Wow! We cannot believe how many entries were received for the 2013 Great Scotland Golf Giveaway. Tens of thousands of people entered the contest, and thousands shared the contest via e-mail, Facebook, and Twitter. Thanks to Free Birdie, Carl’s Golfland, Travel Pro Luggage, SCOR Golf, and Golf Vacation Insider for helping sponsor and make this contest possible plus most importantly our partners in Scotland, Turnberry, Kingsmills Hotel Gleneagles, Prestwick Golf Club, Royal Dornoch Golf Club & Castle Stuart who shall be providing a memorable trip to the winner and three friends.
The Winners Are…..
Grand Prize Winner of the PerryGolf Foursome to Scotland:
Kathy Scott
Runner Up Winners:
A set of TaylorMade RBZ Irons:
Chuck Coleman
Travel Pro Walkabout luggage:
Gilbert Castro
1 Year Supply of Srixion Golf Balls:
Anthony S. Prusaczyk
Share Prize Winners:
Callaway RAZR X Black Driver:
Derek Cornett
Ecco Biom Hybrid Golf Shoes:
David Jaehning
1 Year Supply of Titleist Pro V1:
Riley Stroven
Set of SCOR Golf Wedges:
James Williamson
Congratulations to our contestants. Keep checking the PerryGolf website for updates on future contests.
[singlepic id=7 w=320 h=240 float=]Golf travel cancellation insurance is one of these items many people overlook or otherwise do not spend much time considering as a purchase. Quite possibly because when you financially commit to a golf vacation it is with the full intent of completing the trip and thinking negative thoughts towards this pending dream trip is not in your personality. Whatever the rationale, I would encourage all travelers to understand the extent of their financial commitment and the terms associated with the purchase. These terms should be clearly and concisely detailed to you in advance of making any deposit. Very possibly, due to various factors, most notably the terms that suppliers place on tour operators like ourselves the cost to cancel can be quite steep. Stringent cancellation terms usually occur when demand demand is high in a relatively short, peak season for travel…as the British Isles experience every summer.
Golf travel cancellation insurance will ordinarily cost 6 – 7.5% on the value of the golf trip being insured. Your cost may be dependent upon your age and it will generally include a number of other amenities such as providing reimbursement for delayed luggage or medical evacuation. Every policy is different. The important thing for every golfer who is travelling, is to understand their financial commitment when booking a trip and then decide if you are comfortable with losing all or a portion of these monies if you are unable to travel. If you are comfortable with the potential loss, travel insurance is not for you. If the possibility of not enjoying the trip AND losing some portion (or all) of your money gives you pause for concern through some unforeseen event outwith your control, then golf travel insurance is something to seriously consider.
About the Author: Gordon Dalgleish is the Co-Founding Director of PerryGolf, the leading provider of international golf vacations. You can find him onGoogle+
[singlepic id=13 w=320 h=240 float=left]Over the years I have heard countless stories about golf…and fathers and sons, particularly as it relates to St. Andrews. We have had multi-generational trips with grandfathers, fathers and grandsons and I recall one client who took his son to St. Andrews 25 years after his father had taken him and played the Old Course. These are special trips and unforgettable moments for the participants.
I have recently come across a writer, and former caddy, Don Snyder who has a new book being published next spring by Doubleday. The book shall be titled, “WALKING WITH JACK, A Father’s Journey to Become His Son’s Caddy“. Don sent to me an excerpt from the book as it relates to St. Andrews, and for all the golfers who have visited St. Andrews over the years, I challenge you to read the following…and not get a lump in your throat;
” And somewhere in the heavens it must have been written that my last loop as a caddie here in St. Andrews would place me on the first tee of The Old Course with a wonderful fellow in his fifties who had recently lost his father, a man from whom he had been estranged for many years. We talked about fathers and sons for the first two hours and when we reached the 9th tee he told me the story of his autistic son, now age thirty whom he and his wife had been caring for since the beginning. He had never been able to walk a golf course with the son because of the loud sounds the boy makes and the way he waves his arms uncontrollably. The father confided to me that in truth he was embarrassed.
