Author: PerryGolf Staff

Pierhouse Hotel, Port Appin

PerryGolf Staff
The Pierhouse Hotel
The Pierhouse Hotel

I just had the most splendid weekend at The Pier House in Port Appin, based on the West Coast of Scotland.  We often take a weekend out at this time of year to enjoy the spring weather. 

The Pierhouse is a 12 bedroom property with owners who are passionate about service and quality.  We sat and enjoyed a glass of wine while watching the wee ferry coming and going to the Island of Lismore on Loch Linnhe (one of a few sea Lochs in Scotland).  The scenery is utterly amazing; the West Coast truly has the most spectacular and breathtaking views.  More so, the Hotel has a renowned Scottish Seafood Restaurant; locally sourced seafood – its only when you dine at such a place as the Pier House do you realise what a difference in taste there is when fish are caught and cooked in the same day!

A little bit out the way for those playing golf in Ayrshire – but so very much worth the 2 hour drive from Glasgow to spend a couple of days relaxing, enjoying wonderful food, and seeing the most dramatic of Scottish scenery.  Port Appin is a 20 minute drive from the town of Oban – the gateway to the Isles – with a number of ferries going to Mull and the Outer Hebrides.

Add a few more days to your trip and try the Inner or Outer Hebrides, you will dine out on that experience for many years to come!

By Anne Filshie.  Anne is the Group Director of Operations at PerryGolf.

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Gleneagles Hotel Win MICE Award

PerryGolf Staff

Scotland’s Gleneagles Hotel is a must-visit for every golfer as it is an absolutely fantastic luxury hotel which is reflected in the fact that they are the winner of many awards; most recently the Meetings and Incentive Travel (M&IT) Gold Award for Top UK hotel.

The hotel was nominated in a shortlist which included The Grove, Chewton Glen and The Dorchester and received the coveted award at a ceremony held in London last month.  They have won several awards for outstanding service (which is a vital in our industry); the spa has won the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Spa Awards for the last 2 years.  Gleneagles Hotel is a resort which boasts every amenity – three top courses (the Kings, Queens & PGA Centenary), excellent restaurants and a fabulous spa.  With a wide range of activities on site – from the shooting school to the off-road 4×4 driving – it is a superb experience for golfers and non golfers alike.

By Denise McKee.  Denise has been with PerryGolf for over 10 years and is a member of our admin team.

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Royal Porthcawl – My Experience

PerryGolf Staff

One of the courses I played in my recent trip to Wales was the fantastic Royal Porthcawl; generally regarded as the top course in the country.   It’s famous for hosting many amateur championships over the years and one of it’s most well known moments was being the course on which Tiger Woods famously lost to Gary Wolstemholme in the 1995 Walker Cup (his last defeat as an amateur).

After a great lunch, we headed out onto the course to be greeted by fantastic weather and barely a breath of wind.  It was ideal for scoring, but sadly no one decided to tell me as I left more than a handful of putts and some brand new Pro V’s out there, but what a course it was!  It’s not a long course, but it’s far from easy; with subtle hazards, dramatic slopes and fiery fairways and greens, it makes your approach shots extremely challenging.

I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish and it reminded me of some of the great, and more famous, Scottish links courses.  It’s definitely one that should be on the ‘must play’ list for regular travellers to the British Isles, because it is as good as many of the Open rota courses – and with some other excellent links courses nearby, such as Tenby, Pennard, Pyle and Kenfig and Royal St David’s, it would be a more than capable centrepiece for a great trip, be it as a couple or as a group of guys.

To read more information on the course, please click here .

By Keith Baird.  Keith has been with PerryGolf for over 10 years and is one of our Golf Travel Specialists.

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My Round on the 2010 Course at Celtic Manor

PerryGolf Staff

I recently had the pleasure of playing the 2010 course at Celtic Manor, which is due to host the Ryder Cup later this year.  What a great day it turned out to be – helped by the fact the sun was splitting the sky! 

The course has been specifically designed for the tournament with many classic match play holes which begin straight from the start with a tough 465 yard par 4.  The greens were slick and the fairways lush – which for April was a real treat.  Many of the holes include strategically placed water hazards; no more so than the tough 14th where there is water on left and right.   At only 413 yards off the back tees it doesn’t sound tough, but the landing area is so narrow that anything off line is heading for trouble. 

2010 Course at Celtic Manor
2010 Course at Celtic Manor

Then follows the 15th which is very much like the famous 10th at the Belfry.  It’s officially a 377 yard par 4, but, as the crow flies from tee to green, it’s a good deal shorter than that, so many of the pro’s will be pulling out the driver and going for the green.  The safe play is up the left with an iron, but in the fourball…expect fireworks!  I didn’t play off the back tees, so it was a bit shorter and I felt brave so had a go at the green and very nearly made it.  A chip and a putt later and I’d made a birdie three.  I’ll be watching with great interest come the end of September to see how many of the USA and European team members can better that! 

The finishing hole will make for a grandstand finish for any matches lasting the distance.  It’s a long par 5, not too dissimilar to the fantastic 17th at Valderrama with a massive water hazard directly in front of the green.  The brave pros will go for it in two.  The more conservative one’s will lay up and play a wedge to the green.  I chose the latter and my wedge shot found the green – only for it to spin back into the water.  A personally disappointing finish to a thoroughly enjoyable round; but it gave me a taste of what was in store for what will be a fantastic tournament.  I know I can’t wait for it…I’m sure you can’t either.

For more information on how you can attend the Ryder Cup with PerryGolf, please click here.

By Keith Baird.  Keith has been with PerryGolf for over 10 years and is one of our Golf Travel Specialists.

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New Hilton hotel in Queenstown, New Zealand

PerryGolf Staff

Having spent some time in Queenstown, New Zealand at the end of 2008, I was interested to read that Hilton seem to be planning a new hotel there.

 I enjoyed my time there very much; from the wonderful scenery (where much of Lord of the Rings was filmed), to the great golf courses including the new Hills and Jack’s Point Courses…it is also the birth place of adrenaline sports like bungee jumping and jet boating.  However, if you prefer something more laid back, it is the perfect base to visit Milford Sound or some of the excellent vineyards…I certainly recommend the Pinot Noir.  

One thing I felt the area lacked was a decent choice of 4-5 star accommodation.  We find that the Millbrook Resort works well for PerryGolf clients; and for those looking for something extra special, there is Eichardt’s or the new Matakauri Lodge operated by the same owners as Kauri Cliffs and Cape Kidnappers.  For a more modest option at a standard you can trust, a new Hilton hotel would be a welcome addition.

For further details, click here .

By Alastair Niven.  Alastair has been with PerryGolf for over 9 years and is one of our agents responsible for the South Pacific Programmes.

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