Travel Tips: Gearing Up

Scotland, it is often said, would be the best country in the world if it had a roof. The weather is disconcertingly unpredictable, and it is essential to pack accordingly. Proper rain gear, including waterproof jacket, pants and hat, is a must. So are rain gloves, which are remarkably effective. Leave your umbrella at home, as the winds that so often blow across those seaside links make one difficult to handle. Forget about shorts, too, as it is rarely warm enough to wear them. In fact, even in summer I always pack a couple of turtlenecks, because temperatures frequently dip into the 50s. Plastic golf tees are a good idea, as the wooden variety break easily in the generally hard links-land turf. An accurate range finder is very helpful, too, since it is sometimes unclear whether certain courses are using yards or meters on their scorecards, or for measuring from spots in the fairways to the fronts or middles of the greens.