Category: Travel Tips

PerryGolf negotiates half price rental on all GPS units with National Car Rental

PerryGolf Staff

Driving on ‘the wrong’ side of the road in a foreign country can be difficult enough without being nervous about directions, so why make it any harder than it needs to be?  PerryGolf provide detailed point-to-point driving direction as well as road maps, but having a GPS can take any doubt out of your mind.  We have a special arrangement with National Car Rental whereby our clients can hire a GPS unit at half the normal price and this applies to all bookings in the United Kingdom for the 2010 season.  This is something which should definitely be considered by all self-drive groups.  

Please contact your Golf Travel Specialist for more details on the rental.

By Gary Sheppard.  Gary has been with PerryGolf for over 4 years and is one of our Golf Travel Specialists.

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The Scottish Dialect

PerryGolf Staff

Scotland may only have a population of just over 5million – and did you know that the Highlands of Scotland have the lowest population density at 8 inhabitants per square kilometer – but there is a huge difference in the dialect from County to County.  I am based beside Loch Lomond, the west of Glasgow, and of course we think we talk very clearly…however it is said folks living in the Inverness area in the north have the clearest and best pronunciation of the English language. 

The variation of accents was brought home to me when we had a group of golfers arrive into Manchester Airport from Atlanta, and we had a coach collect them for the 3 hour drive north to Turnberry.  One of our drivers, who hails from deepest Ayrshire, duly gave a bit of commentary throughout the journey, Lancashire Coast, Gretna Green, Lockerbie and so on.  As I met the group at Turnberry Hotel, one well mannered golfer, as he left the coach, turned to the driver with a small gratuity, and said –“thanks for the guided tour on the way up, didn’t understand a darn word you said!” 

Great stuff!  Best tip: tell us to slow down when we talk!

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

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Shipping Your Golf Clubs

PerryGolf Staff

If you’ve been on a golf trip abroad before, you‘ll be aware of the hassle involved in taking your clubs with you.  Having to take them to and from the airports, between flights (if you’re not flying direct and they’re not checked right through) and the worry that they could be delayed – and therefore not arrive in time for your first round – can all result in the trip not getting off to the best possible start.  As a result, why not consider shipping them across the pond in advance of your trip?

All you need to do is go online and fill in a simple form, give the company a couple of weeks notice and they’ll pick them up from your house and deliver them to your first hotel where the concierge will store them prior to your arrival.  This hassle-free service obviously comes at a cost, but at around $250 each way (to the UK) it’s a service well worth considering.

PerryGolf strongly recommends Luggage Forward who will give you the added bonus of a 5% discount as a PerryGolf customer.  They provide a reliable service and automatically included in the price is insurance covering your clubs to the value of $500 should anything go wrong (which in my 10 years at PerryGolf, has never happened…touch wood!)  Obviously golf clubs are generally worth a lot more than $500, and so there is the option of purchasing additional insurance for a fraction more cost.  For more details, and to obtain a quote, remember to visit Luggage Forward’s website.

By Keith Baird.  Keith has been with PerryGolf for over 10 years and is one of our Golf Travel Specialists.

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Should I take a Caddie?

PerryGolf Staff

A question we are often asked by our clients is if they should take a caddie or not; and with the average caddie fee being around $60-$70 per round (not including tip) it is a good question.  This is especially relevant in Scotland where caddies do not double-bag, and Ireland where fees are per bag.

A caddie providing useful advice
Caddies are invaluable where experience of the course is required

At PerryGolf we always recommend that our clients take caddies as they add significantly to the enjoyment of a round.  Apart from the obvious benefit of them carrying your bag, looking for your ball, raking bunkers and cleaning clubs, etc, they make negotiating, particularly links-style courses, much easier.  They obviously assist in club selection based on distances, but links courses are often played in windy conditions where experience is absolutely essential.  They are also able to help you tackle the blind shots that can arise on a links course as well as reading the (at times) severely undulating or large greens.  I am sure many will agree that a caddie has saved them a few putts on the double greens of the Old Course at St. Andrews!  All of this comes before you have even heard some of the great stories they have to tell from past experiences.  They can give a visitor real enjoyment beyond the golf and give some local-insider knowledge to a trip… not least the best pubs to visit!!

By Alastair Niven.  Alastair has been with PerryGolf for over 9 years and is one of our Golf Travel Specialists.

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St. Andrews Links Trust – New Website

PerryGolf Staff

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.

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