On Thursday October 17 everyone starts to arrive. We have deluxe coaches ready for the groups at both Glasgow and Edinburgh airports and everyone makes their way to Carnoustie to begin the adventure.
The trip has people from all over Canada, from Alberta through to Ontario, and after some of the group grab an extra bonus round on the Budden Course, everyone has the chance to meet each other in the new Carnoustie Club House. The drinks start to flow, the food is great (the seafood chowder got rave reviews) and the noise level goes up as everyone gets to know each other and the laughter starts. After everyone get their welcome gifts, the festivities continue at the Carnoustie hotel bar (where we are all staying) and over the course of the night people start to filter out and get ready the first “planned” golf day.
The trip has people from all over Canada, from Alberta through to Ontario, and after some of the group grab an extra bonus round on the Budden Course, everyone has the chance to meet each other in the new Carnoustie Club House. The drinks start to flow, the food is great (the seafood chowder got rave reviews) and the noise level goes up as everyone gets to know each other and the laughter starts. After everyone get their welcome gifts, the festivities continue at the Carnoustie hotel bar (where we are all staying) and over the course of the night people start to filter out and get ready the first “planned” golf day.
 First group dinner |  View from Carnoustie Golf Hotel rooms |
Day 1 of golf goes well, a few showers but nothing we can’t survive, the bets are settled in the bar and everyone heads into town for the evening to plan out the curling teams for the next day.
On the Saturday we all head out to Forfar and the International Bonspiel. There are teams from Canada and Scotland (obviously 😊) but also a team came in from Poland. Glenn and John are a hit and graciously speak with the junior curlers at their regular Saturday AM practice. Autographs are signed and pictures are taken until everyone is happy.
On the Saturday we all head out to Forfar and the International Bonspiel. There are teams from Canada and Scotland (obviously 😊) but also a team came in from Poland. Glenn and John are a hit and graciously speak with the junior curlers at their regular Saturday AM practice. Autographs are signed and pictures are taken until everyone is happy.
Deluxe Coach transfers, lunch and dinner, evening gala event and even some indoor lawn bowling (yes, they have an indoor lawn bowling facility) are on the agenda for Day 1 as both the Canadian teams represent well and win all their games.
 |  |
Day 2 starts slowly after all the festivities but after more food, a few drinks and a little curling, our 2 teams tie in the finals and are declared co -champions. After more pictures and autographs for everyone by Glenn and John, it’s time to get ready for our golf adventures
Our cup runneth over!
| We spend one more day in Carnoustie playing the famous Championship course in brilliantly sunny weather before making our way to the home of golf, St Andrews, for the balance of our trip. |  |
We are all staying at the famous Rusacks Hotel, right on the 18th hole at St. Andrews Old Course, and what a time is had by everyone.
 View of R&A Clubhouse from in front of hotel |
| First up is Kingsbarns. The group consensus would be that this is the best course they played on the trip and topping it all off was a surprise Scotch Tasting Session at the Kingsbarns distillery. |  |
 | St Andrews Castle Course is up next. A truly unique course with fantastic views and some of the most challenging greens you will ever play makes for a great day for everyone. |
Our last round is right across the street from the hotel at St Andrews New Course. On the way over to the course some of us stop and play the Himalayas Putting Course. This is a fun hour of putting adventure as you try to make your way over the condo size humps and bumps of this “you need to see it to believe it” green complex - this is a great addition to any trip to St Andrews
| The last round of the trip also features a hotly contested team match between all the righties and lefties on the trip (yes, we actually did have the same number of each on the trip!!) with the righties, led by a spectacular 74 by Glenn, prevailing in the end with the victory celebrated at the famous Jigger Bar right beside the 17th hole of the Old Course. |  |
3 rounds in St Andrews area, nothing but sunshine and light winds the whole time, fabulous dinners and drinks – truly a great time is had by all. All that is left is the farewell drinks and dinner that night and the next day everyone transfers to Edinburgh or Glasgow to make their way home with great memories and new friends.
 Mid week dinner out at the Balgove Larder |  A few last drinks at the pub |
and one final dinner
Well, almost everyone departs…..
2 of the trip participants stick around in St Andrews for an extra day and by simply walking up to the starters shed they get on to play the Famous Old Course.
2 of the trip participants stick around in St Andrews for an extra day and by simply walking up to the starters shed they get on to play the Famous Old Course.
 Walk up tee times at the Old Course |  Father Son memories |
29 days, 8 nights, 1 bonspiel, 5 rounds of golf, food, drink and an exhausted group of curlers / golfers – a truly successful edition of the Sweep and Swing.
Planning is already under way for the 2021 version of the trip. Exact timing is still being firmed up, but we expect it will be in October 2021 (given curling schedules in Scotland). All 3 editions have had great weather, a suspect quality of curling / golf and great times and memories for everyone who comes along.
Click here for our early promotion flyer on the 2021 trip.
While the exact itinerary and pricing have not been set, for anyone who books and pays a $500 deposit by October 15, 2020 (the deposit will be fully refundable until December 31, 2020 in case the dates or other details don’t meet you needs when we announce the final trip details) we will match the deposit with another $500 discount on January 1, 2021- so your $500 deposit really becomes $1000 towards your trip!
So, if you know this trip is something that interests you why not sign up to take advantage of this early bird discount and join Golf Away Tours for this unique adventure.
Planning is already under way for the 2021 version of the trip. Exact timing is still being firmed up, but we expect it will be in October 2021 (given curling schedules in Scotland). All 3 editions have had great weather, a suspect quality of curling / golf and great times and memories for everyone who comes along.
Click here for our early promotion flyer on the 2021 trip.
While the exact itinerary and pricing have not been set, for anyone who books and pays a $500 deposit by October 15, 2020 (the deposit will be fully refundable until December 31, 2020 in case the dates or other details don’t meet you needs when we announce the final trip details) we will match the deposit with another $500 discount on January 1, 2021- so your $500 deposit really becomes $1000 towards your trip!
So, if you know this trip is something that interests you why not sign up to take advantage of this early bird discount and join Golf Away Tours for this unique adventure.
RSS Feed
