The St. Andrews Links Trust launched their new website at the recent PGA Show in Florida. The PGA Show is the largest golf show in the world where many of golf’s leading brands exhibit their latest equipment for the season ahead.
The new website gives users all of the information they need to book tee-times on any of the 7 courses as well as detailed information on the services on offer from the Links Trust. Anything from course guides to a live webcam on the Old Course can be viewed. It’s also useful for people who have already booked to play on any of the courses, as information on each can be viewed under ‘the courses’ tab. Click here and take a look at the website for yourself!
By Gary Sheppard. Gary has been with PerryGolf for over 3 years and is one of our Golf Travel Specialists.
The R&A have announced that Royal Liverpool Golf Club will host The Open Championship in 2014. It will be the 12th time the Hoylake links has hosted golf’s oldest Major.
It has always been one of the finest and most enjoyable venues on the Lancashire coast, however during an almost 40 year absence from the British Open rota between 1967 when Argentinean Roberto De Vicenzo became the first South American to win a Major, and 2006 when Tiger Woods became a back-to-back Open Champion, it arguably did not receive the attention of the golfing world which it deserved. It has certainly been a consistent favorite with PerryGolf clients, and indeed we have taken passengers here on our golf cruises to enjoy this great links course on a number of occasions.
Royal Liverpool Golf Club
The Club has a rich and illustrious history. In 1885 the links hosted the first Amateur Championship; in 1902 the first ever international golf match which was between England and Scotland (the centenary of which in 2002 I was very privileged to have played in … and yes, 100 years on we beat England again-:); and, in 1921, the first international match between Great Britain and the United States of America, which we now know as The Walker Cup. In fact, it is Royal Liverpool Golf Club’s contribution to the amateur game that has set it apart from all other clubs in England. Although, at the end of the nineteenth century, it was the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews that took on the role of the governing body in golf as the game developed, it was at Hoylake that the rules of amateur status were laid down.
ROYAL LIVERPOOL TO HOST THE 2014 OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
16 February 2010, Hoylake, England: The R&A has announced that Royal Liverpool Golf Club will host The Open Championship in 2014. It will be the 12th time the Hoylake links has hosted golf’s oldest Major.
The venue has witnessed a string of unique Open Champions: in 1907, Arnaud Massy became the only Frenchman to have won the title; Fred Daly became the first Irishman to do so, in 1947; and Argentine golfer Roberto De Vicenzo became the first South American to win a Major when he lifted the Claret Jug in 1967. When The Open returned to Hoylake in 2006 after a 39-year absence, Tiger Woods became the first back-to-back Open Champion since Tom Watson in 1983 in front of 230,000 people, a record attendance for the Championship in England.
Two of the three amateurs to have won The Open were Royal Liverpool members: Hoylake-born John Ball Jr, the first Englishman to win The Open, lifted the Claret Jug at Prestwick in 1890; and Harold Hilton, who, on his home course in 1897, won his second title at the first Open Championship to be staged in the north west of England. The only other amateur winner is Bobby Jones, who won his third Open at Hoylake in 1930: the second of four steps to his unprecedented and unmatched Grand Slam.
In 1885, Hoylake hosted the inaugural Amateur Championship – the first of 17 to date – and, in 1921, it staged the first international match between Great Britain and the USA, a contest which would later become the Walker Cup Match.
“We are delighted that The Open is returning to Royal Liverpool after a relatively short period of time,” said David Hill, The R&A’s Director of Championships. “In 2006, Hoylake showcased links golf at its best and players, spectators and officials were united in their praise for the course, and for the venue as a whole.
“We would like to thank the Club’s officials for their unfailing co-operation, which has enabled the Championship to come back to Royal Liverpool, a Club whose history is interwoven with both The Open and The R&A.”
Paul Cassidy, Captain of Royal Liverpool Golf Club added, “we are very proud of our Club’s rich heritage and the many memorable golfing moments staged at Hoylake since our founding in 1869 and are extremely thrilled to be again invited to host The Open Championship in 2014. We are thoroughly looking forward to working with both The R&A and Wirral Council in the planning, organisation and staging of another successful Major championship.”
With The Open Championship estimated to boost the local economy by £70m each time it is played in the north west of England, the news has also been welcomed by Councillor Steve Foulkes, Leader of Wirral Council.
“This is fantastic news for Wirral. We look forward to getting ready to welcome new visitors to the Peninsula as well as returning golf fans who enjoyed themselves so much with us four years ago,” said Councillor Foulkes.
