The recent economic downturn has placed additional pressure on the traditional country club as people curtail expenses and luxuries. This BusinessWeek article from May, 2004 is a fun look into the future; click here.
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+
Fairmont Hotel St Andrews is located on the outskirts of St.Andrews on the road to Crail. Sitting on the summit of a spectacular cliff formation, the hotel and its two championship golf courses have breathtaking panoramic views of the River Tay estuary, the North Sea, the Fife countryside and the medieval skyline of St Andrews. This international resort opened in the spring of 2001 providing an excellent standard of service and a meticulous attention to detail. In addition to the 2 golf courses on site, you may enjoy the Spa, a haven of peace and tranquillity. Enjoy a few easy lengths of the 18-metre pool, relax in their Jacuzzi, sauna or steam room.
The hotel offers a wide range of accommodation choices including the PerryGolf Manor Homes which are ideal for groups of up to eight travelers as they provide 4 bedrooms and total over 5,000 square feet of living space. A home away from home with all of the amenities of a deluxe hotel.
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+
Due to it’s geographic isolation, New Zealand is very wary of visitors bringing disease to it’s shores…and this extends to your golf shoes and carrying turf ailments. When you back for a trip to New Zealand, be ready to show the customs officer a clean pair of golf shoes with no mud or grass from your last round of golf. If he sees anything which concerns him, be prepared to either abandon your shoes or clean them in front of the customs officer!
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+
There is the long standing comment about Britain and America being divided by a common language. Golf contributes it’s fair share to this confusion. Case in point, “Private” golf clubs.
In the British Isles “private” golf clubs imply they have a membership. In the U.S., a club that is designated as private probably restricts access to the course and facilities to members only. The British “private” does not, indeed most “private” courses in the British Isles welcome and are somewhat reliant on visitors for revenue.
I played at the Dunes Club in Myrtle Beach recently. The previous round was in 1984. Who needs repeat guests like me! The Dunes Club is probably one of the nicest facilities in Myrtle Beach and certainly one of the oldest. The clubhouse is on the beach and a great spot to have a drink or dinner. The course most recently hosted the Senior Tour Championship a few years ago. They have a manned security gate to protect their members from the outside world. The set up is typically that of a private club.
The twist to the story is that the Dunes Club accepts outside play. If you are a resident at one of 4 or 5 hotels you have the opportunity to play the Dunes Club on the hotels membership at a healthy greens fee. The members apparently accept this arrangement as the revenue infusion more than offsets any annoyance at unrepaired ball marks or slow play from non members. If the Dunes Club were located in virtually any other part of the U.S. the members would be appalled at this outside play…but this is Myrtle Beach and the way things are done. Which just goes to confirm you are a product of your environment.
I had not realized before how similar Myrtle Beach golf is to British golf!
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+
