#TheOldTom
Follow In The Footsteps of Scotland’s Most Famous Golfing Son
As a four-time Open champion and longtime Keeper of the Greens at both St. Andrews and Prestwick, Old Tom Morris left an indelible mark on the game as a golf professional. However, his greatest legacy may be his work as a golf course designer. Follow in Old Tom’s footsteps and you’ll visit some of Scotland’s finest members clubs; each one simple but filled with character, challenging albeit quirky, and historic yet friendly. Our favorite Old Tom itinerary features the best of his work from St. Andrews up towards the beautiful Scottish Highlands and we think you will love it.
“I tend to recommend this itinerary above all others because I think it truly checks all of the boxes. First and foremost, it is filled with a collection of great golf courses that are all over 100 years old, including my personal favorite courses in Scotland (Cruden Bay and Royal Dornoch) plus a stop in St. Andrews at the Home of Golf. Perhaps just as importantly though, it gives you the chance to see the beautiful Scottish Highlands and tour the whisky distilleries of Speyside, two essentials on an epic Scotland trip. To top it off it’s relatively budget friendly, so how can you beat it?” -Jonathan Alden, Cloud 9’s Managing Director
RECOMMENDED COURSES
Royal Dornoch - Championship
Nairn
Moray - Old
Cruden Bay
Carnoustie - Championship
Elie
St. Andrews - New
St. Andrews - Old
Royal Dornoch - Championship
If you have looked into course rankings, you know the critically acclaimed Championship Course at Royal Dornoch has a lot of fans. Somewhat secluded in the Scottish highlands, the setting feels timeless but despite being one of the Scotland's oldest golf clubs, the out-and-back course design feels a bit more complex that many of its contemporaries. The trademark raised greens actually match the shape of the entire property, so both your touch and endurance will be tested.
Nairn
Nairn
The Nairn Golf Club is definitely the hidden gem of the Scottish Highlands. The beach sits ominously along the right side of the first seven holes, and then its the gorse that becomes the real hazard. With greens that are some of the best in Scotland and views of the Moray Firth from every hole, its simply a joy to play.
Moray
Moray - Old
Moray Golf Club was founded in 1889 and Old Tom Morris himself laid out the venerable old track. Deep revetted bunkers and undulating gorse lined fairways protect par on the natural-feeling layout, which starts and finishes in the heart of Lossiemouth and sits adjacent to the town’s Royal Air Force base. It’s unpretentious and welcoming and quintessential Scottish golf at its finest.Cruden Bay
Cruden Bay is our pick for the most underrated course in Scotland. The club itself is authentic and welcoming. The scenery is stunning with views of the North Sea from elevated coastal terrain. And most memorable is the layout itself, which is quirky and tons of fun.Carnoustie - Championship
The 7-time Open host showcases all that is wonderful and challenging about links golf: undulating terrain, riveted pot bunkers, firm and fast fairways, and of course the Barry Burn which famously swallowed Jean an de Velde whole during his infamous collapse at the 99 Open. You will struggle to shoot your handicap and you will love every minute of it.
Elie
Elie
Elie Links, home to the Golf House Club, has a history that dates back to the 18th century (if not earlier!), making it one of the world's oldest golf clubs. Despite an unusual and monotonous scorecard with sixteen par 4s and two par 3s, the course is exciting, with coastal views from below seaside cliffs and a most unusual start at the blind first, where an old submarine periscope is used to ensure the fairway is clear.
St. Andrews New
St. Andrews - New
Although newer than the neighboring Old Course, the title of New Course is deceiving since Tom Morris opened the course in 1895. A favorite of the locals, the course is narrower and more well-defined than the adjacent Old and probably a tougher test.
St. Andrews Old Course
St. Andrews - Old
As a 30-time Open Championship host and universally considered the Home of Golf, the Old Course in St. Andrews needs no introduction. Champions like Nicklaus and Woods have strolled across the hallowed Swilcan Bridge en-route to victory, meaning the course will forever be etched in history.
SAMPLE ITINERARY: The Old Tom
Day 1
Day 1
Arrive at the Edinburgh Airport and drive 3 hours north to the Scottish Highlands.
