A Weekend at Celtic Manor, Wales – venue for Ryder Cup

April 23, 2010March 30, 2010 PerryGolf Staff

One of the advantages of having a partner who was born just outside of Cardiff (and is a very keen golfer) is that we get away to my favourite hotel, Celtic Manor, whenever possible; Wales playing at home in the Millennium Stadium, a family birthday or anniversary is all the excuse we need.

Although the main hotel looks somewhat formidable on approach – from the huge wooden dragon sleeping in the foyer, to the menus in the restaurants – it is a delightfully Welsh experience.

My partner always enjoys a lesson with the Pro which then continues onto one of the courses while I hit the Spa! The staff all over the hotel are extremely helpful and welcoming without being obtrusive and no less so at the Spa where you can chat about your treatment, choose your products and generally get into the mood for relaxation in the sunny conservatory.

There are five restaurants in the resort…and believe me, we have tried them all! My favourite is Rafters in the 2010 Clubhouse for superb food in an informal atmosphere. But for a real treat, and if we are being joined by family, the Taste of Wales experience in The Crown Restaurant makes for a memorable evening. Designed for a table of four or more to share, this is a taster menu with suggested wines and it is a lot of fun. The intention is that you will spend the entire evening with them; from pre-dinner drinks to a nightcap… and you are in no hurry to leave!

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

Charles Lees ‘The Golfers’ Painting to be Recreated

April 20, 2010March 30, 2010 PerryGolf Staff

One of the golf world’s most famous pieces of art is set to be recreated this summer with the help from students at Strathclyde University in Glasgow. The “Golfers” hangs in many clubhouses around the world and doubtless many more offices and homes. The students plan on researching the descendants from each golfer/spectator in the original picture and recreating a new version which will be unveiled at The Open Championship at St Andrews this summer. The original painting will be on show in the British Golf Museum throughout the Open and the new version will be on show in the tented village.

The only person in the image with whom I am familiar with Mr. James Cheape who is sitting on the far right hand side. The story, as I understand it, is that he bought the links at St. Andrews in the 1800’s so that they remained a golf course as otherwise they would have been converted to a rabbit farm. At a later date he sold the land back to St. Andrews and in return received a daily allocation of tee times on the Old Course. This arrangement continued until the 1990’s.

Click here for more details on the project.

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

Wentworth – Changes to the Final Green

April 18, 2010March 25, 2010 PerryGolf Staff

Like all courses that host major events, the 18^th green at Wentworth has been often televised and is familiar to golfing fans all over the world. Not any more! Not only are the strategically placed bunkers still there, but a water feature has added to the drama of the final hole. Owner, Richard Caring, impressed by such an element on most other major courses, decided that this was lacking at Wentworth. Although his course manager, Chris Kennedy, and the course architect, Ernie Els, were dubious that it was a good idea for this particular course, they gave it a go. The result is a man-made ‘burn’ running through a group of pot bunkers in front of the green and resulting in a far more testing finish. This is just the most striking of a number of changes to the course, especially the last five holes, and any golfer who thinks he knows his way around will have to think again!

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

British Golf Museum – St Andrews

April 16, 2010March 21, 2010 PerryGolf Staff

With a few hours to spare on a rather damp afternoon, we decided to visit the British Golf Museum; just across the road from the first tee on the Old Course in St. Andrews.

Deceptively small from the outside, it took us on a fascinating journey through the history of the game, introduced us to some of its stars and celebrities and made us realise how far the equipment has progressed. There are many light-hearted inclusions, far removed from the formality, rules and rituals I associate with the home of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club. With my love of crosswords, I found the Dictionary Corner irresistible…and there will be a few words from there cropping up in my Scrabble games in future!

2010 marks the 20th anniversary of the British Golf Museum and the 150th anniversary of The Open Championship and so the museum has included some dedicated special displays– so there is no better year to visit!

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

Dining at Cameron House Hotel on Loch Lomond

April 6, 2010March 15, 2010 Mhairi

If you happen to be staying in the Loch Lomond area or are playing at the Carrick Golf Course, might I suggest you stop by the Cameron House Hotel for lunch or dinner. With 4 different dining areas to decide from, you’re bound to find an experience to suit your mood or occasion.

Martin Wishart at Loch Lomond opened in 2008 and is the hotel’s fine dining restaurant which offers a classic, chic setting in which to enjoy the fine food on offer. The Boathouse is a New England style restaurant placed in a picturesque position by the water’s edge while The Cameron Grill is a more informal dining experience set in a contemporary atmosphere and showcases an open feature kitchen and walk-in wine cellar. Finally, The Claret Jug; this is the golf club house, but do not be put off by this, it is a stylish and relaxed eating area which presents local, timeless fare. So now all you have to do is decide which restaurant to go for –whichever you choose, you will not be disappointed!

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