Clan McDermott in Scotland
In September 2024 we had the pleasure of hosting the McDermott family for a wonderful week of classic links golf.
The trip had long been promised by Tom McDermott to his three sons, Connor, Justin and Tommy, and after Covid restrictions were lifted, he decided not to delay it further. Scotland was the chosen destination but after considering St Andrews, Tom decided to travel further afield.
While St Andrews is often the automatic destination choice for most golfers embarking on a trip to Scotland, the demand for Old Course tee times has never been greater. In the peak of the season, there can be as many as 200 applications for the Old Course Ballot that are unsuccessful – that’s 200 applications for up to 4 players! With a success rate of only 12-15% it’s very possible that you leave at the end of the week without having played it.
It was for that reason that Tom opted for two other areas with a long history of golf, playing courses that were designed by Old Tom Morris or Donald Ross in the late 1890s. We were going to the Highlands first – to the Dornoch Firth followed by the “Golf Coast” of East Lothian.
The lads arrived into Edinburgh on direct flights from Boston and Washington and after a stop at Gleneagles for lunch we continued north to Dornoch. They stayed in the Royal Golf Apartments – where we had booked two, very comfortable 2 bed/ 2 bath situated right on the first tee of Royal Dornoch. It couldn’t have been better. They loved the town – great restaurants, cosy bars and everything right on the doorstep.
The first round of golf was played on Brora – with a fore caddy to show them the way, they loved the ruggedness – and were delighted by both the sheep who graze on the links and the herd of Highland Cows they came across sheltering from the wind in the lee of a rise! Quite a different experience from the manicured fairways of Rhode Island, Boston or Washington.
Next day they had a later tee time on Royal Dornoch so they were able to wander the town, drink coffee and have a relaxed start to their day, something that’s important when your itinerary has you playing one demanding course after another, every day for seven days.
Royal Dornoch was spectacular. The wind was blowing and rain threatened off and on but it certainly didn’t spoil the experience. It was everything they hoped links golf would be. Next morning they checked out of Dornoch and headed for Castle Stuart – now under new ownership and renamed as Cabot Highland. This is a more modern course, opened in 2009, but spectacularly beautiful as it runs along the Moray Firth. The course is both stunning and demanding and the guys were thrilled by it.
With three courses in the Highlands under their belts it was time to drive south again – this time to the Golf Coast courses around North Berwick. Staying in the Nether Abbey Hotel, they played North Berwick, Gullane and Dunbar. (and an extra round on Kilspindie for Justin and Connor thrown in for good measure) With each successive round the guys changed their “favourite course” although by the time we reached the end of the week North Berwick seems to have taken the prize.
They absolutely loved the course layout with its variations, the challenges and the fabulous views over the Forth.
Tom, Connor, Justin and Tommy were tired but happy when it was time to see them off at Edinburgh airport. They’d had a great week, spent quality family time together and were leaving with wonderful memories of golf in Scotland. And Tom’s final, parting shot?
I think we need to do it again – maybe Ireland next time?
“
Let’s allow Tom to have the last word…
The trip to Scotland with the Links Connection certainly exceeded my expectations and dreams of what that trip might be. You have a beautiful country, wonderful people then the golf courses, ah…the golf courses!
The time we spent with you and Marilyn was very much enjoyed by the entire “Clan”; the standards and quality of the service you provided did not surprise me. As we got to know each other from time spent together in Florida, on the phone, email and through discussions with Lindy and Kathy H, I knew the Links Connection was going to be the right fit for us and it did not disappoint.
The only negative is the “let down” we feel after arriving home and knowing another trip to visit Scotland is so far away.
Tom McDermott
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