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Summary: Golf in Scotland
Review: I've been to Scotland two times in the last three years, specifically to play golf. Each time, I started planning for the trip by calling one of the tour operators. After going over my itinerary the tour operator would quote me a package that I knew was $1500-$2000 over the actual costs. I don't mind paying people for their time and effort, but I don't appreciate being "taken" either. For both trips I ended up doing the research, making the phone calls, sending the letters and faxes, and was able to play every course I desired without having to pay an operator the $1500-$2000 commission. The only down side is the time that was required to make all of the plans, about, 10 hours. Using "Golf in Scotland" as your reference you can experience the same success but with about a third of the amount of time invested. "Golf in Scotland" provides all of the direction and reference information needed to plan a very successful trip playing the courses that we all dreamed about- Muirfield, The "Old" Course, Troon, Turnberry, etc.
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Summary: The birdies and bogies of Scotland
Review: If there is anyone who is planning a trip to Scotand to play the great courses of the home of golf, Allan Ferguson has written the only book they will need to plan their trip of a life time.In his book "Golf in Scotland: A Travel-Planning Guide with Profiles of 60 Great Courses" Ferguson goes through all that one needs to plan their trip on any budget.From renting a car to hints on getting on the Old Course this book has it all. Just finding the Belhaven Hotel in North Berwick was worth more than the price of the book!
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Summary: The Froemmer of Scottish Golf
Review: If you have any doubts that you yourself can plan a trip to play golf in Scotland, this is the book to own. This travel-planning guide can decrease your costs by one/third to one/half. I know I've done it. Included are definitive descriptions of the courses by a person who's played there. Travel ideas, routes to get here and here, suggested itineraries, places to stay at any price range, decriptions of towns including pubs are all included. Great book.
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Summary: A must buy if you plan to travel to Scotland to play golf!
Review: Must buy. Great inside tips. Good reviews of the courses to help you decide which ones to target, especially if you're limited by time and money - like I was.
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Summary: A must buy if you plan to travel to Scotland to play golf!
Review: Must buy. Great inside tips. Good reviews of the courses to help you decide which ones to target, especially if you're limited by time and money - like I was.
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Summary: I'll never use a golf travel agent again!
Review: My wife and I have taken two great britian golf trips over the last two years (scotland and ireland), both arranged by one of the major tour companies. Never again. Golf in Scotland gives you all of the information you need to sucessfully plan a golf trip to Scotland...and it can be fun too! The tips in the book are very valuable as are the lists of contact information. In a little over a week, we were able to confirm airline reservations, a car, 12 rounds of confirmed tee times (including St. Andrews-Old Course), and hotel accomodations. We talked to some of the sweetest people at these various establishments, who were very helpful in making our plans work. I play as a single golfer, which is an advantage, as many courses are able to add me to an existing group, but the fact you are traveling with a larger group should not disuade you. You just need to plan further ahead. Don't be afraid to take a shot at this, as the savings are significant. We have saved over 40% over a very comparable trip two years ago and I am able to play many of the rota courses (turnberry, troon, carnoustie, and the old course). Read the book and get started! It's one of the greatest places to play on the planet.
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Summary: Mission accomplished for this golf travel book
Review: The book title states the mission of the book clearly: a travel planning guide to golf in Scotland. The detail of this book really allows even a first time traveler to embark on the trip well-prepared for what's ahead. This books gives a thorough assessment of all of the top name courses in Scotland and also adds a couple of lesser known places to its review. The author gives a candid assessment of his viewpoints (both positive and negative) of the many elements that comprise a golf experience at these 60 or so golf courses. The author frames lots of possible trip plans. Much detail is devoted to giving the reader an image of the different types of lodging possible, a feel for when the towns are more likely to be crowded with other tourists and the know-how to secure tee times at the most elite courses in Scotland. The book even provides insights into what type of flights to book and how to find the best auto rental deals. This book provides the reader with various options to make his own custom vacation without the assistance of a travel agent. This book is a MUST for any traveler going to play the grand golf links of Scotland.
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Summary: Save Time and Money, Gain Fun and Knowledge
Review: This is the BEST book that you can buy to plan a golf trip in Scotland. I do not make that statement lightly. I have bought and read just about every book on the subject (I own about 10), read numerous internet sites and magazine articles, and taken two golf trips to Scotland. BUY THIS BOOK, even if you intend to use a tour company to plan you trip. The author is a jazz musician, who lives in Denver and has developed an additional travel business advising people who want to plan their golf trip to Scotland. He usually charges hundreds of dollars for that service and saves people thousands. For the price of this book, you purchase all of that knowledge --- which is immense. The other Scotland golf travel books do not provide what this one has and that you need to plan your trip --- contact phone numbers, descriptions of adjacent affordable lodging, internet sites for more information, area courses, which courses have lousy playing conditions now (extremely valuable because some courses live on their histories which are not reflective of current conditions) candid evaluations of the relative strengths and weaknesses of courses, and suggested itineraries. If you want to buy two books, put this book together with the Steel book that features lush color photographs of the major links courses and their histories, but lacks all of the practical information found in this book. The author explains in detail in this book the tricks of the trade that will save you a minimum of a thousand dollars on your trip and afford you the flexibility to play when you want, where you want, and with whom you want. Stay away from those packaged deals where you are stuck in a van for one week with people you don't know, being forced to play some turkey courses, and missing the local color of the places where you will be playing. In addition to having read this book, I have corresponded and spoken with the author. He knows his stuff and can assist you if you have a question that goes beyond the printed text. Alternatively, you may read the book and decide that you want to hire him to help you plan your next trip. You can't go wrong. I spent many hours acquiring a substantial amount of the knowledge of Scotland's golf courses that is jammed into this little book. If I were starting over today, this is where I would start. I have already bought and given away copies of the book to friends who have a similar interest.
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Summary: Very helpful!
Review: With this book, you should have all the help you need to plan your own golf trip to Scotland and save yourself the mark up normally applied by the big tour operators. Mr. Ferguson takes you step by step through the process in an easy to understand fashion that can lead you to savings of 50% or more versus the big guys. The course descriptions alone are worth buying the book. They are invaluable in sorting out which courses to play when mapping out your trip. Buy the book if you are considering a trip to Scotland, you will not regret it.
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Summary: Very helpful!
Review: With this book, you should have all the help you need to plan your own golf trip to Scotland and save yourself the mark up normally applied by the big tour operators. Mr. Ferguson takes you step by step through the process in an easy to understand fashion that can lead you to savings of 50% or more versus the big guys. The course descriptions alone are worth buying the book. They are invaluable in sorting out which courses to play when mapping out your trip. Buy the book if you are considering a trip to Scotland, you will not regret it.
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