We got to the tenth green and I asked if he had made the trip to Scotland by himself. He said, “No, my wife and our son are here in the hotel.” It was around 6pm by then. When we made the turn for the homeward holes I realized that there were only four groups behind us left on The Old Course. I told the man that if he wanted to sit for a while and let everyone play through we could then be the final group and we could call his wife and tell her to bring the son to the 14th tee so he and his father could walk a few holes together, side by side on The Old Course.
It all worked out perfectly. The son was making his loud noises and swinging his arms like some crazy helicopter that would never fly, but it was beautiful to witness the two of them. It was something I’ll never forget.
I wonder what it must have been like for this father to never be able to fix what was so terribly broken in his son. What I did today I did for him of course, but also for myself, and for fathers everywhere, I think. And for my own father whose presence I felt today out on the golf course. I think he was looking down at us from wherever it is we go next.”
From the book “WALKING WITH JACK, A Father’s Journey to Become His Son’s Caddy“ by Don Snyder. Copyright 2012 by Don Snyder. Published by Doubleday.
About the Author: Gordon Dalgleish is the Co-Founding Director of PerryGolf, the leading provider of international golf vacations. You can find him onGoogle+
The Open Championship is unique amongst the majors for a variety of reasons and attendance at one “Open” as she is correctly called should be on every golfers bucket list. Some tips for making the dream trip a reality;
1. You can always walk up on the day and buy a ticket to watch play that day. It is truly “open” to the public.
2. If you want to stay nearby, expect the hotel to require a 5 – 7 night minimum stay, as you move further from the venue, demand lessens and shorter stays are more likely.
3. Invariably there is an excellent public transportation system with dedicated trains to the event from major cities…a fine option compared to traffic and parking
4. The Tented Village is part of the Open lore, it encompasses retail, promotional displays and hospitality areas…see it, experience it and enjoy it.
5. Links courses by nature are flat, the R & A who conduct the Open provide many bleacher stands throughout the course. It is a good idea to find a location you like and position yourself there.
6. Given the changeable weather that the British Isles is known for, be sure to have with you layers of clothes and even rain gear…just in case. Nothing worse than sitting in a bleacher as a rain shower approaches with a handkerchief for protection!
7. If you try to combine a golf trip with attendance at the Open, you probably will find it easier to play your golf in another region of the British Isles as most of the notable courses around the Open venue will be under great demand for various events, corporate outings, etc.
8. Due to the fact golf is so woven into the British fabric of life, you will be surprised at how knowledgeable the crowd will be…good shots are acknowledged and bad shots are winced at…for most of the spectators play the game and experienced the same challenges. Rarely will the “you da man” laud be shouted, unless of course by a patron possibly leaving the famed Bollinger tent!
Of course, our 2013 British Open Cruise is the perfect solution to play golf in Ireland, Scotland AND attending the Open from your floating hotel room only 30 minutes or so from the course!
I hope that you make this special trip at least once.
About the Author: Gordon Dalgleish is the Co-Founding Director of PerryGolf, the leading provider of international golf vacations. You can find him onGoogle+
PerryGolf is delighted to introduce a sweepstakes which provides you with the opportunity to win a trip for yourself plus three golfing friends to travel to Scotland to enjoy six of the finest courses that the “Home of Golf” is famous for. Full details of the competition and and entry can be viewed here.
Win a Golf trip to Scotland with three friends
The courses included in this trip are some of Scotland’s finest; Castle Stuart, venue for the Scottish Open, Ailsa Course at Turnberry, multiple host to the Open Championship, Prestwick, venue for the first Open to be played, Centenary Course at Gleneagles, venue for 2014 Ryder Cup, Royal Dornoch, acclaimed links course where Donald Ross started his golf career and the Kintye Course at Turnberry, venue for a European PGA Tour event. While the golf is spectacular, the accommodations provided are at the luxurious and iconic Turnberry Hotel in Ayrshire and Kingsmills Hotel in Inverness.
Good luck. We look forward to welcoming you to Scotland.
About the Author: Gordon Dalgleish is the Co-Founding Director of PerryGolf, the leading provider of international golf vacations. You can find him onGoogle+