Staying 3 nights in Inverness, Dornoch, or Nairn.
Suggested Sightseeing Today: Stirling Castle and The Wallace Monument
Day 2
Day 2
(From Inverness) Drive 30 minutes northeast to Nairn.
Golf: Nairn
The Nairn Golf Club is definitely the hidden gem of the Scottish Highlands. The beach sits ominously along the right side of the first seven holes, and then its the gorse that becomes the real hazard. With greens that are some of the best in Scotland and views of the Moray Firth from every hole, its simply a joy to play.
Suggested Sightseeing Today: Cawdor Castle and the Culloden Battlefield
Day 3
Day 3
(From Inverness) Drive 1 hour north to Dornoch.
Golf: Royal Dornoch’s Championship Course
If you have looked into course rankings, you know the critically acclaimed Championship Course at Royal Dornoch has a lot of fans. Somewhat secluded in the Scottish highlands, the setting feels timeless but despite being one of the Scotland’s oldest golf clubs, the out-and-back course design feels a bit more complex that many of its contemporaries. The trademark raised greens actually match the shape of the entire property, so both your touch and endurance will be tested.
Suggested Sightseeing Today: Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle
Day 4
Day 4
(From Inverness) Drive 1 hour and 15 minutes northeast to Lossiemouth.
Golf: Moray’s Old Course
Moray Golf Club was founded in 1889 and Old Tom Morris himself laid out the venerable old track. Deep revetted bunkers and undulating gorse lined fairways protect par on the natural-feeling layout, which starts and finishes in the heart of Lossiemouth and sits adjacent to the town’s Royal Air Force base. It’s unpretentious and welcoming and quintessential Scottish golf at its finest.
Drive 2 hours east to Cruden Bay.
Staying 2 nights near Cruden Bay.
Suggested Sightseeing Today: The Distilleries of Speyside
Day 5
Day 5
Golf: Cruden Bay
Cruden Bay is our pick for the most underrated course in Scotland. The club itself is authentic and welcoming. The scenery is stunning with views of the North Sea from elevated coastal terrain. And most memorable is the layout itself, which is quirky and tons of fun.
Suggested Sightseeing Today: The Castles of Aberdeenshire
Day 6
Day 6
Drive 2 hours south to Carnoustie.
Golf: Carnoustie’s Championship Course
The 7-time Open host showcases all that is wonderful and challenging about links golf: undulating terrain, riveted pot bunkers, firm and fast fairways, and of course the Barry Burn which famously swallowed Jean an de Velde whole during his infamous collapse at the 99 Open. You will struggle to shoot your handicap and you will love every minute of it.
Drive 50 minutes south to St. Andrews.
Staying 3 nights in St. Andrews.
Suggested Sightseeing Today: Glamis Castle
Day 7
Day 7
Drive 30 minutes south to Leven.
Golf: Elie
Elie Links, home to the Golf House Club, has a history that dates back to the 18th century (if not earlier!), making it one of the world’s oldest golf clubs. Despite an unusual and monotonous scorecard with sixteen par 4s and two par 3s, the course is exciting, with coastal views from below seaside cliffs and a most unusual start at the blind first, where an old submarine periscope is used to ensure the fairway is clear.
Suggested Sightseeing Today: The Fishing Villages of East Neuk
Day 8
Day 8
Golf: St. Andrews’ New Course
Although newer than the neighboring Old Course, the title of New Course is deceiving since Tom Morris opened the course in 1895. A favorite of the locals, the course is narrower and more well-defined than the adjacent Old and probably a tougher test.
OR
Golf: St. Andrews’ Old Course
As a 30-time Open Championship host, the Old Course in St. Andrews needs no introduction. Champions like Nicklaus and Woods have strolled across the hallowed Swilcan Bridge en-route to victory, meaning the course will forever be etched in history.
Suggested Sightseeing Today: The Town of St. Andrews
Day 9
Day 9
Drive 1 hour and 15 minutes southwest to depart Scotland via the Edinburgh Airport.
Want to follow in Old Tom’s footsteps? Fill out the form below for a free custom quote.
We’ve sent thousands of golfers just like you on bucket list trips and been on the trips ourselves. The information you provide coupled with our own expertise and experience will give us everything we need to put together a free, no-obligations trip quote – a great starting point turn your golf trip dreams to reality.
