Snow and Ice will not hamper the condition of the Old Course

January 12, 2010January 12, 2010 PerryGolf Staff

Spent the day in St. Andrews yesterday, and while Scotland has seen lots of snow and sub-zero temperatures, I’m pleased to say the St. Andrews Links Trust are constantly reviewing the conditions on the Old Course – mindful of the British Open being played there in July this year. Since Sunday there has been enough thaw to melt most of the snow, however the ice is the biggest worry as it can be so damaging to the grass. Apparently the Links have been taking advice from experts worldwide to ensure they treat the ice to have it thaw as quickly as possible. You can watch the progress of winter on the live webcam .

Players will be using mats until the 1^st of April (again to preserve the course) then it will close for all play on 19^th June. It is always very exciting to have the Open at St Andrews, nothing can beat the atmosphere there. Remember Jack Nicklaus in 2005? His farewell picture on the Swilken Bridge was something special. The Royal Bank of Scotland produced a commemorative £5 note for the occasion, with limited issue; I still have a wee stack of them – every Nicklaus fan should have one!

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

Snow in Scotland….and bureaucracy in inaction!

January 12, 2010January 12, 2010 PerryGolf Staff

Testing the depth of the ice at the Lake of Menteith

You may have read reports about the unusually lengthy cold spell we have had in Scotland since before Christmas. While we do get some snow each year, it is generally fairly insignificant aside of parts of the Highlands. The lowest temperature so far has been recorded at -23, the record is -27 in Braemar. The ski resorts in Scotland – Glen Coe, Annoch Moor, Cairngorms and Glenshee have had an outstanding season, lots of fresh snow and lovely sunny days to ski. The last time we had this volume of snow and such low temperatures was in 1947, and my mother, whose family farm was between two golf courses, remembers great sledging, with the occasional sudden dive into a bunker filled with snow!

My biggest excitement was the prospect of the Grand Match being played; a Curling Bonspiel to be held at the Lake of Menteith (the only lake in Scotland, the rest being Lochs) which is west of Stirling, in the Central Belt. This outdoor match was last played in 1979 in which my father played, so I very definitely wanted the chance to play. Having been a member of our local club since the early 1980’s, I managed to pull rank and get a place in the team; I found some hip flasks, my fathers Tam O’ Shanter (tartan beret), procured a ‘crampit’, (basically a piece of metal with prongs into the ice to give you a solid surface to throw your stone from) and had my curling stones polished. Everything was in place and the ice was the requisite 8 inches deep – then bureaucracy kicked in, the emergency services got nervous at 2500 curlers on the ice and pulled the plug on it. So disappointing…I would have taken my chances just to take part in this historic event, but sadly it seems it may never be allowed to happen. Are there still a lot of outdoor bonspiels held in USA? Maybe we need some tips on how to appease the authorities.

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

Mission Estate Winery, New Zealand

January 11, 2010December 20, 2009 PerryGolf Staff

On a recent trip to Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, I was advised that while in the area it was a “must” to visit a vineyard. On arrival at Mission Estate Winery – established since 1851 – it was confirmed to my colleague and I that we had made the right choice.

The restored, picturesque main building and the history upon which we were educated added greatly to my experience. With a great selection of wines and goods to purchase, I was spoiled for choice!

On such a beautiful day, and after our tour, we decided to stay for lunch…seated outside in the sunshine with a glass of wine. Lunch was great with a wide selection of food and, of course, an extensive wine list! This was my first experience of chilled soup – strawberry, champagne & mint to be exact; a perfect starter. This was followed by New Zealand Lamb, and to finish, a rich chocolate parcel. After lunch – and spending the remainder of my time in the shop – it was time to leave.

This is one of my favourite memories from my trip to New Zealand and I can’t think of a better way to spend an afternoon in this beautiful country. Check out the Mission Estate Winery’s website.

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

Sydney Harbour Cruise and Opera House Tour

January 8, 2010December 20, 2009 PerryGolf Staff

I loved Sydney from the minute I stepped of the plane…everything about the city I adored! I wanted to do as much as possible during my time there and of course, a visit to Sydney Opera House was essential. I can’t explain how wonderful and amazing the building is; the tour includes an extensive journey of inside and outside the Opera House. Part of the tour involves watching a detailed video section with your guide and your group at the end of the circuit. This for me was the best part; to hear the story of the original architect Jørn Utzon and the history behind how this unique building came to be.

I combined the Sydney Opera House tour with the Sydney Harbour Cruise with Captain Cook Cruises, taking in the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Taronga Zoo, Fort Denison, Watsons Bay, Shark Island, Luna Park, and The Rocks & Darling Harbour. You are able to get off at any of the stops and join the cruise again at a later time.

It takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes without any stops, and was a great way to take everything in. The area round Sydney Harbour has a great buzz and atmosphere, with several fantastic places to stop off for a coffee or a light lunch – a wonderful way to relax and watch the world go by.

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

Highland Safari experience – Scotland, ideal for non golfers

December 28, 2009December 10, 2009 PerryGolf Staff

From the moment we were collected at the hotel by our Safari Guide, Colin, we had a fantastic day. Loch Tay must surely be one of the prettiest of Scotland’s lochs and Colin had plenty of interesting conversation to keep us amused as we headed off-road and up through the forest – here I got my wish, and as promised, he found a red squirrel who was keeping very still on a fir tree not far from the track. I would never have noticed it myself as it was much smaller than I was expecting but really red and even prettier than it appears in pictures.

Leaving the Land Rover, we walked to a viewpoint only to be ‘attacked’ by a group of Highland Warriors wielding claymores. They were putting on a display for another group but thought they would practice on us!

We took it in turns to drive the 10-seater off-road vehicle, and with Colin’s guidance, negotiated some impressive hills and water obstacles. Lunch was laid on for us in a hilltop bothy and, either the food was exceptionally tasty, or we were exceptionally hungry! On the way back to the hotel, our guide pointed out a golden eagle circling high over the glen and he told us how to tell the difference between the various hawks by their wing and tail formation.

The Highland Safari offers a fantastic opportunity to view some of Northern Scotland’s hidden wildlife!

By Yvonne Shaw

Insight, Offers & Inspiration