A Day at Muirfield

March 2, 2010February 18, 2010 PerryGolf Staff

An opening became available to play Muirfield for the first time when a group of past clients invited me to play with them. Chuck Battey, his son David, and son-in-law John Fraser had a great two-week Scotland itinerary in mind. Muirfield was one of their ‘must plays’. As there were only three of them, they asked if I would join them so that the group matched the clubs requirements; all visiting parties are in multiples of 2 players. Naturally, I accepted the invitation without hesitation.

The course isn’t laid out like a traditional, straight out and straight back, links course. It’s structured in two loops, so the wind comes at you from a different angle on almost every hole, making it more challenging – yet without doubt, more interesting. More details on what many people consider to be the best golf course in Scotland, can be enjoyed at LinksMagazine.com.

After golf, the Battey’s told some wonderful stories about their many previous trips with PerryGolf while we enjoyed a fantastic roast lunch in the clubhouse (where lamb, beef, chicken and all the trimmings were available at the buffet). Our schedules didn’t allow time to go back out on the course for the traditional alternate shot afternoon round; however the day was already special enough.

Visitor tee-times at Muirfield are not the easiest to come by as they only permit visitors on Tuesday and Thursday mornings…so if you’d like it included in your schedule, be sure to start planning it well in advance of your travel date. By well in advance, I’d recommend 15 months prior to the time of travel as that’s when their diaries open up and the tee-times don’t remain available for long. It’s well worth the planning, as it is one course you won’t want to miss.

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

Golf & Whisky – Scotland’s famous creations

March 1, 2010February 22, 2010 Cameron Reid

16th green kessock — Castle Stuart 16th Green

A recent article in the Scottish newspaper Press & Journal highlights some of the fine courses in the Scottish Highlands and their proximity to the Malt Whisky Trail in Speyside. There is no getting away from the fact that Golf & Whisky seem to be a popular partnership on a golf vacation to Scotland. Perhaps it is our fondness for replaying the round…if only I didn’t miss that 3 footer or take two in the bunker, then I might have won!! Sipping on a great malt in the clubhouse or back at the hotel after a round on the links, is the perfect way to finish the day. It is interesting to note that our golf cruise onboard Harmony II, a luxury mega yacht on charter to PerryGolf in July 2010, visits three venues referenced in the article most notably Royal Dornoch, Castle Stuart and Durness, the most northwesterly course on the mainland of the British Isles and probably the most remote. For further reading click here.

Machrihanish Dunes Awards

February 10, 2010February 10, 2010 PerryGolf Staff

Southworth Development, LLC have recently announced that Machrihanish Dunes, the new McLay Kidd layout beside the famous Machrihanish, has received top honours from Links Magazine as one of the “Top New International Courses” and has also been given 21^st place in Golfweek’s “Best New Modern Courses of Great Britain and Ireland”. You can see more details on each of these awards at the links below but this certainly makes the rugged Mull of Kintyre a very attractive destination for those who like their golf away from the crowds and played the way golf used to be played!

Links Magazine article – Click Here

Golfweek article – Click Here

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

The Spa at Loch Lomond Golf Club

February 3, 2010February 8, 2010 Mhairi

It is no longer a member’s-only treat to use the Spa at Loch Lomond Golf Club as Day Spa guests are now welcome. The building itself is a relaxing and luxurious spa placed in a magnificent and breathtaking setting.

Loch Lomong Golf Club Spa — Loch Lomond Golf Club Spa

Having booked in for an Energizer Massage, the staff at the spa recommend that you arrive at least 1 hour prior to your treatment in order to fully experience the heat experiences and the vitality pool (not to mention the sauna and the crystal steam room).

After the initial welcoming into the spa, I was shown to the changing rooms which were well-equipped – dental kits, brushes, hairspray, etc all available – and put on my swimwear, fluffy white robe and waterproof footwear in preparation for my afternoon of bliss.

First of all I decided to spend some time at the hydro pool which has different points providing various water pressure jets for underwater massage. From here I flitted between the steam room, the sauna and the ice fountain (this provides a much-needed cool down amid the heat experiences). By now my circulation was certainly working and I had a quick shower before moving onto the relaxation room to await the call for my treatment. The relaxation room itself which was very placid and offered a set of headphones for each lounger to allow you to listen to relaxing songs while admiring the lovely view out onto the small garden.

The treatment was fantastic, providing me with a (desperately) sought after boost…that must have been the Eucalyptus oil! The purpose of the Energizer Massage is to leave you with a clear head and a feeling of wellbeing; and I believe it did just that.

I should note that the spa is set within the walled garden at Loch Lomond Golf Club which also contains a large palm house and vast lawns and is really rather an extraordinary setting that I truly hope to attend again soon.

Re-opening of the Royal Golf Hotel in Dornoch

January 27, 2010 PerryGolf Staff

On the 1^st April 2010, the Royal Golf Hotel in Dornoch will again open its doors and welcome visitors from all parts of the world. This iconic hotel has been closed since 2006, but now with the backing of Grant Sword and other investors from Castle Stuart Golf Links, the newly refurbished hotel will be back in business.

The hotel overlooks the 1^st tee at Royal Dornoch and is in an ideal location for a stay in the Highlands. Other great courses within an hour’s drive are Tain, Brora, Castle Stuart, and Nairn. Dornoch is a great little town which also offers non-golfing activities for those who do not want to play; Dornoch Cathedral is where Madonna’s baby was christened, part of Dornoch Jail is now a lovely little gift shop, and the Glenmorangie Distillery is only a 15 minute drive. Dornoch was also the birthplace of Donald Ross and this is where he took a lot of inspiration for many of his designs in America. He used to work at Royal Dornoch as a green keeper before moving to the US in 1899 and you will find a plaque in his memory outside the house where he grew up in the town centre, just off of the High Street.

The scenery in the area is stunning and many visitors can enjoy long walks or drives to pass the time during the day. You can then retire to ‘the golfer’s bar’ at the hotel for a wee dram before dinner. Highly recommended!

For more information on touring the Glenmorangie Distillery, click here.

By Gary Sheppard. Gary has been with PerryGolf for over 3 years and is one of our Golf Travel Specialists.

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