Mid-April through Mid-October is peak travel season when the golf clubs are open and the weather is appropriate for golf (although perfect weather can’t be guaranteed!). July and August can be quite busy with tourists and September is a busy month at the golf clubs, so we recommend May and June if possible.
Our vehicles fit group’s of all sizes so there is no perfect group size. The larger the group, though, the earlier you will need to book your trip to ensure availability.
Absolutely. If you elect chauffeured transportation, your group’s driver will be available to the non-golfers while the golfers are at the course, meaning a fairly full sightseeing itinerary is feasible in conjunction with any golfing itinerary. Alternatively, if you decide to self drive then we are happy to discuss your sightseeing itinerary in detail.
The easy answer is: the earlier the better. Let’s be a bit more specific though. Hotels and golf course tee sheets begin to fill up for the busy peak season 6-9 months in advance. To ensure optimal tee time availability, we recommend booking no later than the fall in the year prior to travel.
Our Process For Planning A Bucket List Trip
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Request a Quote
Fill out the form on this page for a free quote.
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Receive Proposal
Keep an eye on your email. You can expect to receive a custom proposal within 24-48 hours.
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Follow Up
Schedule a call or let us know via email if you want to make any changes to the itinerary.
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Book Your Trip
Pay your deposits and we'll get your trip planned!
Bill S. - Ireland 2023
What a great trip. Four of us - my son, son in law, nephew, and me, the old man. Everything was perfectly organized and ran like clockwork. Jonathan was great on the pre planning, with good suggestions and he was very flexible. The itinerary was exactly what we wanted, our driver Mick was perfect for our group and kept us on schedule and the hotels and meals were great. We discussed it afterward and would't have done anything differently. Thanks to all at Cloud 9 Golf and Travel.
Kris and Chuck R. - Scotland and Ireland 2023
We are back home and enjoying reminiscing our trip. Our accommodations were incredible! The tee times were great and the reservation you made for us at Tomatin was perfect. Thank you for your effort to get us on the Old Course. The drivers, particularly David in Scotland, were knowledgeable and accommodating, although the Irish accent was a little hard to get used to, and the vans were very comfortable. We would definitely recommend you to anyone we know that might wish to travel to the British Isles. Thank you.
Gary R. - Ireland 2023
Thank you and Cloud 9 Golf for arranging our golf trip to Ireland. Everything was perfect! We played six rounds of golf on the western coast and all the courses were excellent. Our tee times and caddie choices all measured up to what we had requested. The lodging choices also were excellent! The self-drive van easily accommodated the four of us, our golf clubs and luggage. We look forward to working with you again!
Jerry A. - Scotland 2019
"We took a “guys trip” to Scotland back in April, 2019 with the assistance of Jonathan and his company. It was an absolute blast a trip for the ages. We had 8 guys, stayed in 3 hotels and played 8 courses, including 5 courses that hosted The Open. Course list included Dundonald, Turnberry, Prestwick, Royal Troon, Muirfield, North Berwick, Carnoustie and the Old Course. We had a driver with us the entire time who got us where we needed to go and wasn’t late once. Trip was seamless and we will be using Jonathan again for a 2021 trip to Ireland."
Nancy J. - Scotland 2023
The trip was amazing!! Everything was great from the lodging, which was top notch, and the courses, which were amazing. We were so pleased that I have submitted an inquiry for our next trip. Here is our favorite pic from Scotland and you made it all possible. Thank you!!
Chris M. - Ireland 2022
Trip was fantastic. We lucked out with weather and the accommodations were great. Our driver, Donald, was such a pleasure. He really made our trip fun and went out of his way to make sure our non golfers made the most of their time while we were hacking away. It was a great trip, all that I expected and more. No doubt we will be working with you once more!
Paul B. - Ireland 2021
"It is hard to imagine a better group to hire for a golf trip to Ireland than Cloud 9 Golf and Travel. Not only did they get us on our preferred list of courses, but they helped us to do so during a challenging time to travel internationally. Excellent communication before, during and after the trip. Will definitely use them again for our next trip."
