The Scottish Dialect

April 8, 2010February 8, 2010 PerryGolf Staff

Scotland may only have a population of just over 5million – and did you know that the Highlands of Scotland have the lowest population density at 8 inhabitants per square kilometer – but there is a huge difference in the dialect from County to County. I am based beside Loch Lomond, the west of Glasgow, and of course we think we talk very clearly…however it is said folks living in the Inverness area in the north have the clearest and best pronunciation of the English language.

The variation of accents was brought home to me when we had a group of golfers arrive into Manchester Airport from Atlanta, and we had a coach collect them for the 3 hour drive north to Turnberry. One of our drivers, who hails from deepest Ayrshire, duly gave a bit of commentary throughout the journey, Lancashire Coast, Gretna Green, Lockerbie and so on. As I met the group at Turnberry Hotel, one well mannered golfer, as he left the coach, turned to the driver with a small gratuity, and said –“thanks for the guided tour on the way up, didn’t understand a darn word you said!”

Great stuff! Best tip: tell us to slow down when we talk!

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

Western Gailes…Another of Scotland’s Hidden Gems

April 4, 2010August 12, 2015 PerryGolf Staff

Scotland is home to many of the world’s finest courses. In addition to the many Open Championship venues and bigger name courses, it is also home to some great courses which many people may not be aware of. I would consider Western Gailes to be one of the best ‘hidden gems’ around; situated about 10 minutes from Troon, the course is a true test of links golf and one which I consider to be a ‘must play’ if you spend any time in the Ayrshire area. Turnberry, Troon and Prestwick are all within striking distance of the course.

Normally I struggle to enjoy a golf course if I play badly, but Western Gailes is one of the few exceptions to my rule. I remember being 6 over par and 3 balls lighter after 4 holes when I played, I also managed to break my pull cart (not through anger!) yet still managed to enjoy my round. My fingers are crossed for another chance to play there this year and I will definitely be putting in some hours on the range to iron out my erratic driving.

Click here for more information on the course.

By Gary Sheppard. Gary has been with PerryGolf for over 3 years and is one of our Golf Travel Specialists.

www.westerngailes.com

Old Head Golf Links, Ireland

April 2, 2010April 4, 2010 PerryGolf Staff

Old Head Golf Links has gone through a massive refurbishment over the past few years; transforming into a beautiful five star resort. With 15 brand new suites, all overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, the golf course, or both, it’s proving to be one of the most charming golf resorts in Ireland. I was privileged to be invited to stay overnight shortly after the suites opened…and what a visit it proved to be. The rooms are as good as any you’re likely to find in Ireland; tastefully decorated, and extremely spacious with everything (and more) that you’d expect from a five star hotel. The highlight for me was the relaxing in the bath while enjoying watching golf on the bathroom’s flat screen TV…the perfect way to finish the evening after a mouth watering seafood platter in the main restaurant.

Having never played the course before, it made the trip even more special as it’s a fantastic links, and possibly the most spectacular I’ve ever played. It stands at the top of the cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. 9 holes play directly along the cliff tops and all 18 have views out to sea. Add that to the beautiful lighthouse at the far end of the course, and you have an awe-inspiring view no matter which way you’re facing. Don’t be fooled though, as the Old Head Golf Links is much more than just an exceptionally scenic course – it’s a great test of golf, with some mind blowing holes. It’s also an immaculately looked after course and so tends to be in absolutely perfect condition all season. Even the weather was exceptional and my golf was up to the test for once, having carded a gross 75…so it was a great trip all round. If you’ve never been to Old Head before, be sure to add it to the list of ‘must plays’. With the fantastic new suites, it’s got to be considered a ‘must stay’ as well.

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

Boutique Hotel Option in Edinburgh

March 28, 2010March 9, 2010 PerryGolf Staff

While on a recent visit to Edinburgh, I spent some time at the new Hotel Di Vin property in the city. The hotel has been open just over a year and is very stylishly decorated. It has the feel of a small hotel and I was surprised that they have 47 rooms as you would not have thought so from looking at the outside.

The hotel is a short walk from the city centre and just up the road from the Museum of Scotland. Entry is via a courtyard that will be excellent in the summer and which also offers a cigar bothy – something I have never seen before but I imagine is very popular with cigar aficionados (especially in the winter).

You can choose from standard or superior rooms or suites. I would say the standard rooms are a little small for 2 golfers but the superiors are ideal and offer very good value for a hotel of this level and in this location. The hotel, however, does not have twin rooms; so while it is ideal for couples, guys would have to have their own rooms. The food and wine is the real strength of the property; they have an excellent bistro with a great wine list and chef’s table that offers a view into the kitchen. As well as this they have a whisky bar and a specially designed wine tasting room where their sommelier can conduct tastings for up to 8 people. For a group of 4 couples a wine tasting followed by dinner at the chefs table would make for a great night! You can find further details on the hotel by clicking here.

By Alastair Niven. Alastair has been with PerryGolf for over 9 years and is one of our Golf Travel Specialists.

Battle of Culloden – New Visitor Centre near Inverness

March 26, 2010April 1, 2010 PerryGolf Staff

The newly opened Visitor Centre at Culloden is superb and full of interactive displays. We visited on a bright sunny day but it was not hard to lose yourself in the full horror of the brief, but bloody battle. It took barely an hour for the government troops to defeat Charlie’s Jacobite army, resulting in the Bonnie Prince fleeing to France. In the weeks that followed, the clans were ‘tamed’ and the kilt and tartan were banned!

Anyone with roots in Scotland will want to work through the chronologically themed corridors, discovering what led to the battle, where their clan was involved and the affect it had on Scottish history. I was particularly moved by the ‘battle room’ where you are immersed in the combat; with commands, voices, gunfire, etc all around you.

There is a very good café area and shop, and it is somewhat disconcerting to see a Jacobite or English soldier queuing for home-made soup! Back outside, with our battlefield plan, we visited Leanach Cottage, a farmhouse on the battlefield which still stands there today. It has been carefully restored to its original state – people must have been shorter then! Each area of the field is marked with stones to the clan or troop that fought there and we were able to find Clan Farquharson, with whom members of the Shaw clan fought on that day.

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

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