The Scottish Golf Show

PerryGolf Staff

I had an afternoon free in Glasgow this weekend and so I went along the Scottish Golf Show.  I was very impressed and spent an enjoyable afternoon there.  All of the major manufacturers were present, and many were offering to custom-fit golf clubs.  Each company also had a number of test bays available to try out new clubs.  

Alastair & son James with the Claret Jug
Alastair & son James with the Claret Jug

Some of the top courses in Scotland, such as Kingsbarns, Castle Stuart and Spey Valley had their own posts.  There were various challenges which one could take part in, from chipping and putting, to a simulation of the 16th green at Augusta where players were invited to replicate Tiger’s amazing chip in back in 2005 in the hope of winning a set Nike irons.  There were also facilities for junior golfers and my son was able to have a lesson from a pro and try out the new clubs…which I then inevitably had to purchase for him!  A real treat was also having our picture taken with the famous Claret Jug trophy.   

All in all a very enjoyable afternoon.  Click here for further details.  

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

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2018 Ryder Cup

PerryGolf Staff

Six European nations have announced their intention to bid to host the 2018 Ryder Cup; the deadline for which is April 30th, 2010. 

With Spain, Portugal, Germany, Sweden, France and Holland keen to stage the event, it’s going to be a Ryder Cup played at a mainland European venue for only the second time – with Valderrama in 1997 being the only other exception. 

Seve Ballesteros, who captained the winning European team at Valderrama in ‘97, was yesterday given a standing ovation as he was unveiled as the patron of Madrid’s bid for 2018.  It’ll be interesting to see if any of the other nations can top this…and even more interesting to see which country comes top of the pile when the host venue is eventually announced in early 2011.

Click here to read more.

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

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

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. 

Celtic Manor
Celtic Manor

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.

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Masters chuckle for the week

Gordon Dalgleish
I received the following image and text from a friend. This is great stuff, that you simply cannot make up.
 
Which way to driving range?
Which way to driving range, please?

“This Asian man who spoke only broken English actually thought that his “practice round badge” actually allowed him to “play a practice round” at Augusta National.  One of the grounds maintenance guys (others in the background) actually stopped and took the picture.  You can see that I am struggling to restrain from laughing totally out loud.  My partner, is not in the picture because he is actually just out of the left side of the frame rolling from laughter in the pine straw, from laughter.”

 

About the Author: Gordon Dalgleish is the Co-Founding Director of PerryGolf, the leading provider of international golf vacations. You can find him on Google+

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Charles Lees ‘The Golfers’ Painting to be Recreated

PerryGolf Staff
The Golfers by Charles Lee
The Golfers by Charles Lee

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.

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