Yvette Z. - Scotland 2023
I was one of the 11 people from NYC that traveled to Scotland golf trip with the Zeng Group in July. We had a few drivers and they were all very good. I want to specially mention Aaron, who had been with us from St Andrews to Inverness and back to Edinburgh. He has very good driving skill, pleasant and patient, always on time, prepared water, soft drinks and snacks for us, even took a group photo and framed it as a gift to each of us. We had such a wonderful time in Scotland.
Thank you Jonathan as well, for the well organized trip.
Allan M. - Scotland 2022
"All I can say is “WoW” what a trip! Your itinerary of courses, hotels and transportation was perfect. We had a great time and our driver was amazing. We felt as if we gained a friend along the way. We also appreciate very much you providing the excellent weather ..lol. Thanks again."
John M. - Ireland 2023
I just wanted to touch base with you to thank you for our trip to Ireland. Everything you arranged came through perfectly. We had a wonderful week. The driver Brendan was magnificent and a joy to be around. Thanks again.
Marv F. - Scotland 2022
Sharon and I had a fabulous vacation to Scotland 🏴, including The Open at St Andrews ⛳️🏌🏻♂️and golf/sightseeing in The Highlands area. Thanks so much for your efforts with planning and booking this trip to make it a perfect “bucket list” experience for us both. We will be return customers in the future!!!
Brad D. - Ireland 2022
"We had an amazing trip! Loved the golf courses, hotels and our bus driver Eugene. Cloud 9 did a great job throughout the entire process."
Murray H. - Ireland 2023
Hi Jonathan, Thanks to you and the folks at your company, we had an amazing golf trip in Ireland. Everyone is still digesting all that we did, saw and ate during our holiday. But, it was a first-class experience that you set us up with. Well done!
Peach R. - Ireland 2023
Speaking for all four of us I want to thank you for doing such a great job setting up the details for our Ireland trip. I am sitting here in The Dublin Airport sifting through the photos and reflecting on how much fun we all had. I’m not sure there’s anything that we should’ve done differently.
Kathy F. - Scotland 2023
Our trip was fantastic! Every course we played was super challenging and fun, but the highlight was getting to play the Old Course at St Andrews. Our driver was awesome—very personable and accommodating. The locations of our two different accommodations were perfect. Chris did a good job communicating with everyone and did his best at the impossible task of making everyone happy 🙂
Nick H. - Scotland 2022
"The trip was great, to get an opportunity to play at the home of golf was a very cool experience. Between getting us set up for rental clubs the couple days my dad and I didn’t have clubs because of the airline hiccup to getting the last minute switch on the Kingsbarns tee time, everyone at Cloud 9 went above and beyond my expectations. Not to mention all the work with the numerous Covid related delays we had, we really appreciated all the additional work. Definitely hope to go back again someday in the future."
Nick B. - Ireland 2023
This trip to Ireland could not have gone any better. Jonathan and the Cloud 9 team did a great job organizing the trip and their communication throughout the process was outstanding. There was a great blend of golf and activities for the non-golfers. Our driver Matthew was great and a tremendous help in dining and activity recommendations.
Tom F. - Dominican Republic 2023
Thank you, Jonathan, for an excellent trip. Our final round we got 9 holes in at Punta Espada and then they had record rainfall for most of the afternoon and evening - then we got to finish the back nine early Friday morning before flying back. That may be one of the most beautiful and best maintained golf courses I have ever played. The boys and I had a great time and can’t thank you enough.
Terry M. - Ireland 2022
"A quick note to personally thank you on behalf of all of the guys for a phenomenal experience. Your team took our course choices and worked them in to an enjoyable rotation and I know that isn't easy, given all of the many factors that affect tee times, hotel availability etc. Your response times were amazing and all of the guys commented on their appreciation of the detail and helpful hints provided along the way. Our driver Sean became one of the group, he was always on time and blended professionalism with a great sense of humor. Thanks again for everything."
Gordon P. - Ireland 2022
"We had the best time ever. Every place we stayed was fantastic and golf was 10 times better than we hope for. It was planned out perfect. My wife even commented about how perfect everything was set up. I will recommend cloud 9 golf and travel to everybody."
