This might be the only child in me, and I know it's not for everyone, but I can wholeheartedly endorse doing the trip solo if there's a place you want to go and see. While nothing beats a trip with friends/loved ones, a trip without having to take into consideration anything other than what you want to do is both freeing and pushes you. In Scotland, you are never really a stranger. I did the Highlands trip you have outlined above last year over 4 days and it was great! Having just turned 40, I don't suspect that I'll have less responsibilities or things to do and the golf isn't getting cheaper anytime soon, so its ok to be selfish sometimes and book the trip!

There has been a trend for a while to figure out how to have a "golf trip" alternative to the Pinehurst packages. It started in 2001 with Tobacco Road offering golf trips that would book you at the local Holiday Inn + rounds at TR and the non-Pinehurst courses. And now we see all sort of tie-togethers from SP/MP/PN being owned by the Bells (and now partially Marine & Lawn) to things like Birdie House and being able to get tee-times through them (via Talamore and others). Pinehurst is even doing it to themselves, as the PHurst members can't play #10 because it requires a stay at the Pinehurst hotels.

The town of Cork is supposed to be amazing. Very jealous

Thanks James! Yes - this is the 'ideal' trip if I somehow find I can free up 2-4 weeks of time (not likely). Probably better to knock these out over a few trips over the years, but tomorrow is never a given so I am dreaming big. I appreciate your additions!!!

Thanks Stuart! I'll check them out!

They also just aquired Whispering Pines and Fox Fire this week as well… looking like they are going the resort route model soon …. Using the new upgraded hotels at Mid Pines and Pine Needles as the base locations…

Fresh off a nine-day golf bender in Fife and East Lothian (first time over there). Whenever I make it back, Northern Ireland (RCD especially) and the Scottish highlands (Cruden Bay, Dornoch) are priorities.

You’re doing a lot of driving there to get to both Worlington/Aldeburgh and St Enodoc, Adam, and East Devon isn’t quite in the class of the others. You might want to think about going for either: - Worlington, Aldeburgh, Brancaster and Hunstanton; or - Burnham, Saunton, Royal North Devon and St Enodoc; To add to your south east heathlands plus Deal and Sandwich.

In terms of UK bucket lists, I like to think of areas. Still would like to get to: 1. Northeast Scotland - Dornoch, Nairn, Tain, Golspie, Brora, etc. 2. Northwest Ireland - Rosapenna, Enniscrone, Standhill, Carne, etc. 3. The Scotland Islands - "the Jim Hartsell trail" - Macrihanish, Shiskine, Ardmore, Donaverty My struggle these days is finding people that want to do some of these out of the way trips. I suspect it might have been different in my 20s when nobody had responsibilities, but now you're asking someone to take vacation time away from their families, for something that's relatively expensive (flights, rental cars), and they have to be willing to get outside their comfort zone for something they don't usually consider uncomfortable (e.g. golf, or hotel rooms). I envy those who have a buddy (or foursome) or spouse that would be willing to make those sorts of trips.

Adam, your instincts are spot on!! You should add Brancaster and Hunstanton along the Norfolk coast