A wonderful sight of a mother with her 7 little ducklings crossing the exposed Par 3 8th green on the Old Course heading for the safety of the long grass and Eden Estuary. We are pleased to report that they did reach the quietness of the little pond at the far end of the Eden Course and Estuary.

View from Marine Hotel across North Berwick West Links.  Our three golfing couples, collectively known as The Oystercatchers, took advantage of the mild February weather here in Scotland and golfed in North Berwick last weekend at  The Glen GC and the famous West Links with an overnight stay at MacDonald Marine Hotel. x2 rounds Scottish links golf x1 night 4 Star Marine Hotel 3 course Dinner at Craigleith Restaurant Full range of Breakfast choices Swimming pool, gym, Sauna and Steam Rooms Cost £320 = $400 per couple The lovely town of North Berwick, only 25 minutes south of Edinburgh, has long been used as a base to enjoy the golf in the town and around the area: Muirfield, Gullane and Dunbar golf courses are all within 20 minutes drive of the town. 'Sea' par 3 13th green The Glen GC. The prizes being played for were Best Female Golfer, Best Male Golfer, and Champion Couple using the Stableford points system. The obligatory longest drive and...

The Ballot As golfers begin to shake of winter and prepare to golf 2017 many are going to be focusing their attention on traveling to golf in Scotland and the Old Course St Andrews in particular. The question arises: How do you golf the Old Course at St Andrews without an advanced and guaranteed tee time? Answer: The Old Course Ballot This is the historic lottery held by the St Andrews Links Trust every afternoon, except Friday, for a number of un-allocated tee times on the Old Course 2 days before you wish to play. Applications are made 48 hours before your day of play Applications are accepted before 2:00pm You can apply in person at the Old Course Pavilion or Links Trust Clubhouse Phone +44 (0)1334 466 666 The golfer submits at least two names and maximum of four Home club membership and handicap details of all golfers are required Request 'play at any time' to increase the chances of success The Ballot result is available ...

Golfers, come and enjoy golf at St Andrews and with a guaranteed Old Course tee time for 2017! Now is your opportunity to strike this from your Bucket List! St Andrews 4Ball 28th June - 2nd July 2017 Four nights at Auchterlonie Apartment (with breakfast) Airport and golf transportation and golf at: Old Course New Course Crail Balcomie Kingsbarns Golf Links You walk from the apartment to your tee time on the Old Course. $1700 per golfer or £1340 British Pounds per golfer We look forward to assisting with your golf trip to St Andrews. Contact John at Caddie Golf Tours for more information about golf in Scotland, cheers!

We met at the Old Course St Andrews Starter's hut for our tee time at 9:40am. There was a wee discussion about the weather which was rather damp. Was it going to relent? Was it going to get worse? Did we want to golf? In my opinion we have an Old Course tee time that many would love to have and we should just get on to the course and golf! So after a pep talk with my 'enthusiastic' golfing partners we prepared to play. The light drizzle continued through to the 8th hole then stopped. The second of my golf matches with LB was on. This is an all year competition with LB getting 20 shots, the difference between our current handicaps. I am an 8 and she 28. I got slaughtered. 3 down at the turn LB did not ease up and never gave me any real hope of pulling back the ever increasing deficit, closing out the match 5 & 4 on the 14th green. Obviously we played in from there with LB continuing to golf well on the legendary Old Course while I golfed indifferent...

Golfers, there is still time to check off your Bucket List golf on the Old Course St Andrews and drive from this famous 1st tee like our clients last year. St Andrews 4Ball 28th - 2nd June, 2017 4 nights at Dunvegan Hotel (with breakfast) Airport and golf transportation Guaranteed Old Course and New Course tee times Golf Kingsbarns Golf Links and Crail Balcomie You walk 140 yards to Old Course 1st tee $1700 per golfer (1340 British Pounds) Contact Caddie Golf Tours via email, our web site or our social media sites at Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for detailed information. We look forward to hearing from you soon to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity...FORE!