Dan W. - Ireland 2023
Everything I needed to know about my trip to Northern Ireland was clearly explained and any questions were promptly answered. Cloud 9 Golf and Travel was very professional. Thanks for helping with a trip of a lifetime!
Marty S. - Ireland 2023
I just wanted to let you know what a wonderful time we had in Ireland. After our flight was cancelled, you came to the rescue and rescheduled our tee time at Old Head, which we got to just in time and finished all 18 holes before sunset. The restaurants were all excellent and the hotels were very nice! And our driver Mike was terrific! Thanks so much for all your work in planning what was a truly unforgettable trip; and in particular the work arounds given our flight cancellation. Thanks again for all your efforts. You did a great job!
Denny Z. - Scotland 2023
Jonathan, I am going to follow up with you personally to provide our feedback from the trip. I will say this, it was a great trip. I personally looked at the trip as a once in a lifetime, and Cloud 9 did not disappoint in providing a great golfing experience. All of the guys had positive comments on how much they enjoyed the trip. We were very lucky we found Cloud9 or Cloud9 found us. You made our trip complete, especially with the local transportation. We couldn’t have done this without your services. If only you could have influenced the weather a little more!
Kenna W. - Ireland 2023
What an awesome trip & adventure! Can’t thank you enough & Paul w/ Kerry coaches was top notch! The itinerary was phenomenal! The itinerary was wonderful & w/ lots of variety for the non-golfers! Castles, adventures & shopping were “LOVELY” & “GRIND”= Grand in English. Thank you Jonathan!
Tim S. - Scotland 2022
This photo says it all at The Open! Jonathan's planning was superb, the lodging and golf courses were all first class and the execution of the planning was flawless. I can't wait for my next golf trip through Cloud Nine Golf & Travel!!
Russ V. - Ireland 2023
Hey- just wanted you guys to know our trip went off without a hitch! We had a great time. Thanks for all your help in planning a great adventure... Cloud 9 seemed to have a great reputation everywhere we went! I’d definitely use you guys again!
Rich S. - Ireland 2022
"We got back home and I wanted to send a quick email to thank you for the coordination of the trip. The golf was amazing and accommodations were good. My wife enjoyed the site seeing as well. It was a great family trip and one that will be remembered for a long time."
Rosemary S. - Ireland 2023
Well, that was the best trip ever. :). I wanted to email you separately and say thank you for your help, quick responses to my questions, and all the planning we did to make this a memorable experience for the three of us. If we can ever be any assistance in promoting Cloud 9 , you have some very big fans here 🙂
Patrick G. - Scotland 2022
"Hi Jonathan. I just wanted to let you know that we absolutely loved our trip to Scotland! The weather was outstanding! The hotels you books were great. Our favorite was Rusacks in St. Andrews. All of the Golf Courses you selected were outstanding....especially North Berwick. The Caddies were awesome! Most of all, we loved our driver, Derek. He was so friendly and he took great care of us. He made reservations for dinner at some fantastic restaurants, made sure that our tee times and caddies were good to go, and he went out of his way to make sure we enjoyed Scotland. We had a "lovely" time with him! You did an fantastic job and I just wanted to that thank you!"
Peach R. - Scotland 2019
"Jonathan and his staff arranged what was definitely the best golf trip I’ve ever been on – to Saint Andrews, Scotland. Everything was taken care of – lodging, transportation, teetimes, caddies… even seemed like they took care of the weather too. The most complicated thing we had to figure out during the entire trip was where to eat dinner!"
Rusty C. - Ireland 2022
"We thoroughly enjoyed the Irish golf trip, Jonathan. From the courses you selected to the hotel accommodations, I thought it was very well planned. Killarney is a beautiful location and we enjoyed going back to our room each night, instead of constantly packing and traveling. Travel to our courses was not a problem and let us see the country. Finally, the European Club was a highlight. Glad you were able to help us out!"
Wally H. - Los Cabos 2020
"What can I say! Wow what a great experience. When I think of our golf in Cabo I think of the great views of the Ocean and the desert above and all I can think about is going back…If you have a group then Cloud 9 is the way to book. Thanks guys!"
