Matakauri Lodge, Queenstown is the sister property of Kauri Cliffs and Cape Kidnappers. It opened in August 2010 and has recently appeared on the “Condé Nast Traveller Hot List 2011” (click here for details). Matakauri is an outstanding property and a fantastic addition to Queenstown; it is a must stay while in the area as there is plenty to do and see and some of the scenery in this region of New Zealand is out of this world. The golf is also excellent with Jacks Point which boasts a backdrop of 2300 vertical metres of the razorback Remarkables mountain range. Need I say more!
By Denise McKee. Denise has been with PerryGolf for over 11 years and handles our South Pacific Programmes.
Turnberry Resort has become the very first hotel in Scotland to introduce iPad wine and beverage menus into their dining experience. The growing popularity of the tablet computer in the US has also been incorporated by Gordon Ramsay into his London “Maze Restaurant”.
Turnberry has invested in ten iPads which offer guests a colourful and interactive choice of beer, wine, cocktails and whiskies in their 1906 restaurant and The Ailsa Bar & Lounge.
The news of the upgraded menus at Turnberry comes after their launch of a range of well-known golfers’ wines; including the personal selection from John Daly, Retief Goosen and Arnold Palmer. These will be featured on the new menus.
Any developments at Gleneagles are viewed with interest, especially with them due to host the Ryder Cup on its return to Europe in 2014. From this article, it looks like they have found a solution (for greens anyway) of maintaining great course conditions in spite of difficult environmental factors. I wonder how long it will be before we see this technology in more widespread use.
By Alastair Niven. Alastair has been with PerryGolf for over 10 years and is one of our Golf Travel Specialists.
Congratulations to The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs on being voted No.1 Lodge/Resort in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific by readers of Travel & Leisure. This is the 16th year the awards have been held and the rankings are based on rooms/facilities, location, service and restaurant food and value. Kauri Cliffs came in 11th place in the World’s Best Awards. You can see further details on the awards by clicking here.
Kauri Cliffs is owned by New Yorkers Julian & Josie Robertson who also run the fantastic Cape Kidnappers resort near Napier on the South Island which has one of the world’s best courses. In addition to this, they have recently opened the new Matakauri Lodge near Queenstown.
By Alastair Niven. Alastair has been with PerryGolf for over 10 years and looks after our South Pacific Programmes.
Further to my post in January regarding The Machrie Hotel & Golf Links entering administration, I was pleased to read that the administrators have found a buyer and the property was sold for an undisclosed sum on Thursday 30 June 2011 to Machrie Golf LLP.
Machrie Golf LLP is a partnership established by Baroness Sue Nye (former Director of Government Relations at 10 Downing Street) and her husband Gavyn Davies (Chairman of Fulcrum Asset Management). The facility will now be managed by G3k, whose CEO is Stewart Smith; a Scottish golf professional for 28 years who has been involved with some very impressive golf course developments.
The Machrie
The Machrie estate is located on Islay on the West coast of Scotland and includes the hotel with bar and restaurant, lodges, golf shop and the 71-par championship golf course. The golf course is considered one of the world’s top links courses and is rated within the UK’s 100 top golf courses. You can see further details by clicking here.
With an array of single malt distilleries on the island Islay is a great destination for any golfers looking for something a bit different. It can also work well with a trip to Scotland’s Ayrshire coast as you can fly there from Glasgow and this allows courses like Turnberry, Royal Troon and Prestwick to be included in a trip.
By Alastair Niven. Alastair has been with PerryGolf for over 10 years and is one of our Golf Travel Specialists.
