The History of the Ryder Cup

Gordon Dalgleish

As we quickly approach the 2012 Ryder Cup Matches and excitement mounts on both sides of the Atlantic, I saw a great series of video’s which chronicle the history of the Ryder Cup. It seems hard to fathom that during the 1970’s there was every chance that the Ryder Cup would disappear or at the very least become a footnote in golf history as the Americans continued their domination of the Great Britain & Ireland team.

 

Part 1 can be viewed here.

If you take the time to look through the videos which are posted, you may notice the comments that Arnold (as Team Captain) made at the expense of Jack Nicklaus in Part 3 .

The late Seve Ballesteros appears in Part 4 in his usual positive perspective. Hard to believe that the PGA of American had to pay a network to broadcast the 1989 Matches!

If you have the time and appreciate the Ryder Cup Matches for what they are, this is a great history lesson to better understand how we got to where we are.
 

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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Castle Stuart Accommodation

PerryGolf Staff

The highlands of Scotland offer some stunning scenery as well as golf course options; a great base from which to explore this area is Inverness.  The city has seen a host of exciting new restaurant openings in recent years.  For accommodation, Kingsmills Hotel is a great 4 star option and there is now an additional choice available from July 2012 in the shape of farmhouse and cottage accommodations at Castle Stuart Golf Links.

These accommodations have been renovated from original farm buildings and now offer very comfortable lodgings complete with all of the facilities you could wish for right on the doorstep of one of the best new courses in Scotland.  You can choose from the Farmhouse or Castle Cottage, with both offering 4 bedrooms that can accommodate up to 8 people in each.  If you have a group whose main focus is golf and you want to stay somewhere a bit out of the ordinary with some great character, this is a fantastic option!

By Alastair Niven.  Alastair has been with PerryGolf for over 11 years and is one of our Golf Travel Specialists.

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New Zealand – What About After My Round?

PerryGolf Staff

Not to state the obvious, but New Zealand is a fantastic destination for golfers and non-golfers alike.  Yes it does have fantastic golf courses; especially in the shape of Kauri Cliffs, Wairakei, Cape Kidnappers, Jack’s Pint and The Hills to name but a few; but it also offers some great activities for when you are not on the course.  In the Bay of Islands you can cruise around the little islands off the coast, in Taupo see the awesome Huka Falls, in Napier take in a selection of great wineries and in Queenstown see some of the most beautiful scenery in the world.  The Remarkables mountain range is on your doorstep and stunning Milford Sound is just a short flight over the Southern Alps.

Another activity that I had to do when I was there…a bungee jump!  I understand it is not for everyone but bungee jumping originates (commercially anyway) in Queenstown so it was a must for me to do this at the original Kawarau Bridge site which is just a short drive out of Queenstown.  I booked it the day before to avoid being disappointed however this did lead to a somewhat sleepless night beforehand.  On arrival you register and make your way out to the bridge where, after a short wait and being harnessed safely, you are led out on the platform.  Then it is up to you.  I found it best not to think about it at all and just go for it. The sensation is incredible and as close to flying as I can image.  If you are in need of some persuasion to have a go I can tell you it also does wonders to rejuvenate a tired back after golf!

By Alastair Niven.  Alastair has been with PerryGolf for over 11 years and looks after of our South Pacific Programmes.

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Edinburgh Tattoo

PerryGolf Staff

[singlepic id=17 w=320 h=240 float=]I’ve been watching some of the highlights on television of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo which runs for most of August.  What a spectacular event; I will certainly be organised to take a visit next year – a “must do” when on a trip to Scotland, and you get to enjoy a night or two in Edinburgh which also hosts The Fringe at the same time.

It’s all happening inEdinburgh!!

By Gary Sheppard.  Gary has been with PerryGolf for over 6 years and is one of our Golf Travel Specialists

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Common sense tips for golf travel bag covers

Gordon Dalgleish

[singlepic id=16 w=320 h=240 float=left]Golf travel bag covers have evolved a long way from some of the very basic plastic covers I can recall. These golf travel covers were no more than flimsy plastic with two holes for the strap of your bag to come through to aid carriage through the airport. The offered no protection for your golf equipment beyond dirt or rain drops!

Various options are now available and virtually all come with wheels which is a must for your golf bag cover.

The other principal decision when purchasing a cover is what level of protection you wish to provide your golf clubs. At one extreme are the hard sided covers which come in various sizes and provide the very best protection available. The downside is that they are cumbersome & bulky. Due to their size and inflexibility they consume a significant amount of space, particularly in a rental car. Indeed, I would go as far as to say that unless you have absolutely no space restrictions on your luggage as you travel, hard sided golf bag covers are not a good option.

The compromise between sturdy protection and flexibility for space saving I have found best are the likes of Club Glove. All of their models come with wheels, a hard sided bottom and base with the top potion constructed from extremely tough fabric. When the golf clubs are out of the cover they fold down into the size of the base and will fit into rental cars and the like.

Doubtless there are other fine examples of golf bag covers but I would use Club Glove as the benchmark for making a purchase decision. After 30+ years of traveling with golf clubs around the world, I can only recall one incident where one club was damaged, and for the vast majority of these trips I have used a Club Glove product and never used a hard sided case.
 

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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