Barbara B. - Ireland 2022
"Cloud Nine could not have planned a better trip for our family if they tried! They put together a great itinerary for us that included everything we wanted to do and more. Not a single detail was left unaddressed. We played some amazing courses, ate at great restaurants, and got to make memories that will last a lifetime. Thank you Cloud Nine for all your work to make this trip special!"
Joe L. - Scotland 2022
"We enjoyed all aspects of the trip. Right amount of golf with some rest days. The hotels were great and the car service was really nice to have. Definitely want to book again for next year."
Brad G. - Ireland 2023
Thanks for helping us with our transportation and tee times for our trip to Ireland. Everything worked out great and Mick was excellent. We enjoyed his company, knowledge and his hospitality! I would highly recommend to other clients of yours. Thanks again and if we venture to Europe or another destination for a golf trip, I will definitely contact you.
Nathan L. - Scotland 2022
"The team at Cloud 9 Golf and Travel were exceptional. They handled everything and were first class. When we had a tee time changed, they set up new times and transportation in an instant. When we had questions, they were answered 24/7! I will recommend and use them from now on for all my golf travel. Our trip was everything and more! The only thing we had to do was have fun and relax."
Rob K. - Ireland 2022
"I would like to thank you for all of your efforts in putting together this trip. It truly was “a trip of a lifetime”. If you ever need a recommendation don’t hesitate to ask. Sláinte."
Robby A. - Ireland 2022
"Since I first started playing golf in my 20s, playing Ballybunion has been at the top of my “bucket list.” Now in my 60s, with the great help from Cloud 9, and Jonathan, my dream became a realty. Not only did he put together a great trip to play 4 magnificent courses, he took care of all the details for me to take my kids and grandkids so that the golfers and non-golfers all had the trip of a lifetime...Our driver, Martin, was fantastic with the non-golfers – which included a one year old and two year old....In short, Jonathan put together the trip of a life time, taking care of more than just the golfing details. I could not have asked for better service.
L. Hamilton - Ireland 2022
"Our trip was fantastic. Jonathan did a great job putting our trip together. He got us all the hotel and tee times that we asked for and gave us some very nice dinner recommendations. The entire trip from stat to finish was 5 stars. We were also very pleased with our driver Caroline. She turned out to be quite the tour guide and was extremely accommodating and delightful. We have ready shared the praises for Cloud 9 Golf and Travel with our friends. We look forward to our next trip!"
Mike P. - Scotland 2018 + Ireland 2019
"Jonathan was kind enough to arrange bucket list golf trips for my group, including my 83 year old father in law twice—first to all the great course in Scotland and the next year the Irish version. Although we will be arguing forever about which was better—Old Head or the Old Course (they are both amazing) the universal consensus was that this was Class A treatment at every step. From the driver who met us at the airport and stayed with us the whole trip to the hotels, meals, attention to detail and of course, the golf. We did five courses on each trip and cannot wait to go back for more. If you are thinking about a life time golf trip that was surprisingly affordable, don’t call anyone else but Jonathan."
McKensie K. - Ireland 2021
"We had the absolute best trip in Ireland, all thanks to Cloud 9! We got to play at some very famous courses that were super fun and challenging. We really enjoyed our hotels and the independence of driving ourselves throughout Ireland’s countryside. Cloud 9’s execution was flawless- From excellent communication throughout the planning process to the actual trip. We are already planning a golf trip for next year with Cloud 9!"
Greg P. - Dominican Republic 2021
"Thank you, Jonathan and Cloud 9 Golf & Travel. We had the most amazing family getaway in Punta Cana. The accommodations were great, very clean, comfortable with stunning views of the Caribbean from our balcony. The courses at Corales and Punta Espada were simply incredible! The Dominican people are truly kind and hospitable. Can’t wait to come back to play Teeth of the Dog!"
Charlie C. - Australia and New Zealand 2018
"Nash was so helpful as we constantly asked questions about tee times/hotel rooms/pickups/etc. and he was always incredibly patient and thorough with us. Definitely recommend!"
Marcos G. - Dominican Republic 2021
"Hi Jonathan! I just wanted to let you know that I am very happy with your service and how everything was perfectly organized. The golf package the you put together allowed us to enjoy this trip at its best. Thank you!"
