A Day at Muirfield

March 2, 2010February 18, 2010 PerryGolf Staff

An opening became available to play Muirfield for the first time when a group of past clients invited me to play with them. Chuck Battey, his son David, and son-in-law John Fraser had a great two-week Scotland itinerary in mind. Muirfield was one of their ‘must plays’. As there were only three of them, they asked if I would join them so that the group matched the clubs requirements; all visiting parties are in multiples of 2 players. Naturally, I accepted the invitation without hesitation.

The course isn’t laid out like a traditional, straight out and straight back, links course. It’s structured in two loops, so the wind comes at you from a different angle on almost every hole, making it more challenging – yet without doubt, more interesting. More details on what many people consider to be the best golf course in Scotland, can be enjoyed at LinksMagazine.com.

After golf, the Battey’s told some wonderful stories about their many previous trips with PerryGolf while we enjoyed a fantastic roast lunch in the clubhouse (where lamb, beef, chicken and all the trimmings were available at the buffet). Our schedules didn’t allow time to go back out on the course for the traditional alternate shot afternoon round; however the day was already special enough.

Visitor tee-times at Muirfield are not the easiest to come by as they only permit visitors on Tuesday and Thursday mornings…so if you’d like it included in your schedule, be sure to start planning it well in advance of your travel date. By well in advance, I’d recommend 15 months prior to the time of travel as that’s when their diaries open up and the tee-times don’t remain available for long. It’s well worth the planning, as it is one course you won’t want to miss.

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

Shipping Your Golf Clubs

March 1, 2010February 1, 2010 PerryGolf Staff

If you’ve been on a golf trip abroad before, you‘ll be aware of the hassle involved in taking your clubs with you. Having to take them to and from the airports, between flights (if you’re not flying direct and they’re not checked right through) and the worry that they could be delayed – and therefore not arrive in time for your first round – can all result in the trip not getting off to the best possible start. As a result, why not consider shipping them across the pond in advance of your trip?

All you need to do is go online and fill in a simple form, give the company a couple of weeks notice and they’ll pick them up from your house and deliver them to your first hotel where the concierge will store them prior to your arrival. This hassle-free service obviously comes at a cost, but at around $250 each way (to the UK) it’s a service well worth considering.

PerryGolf strongly recommends Luggage Forward who will give you the added bonus of a 5% discount as a PerryGolf customer. They provide a reliable service and automatically included in the price is insurance covering your clubs to the value of $500 should anything go wrong (which in my 10 years at PerryGolf, has never happened…touch wood!) Obviously golf clubs are generally worth a lot more than $500, and so there is the option of purchasing additional insurance for a fraction more cost. For more details, and to obtain a quote, remember to visit Luggage Forward’s website.

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

The Birthplace of Guinness

February 28, 2010February 1, 2010 PerryGolf Staff

A trip to Dublin is a must when visiting the Emerald Isle. Whilst there, I recommend you take in all that the city has to offer; whether it be the history, local sights, the amazing cuisine or the local liquor. On a recent trip there, I decided to do some sightseeing associated with the latter. Everyone is familiar with Ireland’s number one export “Guinness” and the associated side effects. I therefore decided to educate myself on the origins of this beer and the brewing process.

The Galaxy Bar in the Guiness Storehouse

The museum is shaped to resemble a pint glass and is set over 7 floors, enclosed in one of the original brewing storehouses in Dublin. The tour educates you about every single aspect of the brewing process and the history/origins of this national drink. If, like me, the idea of climbing seven floors makes your knees shake, please do not let this put you off, as at the end of every rainbow is a pot of gold…and this is no exception. Upon scaling the dizzy heights you are rewarded with a free pint of Guinness in The Gravity Bar, where you can relax and take in the best view the city has to offer.

Click here to read all about the Guinness Storehouse.

By Jonny Ferguson. Jonny has been with PerryGolf for over 2 years and is one of our Golf Travel Specialists.

Should I take a Caddie?

February 26, 2010January 22, 2010 PerryGolf Staff

A question we are often asked by our clients is if they should take a caddie or not; and with the average caddie fee being around $60-$70 per round (not including tip) it is a good question. This is especially relevant in Scotland where caddies do not double-bag, and Ireland where fees are per bag.

A caddie providing useful advice — Caddies are invaluable where experience of the course is required

At PerryGolf we always recommend that our clients take caddies as they add significantly to the enjoyment of a round. Apart from the obvious benefit of them carrying your bag, looking for your ball, raking bunkers and cleaning clubs, etc, they make negotiating, particularly links-style courses, much easier. They obviously assist in club selection based on distances, but links courses are often played in windy conditions where experience is absolutely essential. They are also able to help you tackle the blind shots that can arise on a links course as well as reading the (at times) severely undulating or large greens. I am sure many will agree that a caddie has saved them a few putts on the double greens of the Old Course at St. Andrews! All of this comes before you have even heard some of the great stories they have to tell from past experiences. They can give a visitor real enjoyment beyond the golf and give some local-insider knowledge to a trip… not least the best pubs to visit!!

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

Le Phenicien ~ French Barge Trip

February 24, 2010February 6, 2010 PerryGolf Staff

Having never been to the south of France, I was delighted that I was able to travel on our Provence River Cruise program onboard the 18-passenger luxury barge Le Phenicien. It is certainly THE way to travel; the food is outstanding and the service is second to none…a real home from home.

One of the highlights on the program was a trip to a local manade; a typical ranch, where the gardians à cheval (the local authentic cowboys) showed us how they tend the herds of bulls on their white horses. The ranch is located in Camargue, a short distance from when Le Phenicien was docked. On arrival we were greeted by the family who owned the range and the tour began with a display of bull herding out in the open – the weather was perfect and the display was not disappointing. On returning to the ranch, it was of great interest to learn of the history of the horses, bulls and the ranch.

Tasty snacks and excellent wine (amongst other delights) were supplied during the tour. It was fascinating to discover that the family spend every day in the traditional gardians à cheval clothing – an excellent part of the program – and the family could not have been more welcoming to their visitors. It was certainly a memorable and special experience.

By Denise McKee. Denise has been with PerryGolf for over 10 years and is one of our team members responsible for the South Pacific programs.

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