SCOTLAND 2024
9TH-15TH SEPTEMBER 2024 NORTH BERWICK, CARNOUSTIE, GULLANE 1, GULLANE 3, DUNBAR, THE GLEN
WELCOME WELCOME TO EAST LOTHIAN
Dear Intown Members —
Last year I took my first ever golf trip to Scotland, and my experience forever changed the G E O FisFa soulfulness S H A C K E FtoOthe R Dway A Nthe D sport D A VisI played D way I view the game. There and enjoyed that can only be described as… well, magical. The golf courses are breathtaking, as they tumble down alongside the coast and the crashing seas... requiring creative and deft shotmaking amid the ever-changing Scottish weather. Add the charming towns, friendly locals, historic clubhouses, the pints afterward, the friendships born and memories you make, and well… there’s nothing like it. With that, I am thrilled to invite you on an IGC Members Trip to the “Golf Coast” of East Lothian, Scotland, September 9th — 15th, 2024. The Michelin-rated Bonnie Badger Hotel will be our home base in the quaint golf village of Gullane. We’ll play headliners like Carnoustie and North Berwick, plus Scottish Open favorite, Gullane No. 1, as well a few local treasures like Dunbar and the Glen. Aside from the golf, there will be team dinners, visits to hickory club makers and local distilleries, plus David Jones (the UK Golf Guy) will join our group for an evening talk around the state of the game. I really hope you’ll join me on this unique IGC adventure. It will be a wonderful way to get to know fellow club members and a few of our team.The price of the trip is $6,000 for doubleoccupancy or $7,500 for a single, and includes everything except airfare and caddies. All details and full itinerary can be found in the following pages, and we have 16 total spots available. When we founded Intown I dreamed of doing trips like this. I hope you can join me. Sincerely, Michael Williamson
THE GLEN
PAR 70 6,048 YARDS 1894 BRAID, SAYERS SCOTLAND - RANKED 82
Known affectionately by locals as North Berwick's ‘East Links’, The Glen is where many of the locals play, and it's the perfect venue for our first round. A mixture of links and clifftop, it won't beat you up too hard. You'll generally find width off the tee, and forgiving rough should you stray off the fairway. Like on many shorter Scottish courses it is around the green that the fun will really start. There are some lovely subtleties in the shape of some of the greens and this is a course where a good short game will be key to scoring well.
DAY 1 MONDAY 9TH SEPTEMBER We will meet this morning at Edinburgh airport and transfer to East Lothian, around an hour to the east of the city, which will be our base for most of the week. We will transfer to The Glen Golf Club where we will enjoy a light lunch for our first round. Tee times are booked from 2:00pm. After the round we will check in to The Bonnie Badger, our hotel for the week. The Bonnie Badger is a boutique hotel, restaurant and pub situated in the heart of the golf-mad village of Gullane. The restaurant is the creation of one of Scotland's leading chefs - Tom Kitchin - and is the holder of the Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand and 5 AA Gold Stars. To close out the day we will have drinks followed by dinner in the excellent restaurant.
GULLANE 1
PAR 71 6,582 YARDS 1884 SCOTLAND - RANKED 22 GB & I - RANKED 65 Gullane 1 starts and finishes in the heart of the village of Gullane. The routing takes you up and over Gullane Hill where some of the most spectacular views, and best holes, in Scotland await. When the course hosted the Scottish Open in 2015 an 2018 the players were very complimentary about the challenge they found, and it was seen as an ideal warm up for The Open. The turf is really traditional links ground, and the greens are renowned as among the very best in the UK.
DAY 2 TUESDAY 10TH SEPTEMBER It's a leisurely start to the day with breakfast in the hotel before a chance to explore Gullane. We will visit Jack White's hickory shop before a visit to the Gullane Golf Museum. Today's golf is just a short stroll away at Gullane 1, twice host of the Scottish Open. We will have a light lunch in the clubhouse before teeing off from 2:30pm This evening we will have dinner in the local traditional Scottish pub - The Old Clubhouse..
PAR 70 6,589 YARDS 1842 WORLD - RANKED 39 GB & I - RANKED 12
Mention Carnoustie and most people would think ‘difficult’. Its nickname, “Carnasty,” conjures images of deep rough, dastardly bunkers, and the winding Barry Burn ready to swallow all but the most expertly played shot. It is an exacting layout, the closing three holes might be the toughest in all of championship golf, but it’s also a strategic masterpiece. Added to the amazing championship history of this storied links it’s an experience not to be missed.
DAY 3 WEDNESDAY 11TH SEPTEMBER We are heading out of East Lothian as we go north to one of the world’s most famous courses - Carnoustie. We will leave Gullane after breakfast and make the c 2 hour journey north, arriving at Carnoustie in time for a light lunch before our tee times from 1:50pm. The course has hosted many memory Open Championships as well as the Dunhill Cup every year on the European tour. We will have dinner at the club after the round before heading back to Gullane.
