It was recently announced that the Open Championship will return to the home of golf in 2015. The Open is widely regarded as the most prestigious Major Championship and I honestly believe that winning it around the Old Course at St. Andrews must add so much to the satisfaction of the winner.
By Gary Sheppard. Gary has been with PerryGolf for over 5 years and is one of our Golf Travel Specialists.
Tomorrow night (July 19) at 7:00 EST on ESPN’s E:60 “The Best Stories in Sports” broadcast, we encourage you to tune in for the how a Vietnam veteran who lost both of his legs shot a solid 79 last fall at the Old Course, St Andrews! It was PerryGolf’s distinct pleasure to accompany Mr Mike Reeder during his visit to Scotland when company Co-Founder Colin Dalgleish joined him for a game and a tour of the town. Not only will you see an impressive golf swing, but you’ll meet a man who has turned a “bag of hammers” (a phrase Mike borrows from Michael J. Fox) into a powerful inspiration. Mike’s visit was made possible by Challenged Athlete’s Foundation who partnered with ESPN who had seen mike interviewed by CNN. Click here if you’d like to see the CNN interview.
Click here if you’d like to see the E:60 trailer.
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+
Much of Scotland’s history has been as wild and changeable as its weather…but on a more light-hearted note, the oldest golf course in Scotland; ‘The Home of Golf’, is often fiercely disputed.
Musselburgh (near Edinburgh) can prove existence in 1674 and it is even suggested that Mary, Queen of Scots played there in the late 1500’s. The Old Course at St. Andrews has records of golf played there in 1574 and is the most widely known ‘Home of Golf’. Stirling, with it’s much fought over castle, insists that King James IV played a round of golf there in 1506 with the Earl of Bothwell, so it is assumed there was some sort of course there at that time. Now Perth golfers have come up with some interesting facts to claim the title as theirs.
It is well-known that golf was banned in 15th Century Scotland and all men were encouraged to practice archery in readiness for any invasion by their neighbours in England. James IV was crowned at Scone Palace, near Perth in 1488, and by 1502 (in a more peaceful period) he had decided that an invasion was unlikely and golf could again be played. The King was a keen sportsman and took up the game himself. He commissioned a set of clubs from a local bow-maker and is reputed to have used them on the town’s North Inch course the same year.
By Yvonne Shaw. Yvonne has been with PerryGolf for over 10 years and is a member of our admin team.
Kohler Co., the current owners of the Old Course Hotel in St. Andrews, have revealed approved development plans for Hamilton Grand which they purchased at the end of 2009.
One of the most sought-after locations in the world of golf, Hamilton Grand boasts views over the 18th Green of the Old Course and of St. Andrews Bay, and is neighbor to the Royal & Ancient Golf Club in St. Andrews.
To read more, click here.
Is there a better pub anywhere in Scotland than the Jigger Inn?
In terms of location, I doubt it, as it stands to the right of the 17th hole on the Old Course; arguably the most dramatic hole in major championship golf. With a decent sized outdoor seating area from where you can watch golfers hit their approach shots to the ‘Road Hole’, it makes the perfect spot for lunch at the height of the summer. Traditional fish and chips with mushy peas is the speciality, but with a wide range of great pub grub to choose from, and with everything made to a very high standard, it’s a meal you’ll enjoy for more than just for the great view. Even on a cold and rainy day, the log fires inside make it the ideal spot to warm up, and with a wide range of local beers and malt whiskeys, there’s something for everyone. If you’re in St. Andrews and you’re looking for a casual but enjoyable lunch, you needn’t look any further.
By Keith Baird. Keith has been with PerryGolf for over 10 years and is one of our Golf Travel Specialists.
