Wildings Restaurant in the West of Scotland

March 24, 2010March 9, 2010 PerryGolf Staff

I am often asked for dining suggestions from groups before they travel to the West coast of Scotland. Here is my personal number one suggestion for anybody travelling or thinking of going to the Ayrshire Coast.

Wildings Hotel & Restaurant is a fantastic place to eat and is no more than a 5 minute drive (1mile) from the magnificent Turnberry Resort, home of the famous Ailsa Course. Situated in the small harbour village of Maidens, this is a well run family business and is rumoured to be one of Tom Watson’s favourite haunts when the Open comes to town.

The menu has a strong French influence and sources some of the areas finest produce; whether this is from the local countryside or the ever-present sea. In my opinion, it’s well worth a visit if you’re a seafood lover like myself or if you just fancy a decent steak.

My friendly advice to all is to book in advance of your trip in order to avoid disappointment!

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

Boat Trip on Loch Lomond

March 22, 2010March 9, 2010 PerryGolf Staff

Wherever you are in the Cameron House Hotel, you cannot help but notice the boats of all sizes enjoying the loch, and so we decided to join one of the daily cruises. The skipper of the Astina was very knowledgeable and entertaining and I sensed we were in for a good trip around a few of the thirty-eight islands. We headed north away from the ‘busy’ end, past the famous Loch Lomond Golf Club and some of the larger islands and up to Tarbet where history has it noted that Viking raiders would drag their longships overland from the sea-lochs to the west. Turning back south we saw the cave where Rob Roy is reputed to have hidden (he was often in hiding from the law!) This is MacGregor country and there are many links to the infamous outlaw around the loch. The clan burial place lies on the island of Inchcailloch.

Our lunch stop was at the tiny (but very busy) village of Luss; with its sandy beaches, narrow lanes of tiny cottages and flowers everywhere, it’s a step back in time. There is a small sea-plane based there and we were just leaving as it flew in; an impressive sight below the mountain of Ben Lomond. The plane is apparently popular with golfers, as it can take them and their clubs to courses that are our hours away by road. Our return journey took in the larger islands, each with a story to tell and lots of rumours too. We didn’t see the wallabies on Inchconnachan, hear the ghostly bell on Inchtavannach, or catch sight of any nudists on Inchmurrin…but who could doubt that they are there?

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

The Irish Tourist Economy

March 22, 2010March 21, 2010 Mhairi

Our UK PerryGolf office may be based in Scotland, but as Ireland is another of the world’s most popular golfing destinations, we are constantly in contact with our suppliers over there.

St. Patrick's Day Celebrations in New York City

With the presence of St. Patrick’s Day (and festive ‘tourist drive’ parades being held in New York and Los Angeles), we are always reminded of the Irish culture and it was very interesting to read a recent report on the present economic stance of the country.

With the realization that Ireland is now perceived as a very expensive country to visit, many of the higher-end accommodations are looking to lower their rates quite markedly alongside the special offers in place for customers. With this proactive approach, and Ireland making a concerted effort to promote the country once again, hopefully golfers will not feel they have to miss out on some of the best courses in the world.

For further reading, click here.

Golf Lesson at Turnberry

March 16, 2010February 23, 2010 PerryGolf Staff

Working for PerryGolf for 10 years has opened up my interest in golf; learning about all of the courses and ‘golfing regions’ but having never played a game of golf, I realised it was time to change that. On a visit to the Turnberry Resort I was lucky enough (when you see my clip you will understand) to have a golf lesson at The Colin Montgomerie Links Golf Academy’. It is a great facility showcasing an open-air driving range with a landscaped target area, a state-of-the-art audio-visual theatre, simulator and swing analyzer. After my consultation and a few practice swings, the problem with my swing was clear…to put it bluntly…it was awful! Once the professional advised where I was going wrong and made a few small changes to my swing, a definite improvement was evident. Spending a further 20 minutes in the teaching bays hitting balls found that my swing was massively improved; there’s a long way to go, but certainly with practice I could be better.

It was a great experience and they have the space and capability to take groups for lessons and offer different options depending on your skill level and what you need to improve on. This is an ideal addition to your stay at Turnberry and will no doubt improve your round and your experience on the Ailsa Course.

Click below to view my experience at Turnberry’s Golf Academy:

Denise’s Golf Lesson

By Denise McKee. Denise is a member of PerryGolf’s admin team.

Huka Lodge and a Visit to the Falls – New Zealand

March 12, 2010February 16, 2010 PerryGolf Staff

New Zealand is a beautiful country with so many unique and breathtaking sights. One of my most memorable experiences there was when I visited Huka Falls in Wairakei Park; the largest falls on the Waikato River (New Zealand’s longest river) near Taupo on New Zealand’s North Island. Huka Falls is only a short 5-minute drive north of Lake Taupo.

The Falls have to be one of the most spectacular sights I have ever seen; there are several viewing platforms and a 30-minute riverside walk that incorporates the many observation points. Located along the banks of the Waikato River (about 300m from Huka Falls ) is the award-winning Huka Lodge – you couldn’t imagine a better place to stay! With just 25 rooms in total, they offer a relaxing, intimate and first class service. Their dining experience is a must thanks to the Michelin star chefs working with local produce to provide an unforgettable culinary event for guests. Located in the grounds is their wine cellar, an underground chamber that can seat up to 10 guests for dinner – but this is just one of the fun and innovative ideas that the Lodge has in place.

In my mind, Huka Lodge is worth the expense, and incorporating a trip to the Falls is an absolute ‘must do’ on any vacation to New Zealand.

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

Insight, Offers & Inspiration