NORTH BERWICK
PAR 71 6,452 YARDS 1832 SCOTLAND - RANKED 5 GB & I - RANKED 9 Your round at The West Links at North Berwick will probably be one of the most memorable in your whole life! The course is simply one of the most fun places on the planet to play golf. Starting in the middle of the town, the out-and-back routing brings the beach into play on several occasions, so be prepared to hit one from the sand. The back nine has some truly iconic holes like Pit, Perfection and Gate. The par 3 15th hole, Redan, is probably most the copied hole anywhere in the world. But nowhere does it play quite like at The West Links.
DAY 4 THURSDAY 12TH SEPTEMBER Today is a pretty special day. After breakfast in the hotel we will make our way to North Berwick to play one of the greatest golf courses in the world! We tee off on The West Links at North Berwick from 11:30am. After the round, we will enjoy a meal with refreshments in the North Berwick Clubhouse.
This evening we will have dinner in the private dining room at The Bonnie Badger. We will be joined by Ru Macdonald who will be in conversation with David Jones. David runs the highly regarded UK Golf Guy website. He has written extensively for UK golf magazines and has a deep knowledge of the UK, European and World golf scene. He will discuss East Lothian golf in particular and general themes on Scottish golf and be able to answer any questions you may have on the Home of Golf.
DUNBAR
PAR 71 6,196 YARDS 1856. OLD TOM MORRIS, BRAID AND SAYERS SCOTLAND - RANKED 36
Dunbar may be not as well known as some of the other courses on this trip but, make no mistake, it's a very classy links golf course. The course has hosted several prestigious events including The Scottish Amateur Open, the British Boys Championship, and final Open Qualifying. The first three holes are played on the inland ground, then you walk through a gap in the wall to one of the greatest reveals in golf. The next fourteen holes are laid out on a thin strip of fast running ground, with stunning views over the Bass Rock, before returning to the town of Dunbar. Just a wonderful links course.
DAY 5 FRIDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER This morning we will enjoy a round at Dunbar Golf Club, 30 minutes away from Gullane. Our tee times are from 10:12am. No trip to Scotland would be complete without a dram of whisky so, following our round, we will visit the Glenkinchie Distillery for a private tour and tasting session.
This evening we will have our final group meal in Gullane at the Main Course Italian restaurant
GULLANE 3
PAR 67 5,134 YARDS 1910. WILLE PARK JNR Enjoying some of the best views of all three Gullane courses, Gullane No. 3 looks across Aberlady Bay to the Firth of Forth and Edinburgh beyond. It may be short, but Gullane No. 3 demands a deft touch and a cool head. Favoured with the same impeccable links turf and smooth running (albeit smaller) greens as its older neighbours, Gullane No. 3 is maintained to the same high standards from tee to green. This is no soft option, despite the lack of yards the course still presents the classic Gullane links challenge of strategic course management, sloping greens and numerous bunkers to be avoided – all played out in wonderful stunning scenery.
DAY 6 SATURDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER We will check out of the Bonnie Badger before playing one last round in Gullane, this time on Gullane number 3 course. After the round and a quick bit to eat we will head into Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh. We will be staying at Richard Branson’s Virgin Hotel. Situated in the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town, the hotel opened in 2022 to great acclaim - marrying the history of the city with all the amenities you would expect from one of the city's best hotels. Edinburgh is a wonderful city - known as ‘The Athens of The North’. It blends its ancient heritage with a vibrant contemporary spirit. Its iconic landmarks, including Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, and Arthur's Seat, attract millions of visitors every year. We have organised a tour of the most historic part of the city this afternoon and there will be time for a pint or two in one of the centuries old pubs. This evening we will enjoy a meal together in The Old Town of Edinburgh to round off a very special week. The bus will depart on Sunday morning for flights back to the US.
PRICING The price of the trip is $6,000 for double-occupancy or $7,500 for a single, and includes everything except airfare and caddies.
WHAT'S INCLUDED? The price includes Five night's accommodation at the Bonnie Badger hotel in Gullane and one night at the Virgin Hotel in Edinburgh Meals as described in this brochure, including two alcoholic drinks per evening meal Six rounds of golf as itemised All transport and excursions as listed in this brochure. The price does not include other expenses incurred by indiviudal travellers
HOW TO BOOK Fill out the form on our registration page — www.intowngolfclub.com/outings-scotland2024 A 50% deposit is required to secure your booking, with the balance payable no later than 12 weeks before the tour starts.
Q&A IS THERE A HANDICAP RESTRICTION? The only restrictions are handicaps of 24 or better for men and 30 for women CAN I HIRE A BUGGY OR TROLLEY OR TAKE A CADDIE? These courses are predominantly walking courses. Manual push trolleys are available to rent on the day and caddies can be arranged if requested in advance. WHAT TRANSPORTATION WILL WE USE? We will be transported in a luxury bus with plenty of room to spread out as we travel around the local area and to Carnoustie and Edinburgh. J
WHAT HAPPENS IF I HAVE TO CANCEL? All deposite are non-refundable. However, if you do have to cancel and we are able to find someone to take your spot then we will refund your deposit, minus any processing costs and a $200 fee. We strongly recomment you take out travel insurance to cover unexpected eventualities.