“The return of one of the world’s biggest sporting events to Royal Liverpool Golf Club is not only great for Wirral, but the whole of the North West. We are absolutely committed to ensuring local residents, businesses and golf fans alike benefit from this fantastic opportunity once more.”
1907 – Arnaud Massy (FRA) 1956 – Peter Thomson (AUS)
1913 – J H Taylor (ENG) 1967 – Roberto De Vicenzo (ARG)
1924 – Walter Hagen (USA) 2006 – Tiger Woods (USA)
1930 – Bobby Jones (A) (USA)
ENDS
Note to Editors
The R&A
Based in St Andrews, The R&A is golf’s governing body and organiser of The Open Championship. The R&A is committed to working for golf and operates with the consent of 138 organisations from the amateur and professional game and on behalf of over thirty million golfers in 124 countries.
I will never forget some of my trips to the Machrie, off the west coast of Scotland. Situated on the island of Islay, the Machrie is a classic links course in the truest sense of the word. I recall 10 blind shots to greens over towering sand dunes. The details on this golf experience can be enjoyed at LinksMagazine.com While the golf is memorable I will never forget the trip, in 1986 when my brother and I played 9 holes in fierce weather only to return to the clubhouse and an extended lunch break. Indeed, the lunch continued to dinner as were joined by the manager of one of the local distilleries with a new bottle of his product. Golf is a wonderful sport, but more often then not it is the people and life experiences which make it so special.
About the Author: Gordon Dalgleish is the Co-Founding Director of PerryGolf, the leading provider of international golf vacations. You can find him onGoogle+
I read with interest the recently published Irish course ratings in ‘Backspin’, an Irish golf magazine. The ratings were awarded by Irish pros, amateurs and the media…and the resulting list makes for some fascinating reading. The biggest surprise to me was Ballybunion being rated 7th in the Links Courses category – I have played there in the past and thought the course was fantastic. I was also interested to see how well the courses in the Dublin area and Northern Ireland fared, especially the links courses which our clients usually prefer to play. Click here to see details of the full list.
Ireland
Making use of this list, you could have a fantastic trip based in Dublin then head up to Newcastle and finish on the north coast of Northern Ireland. In Dublin you could play Portmarnock, The European Club, The Island and Royal Dublin (or the Links at Portmarnock Hotel). You could then head north (it’s just over an hour to Baltray) and play Co Louth before continuing up to Newcastle. Here you would play Royal County Down and then continue to the north coast where you might be based at Bushmills and would be perfectly positioned to play Royal Portrush, Portstewart and Ballyliffin. This would make for a great trip and would allow you to play 9 of the top 18 courses mentioned, including all of the top 5! And that is only including the links courses; if you want to mix in a couple of parkland courses, there is also the K Club and Druid’s Glen, both just outside Dublin. What are you waiting for?!
By Alastair Niven. Alastair has been with PerryGolf for over 9 years and is one of our Golf Travel Specialists.
The North West of England is one of the best kept secret golfing destinations in Europe and has often been described as the ‘Finest Stretch of Championship Golf in the World’. This is no idle boast for an area that can offer three Open Championship venues and no fewer than seven of the top rated courses in the UK and Ireland.
Why therefore, I hear you ask, has this area been overlooked for so long?
The main reason is that the local accommodation has not been up to the same standard as the magnificent golf available. I am pleased to tell you, however, this is no longer the case and that this area is now officially open for business!
On a recent trip to the area I sampled many of the newly built and refurbished properties on offer. I would like to tell you about the following as some recommended examples you should consider if playing and staying in the area:
The Vincent opened its doors in June 2008 – a unique and chic hotel for the North West of England. Situated on Lord Street, the Vincent takes comfort and service to a new level – all within a fresh and modern environment.
The Ramada Plaza Hotel offers luxury city centre style hotel accommodation in the hub of Southport.
Ramada Southport Plaza
With fantastic panoramic views of the coast and ease-of-access to some of the most acclaimed Championship golf courses in the country, it’s worth considering. Also only two minutes from Lord Street, it’s only a short walk to the famous shops and boutiques.
Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa offers the ultimate golf resort, spa and luxury hotel experience. The resort underwent a £15million refurbishment in 2008 and provides a golf course that is well-known on the European Challenge Tour, an notable golf instruction school facility and the 1st PGA National Residential Academy in the UK.
By Jonny Ferguson. Jonny has worked with PerryGolf for over 2 years and is one of our Golf Travel Specialists.
