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PerryGolf Destination: Australia

Brian Mull
Royal Melbourne West is the prize of the Sandbelt. The Alister MacKenzie masterpiece is a consensus top 10 in the World layout. PerryGolf can take you there on a Custom Tour or Escorted Tour. 

As summer turns to fall in Australia, one of the nation’s most beloved and respected champion golfers returned home and played the two courses he considers his favorite in the world.

Ian Baker-Finch, the 1991 Open Champion, and a veteran member of the CBS Sports broadcast team, took advantage of the network’s coverage break in advance of The Masters and headed Down Under to play Kingston Heath and Royal Melbourne Golf Club.

IBF posted this beautiful aerial shot of Kingston Heath (and additional photos from his trip) to his Instagram account earlier this week, making it easy to understand why he has such strong affection for the layout, which was ranked No. 20 in Golf Magazine’s 2017-18 Top 100 Courses in the World.

 

 

Via Custom Tours or Escorted Tours, PerryGolf brings golf enthusiasts from around the globe to the glorious Melbourne Sandbelt – and beyond – each year during the Southern Hemisphere’s ideal weather months (October – March).

For example, The Best Golf of Sydney and Melbourne features seven rounds in nine days.

Kingston Heath was originally designed in 1925 by the Australian professional Dan Soutar. The renowned Scottish architect Alister MacKenzie (Cypress Point, Augusta National) visited three years later and raved about Soutar’s routing. MacKenzie added the layout’s characteristic bunkering, the identifiable feature of his gems in the Sandbelt region.

None other than Greg Norman described the course’s four par 3s as the best set in the world. And while they deserve every breath of praise, it’s the short par-4 No. 3 – measuring only 295 yards from the back tees – that earns the respect of another Champion Golfer of the Year from Australia, the great Peter Thomson, who won the Open Championship five times between 1954 and 1965.

“Holes of this length are not built any more – a pity. This one is a gem,” Thomson said. “In this day and age it can be driven, although the possibility must be ten or more to one against. For this reason the penalties for missing the target should be more severe, this enhancing the challenge.”

Thomson, a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, also designed dozens of courses around the globe in an architectural career spanning 50 years.

Soren Kjeldsen and Thorbjorn Olesen found Kingston Heath to their liking in the 2016 World Cup of Golf, shooting 20-under-par for 72 holes to bring the trophy home to Denmark.

The journey Down Under to play Kingston Heath, Royal Melbourne and the many, many other courses which are among the world’s best, is a special and unique offering. When you go, be certain to take advantage of this tax break, offered to tourists on certain items. To learn more about the majestic courses in Tasmania and on King Island, enjoy these stunning photos and observations from Gordon Dalgleish, the PerryGolf Co-Founding Director and President. 

Dates and details should be finalized soon for PerryGolf’s extremely popular, The Best of Australia Escorted 2019. If you’re interested in playing these delightful gems and learning more about the trip, be sure to contact us.

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5 Reasons to Cruise the Caribbean

Brian Mull

When Old Man Winter nips sharply at your ears and toes, golf, sun and relaxation can seem like faded feelings never to be revisited again. With the golf clubs packed in the garage and the cashmere sweaters stacked in the closet, it becomes difficult to envision making a birdie or wearing short sleeves until the snow melts and the ground thaws.

Never fear. PerryGolf has the tonic for the Winter Blues, offering two Golf Cruises to the Caribbean in 2019 on SeaDream I, a cozy elegant ship featuring a fabulous spa. SeaDream I serves as the ideal vessel for navigating the smaller ports distinct to this region and provides hours of carefree cruising on clear, calm seas.

Built to accommodate 100 guests and an award-winning 95-person crew, the ship will steer from St. Thomas to St. John’s and exotic ports such as Anguilla and St. Kitts, you will bask in the warmth of the French West Indies while building lasting friendships with fellow guests of a similar ilk, pursuing golf, travel and adventure.

Exceptional service and quality dining are hallmarks of these all-inclusive cruises on SeaDream, as guests bask in the sun and enjoy open bars, with gratuities included.

Expect to return home refreshed after a pleasurable week enjoying these five highlights of a PerryGolf Caribbean Golf Cruise.

Scuba Diving in Nevis

Whether you are a novice snorkeler or experienced diver, the island of Nevis, just seven miles long and five miles wide provides the ideal setting to explore the wonderful underwater world. Discover the beautiful coral reef featuring deep holes filled with schools of colorful fish, caves, ledges and mini-walls. Ample instruction is provided but no license is required. You’ll be under the close and constant supervision of an expert dive master who will guide you to amazing shallow water sites like “Hot Springs”, “Bug’s Hole” and “The Church Reef.” Mark this item off your bucket list shortly after your Caribbean journey begins.

Charms of St. Bart’s

First things first: The ‘s’ at the end is silent. Now get ready to spend a day and night in one of the coolest destinations in the Caribbean, a French-speaking island known best for its white sand beaches and boutique shops. What you will not find here are large ships in port – which is why SeaDream I is the ideal vessel for exploring this part of the world – or high-rise buildings – there’s a two-story limit.

Christopher Columbus discovered the island in 1493 and named it for his brother, Bartolomeo. Located 240 miles east of Puerto Rico, St. Bart’s has experienced many incarnations in the centuries since – from expat escape haven to popular destination for aspiring entrepreneurs from abroad. What’s remained constant is the beauty of 14 beaches, the shopping in the duty-free port and the overall laid-back, leisurely pace of life one comes to expect in the Caribbean.

Golf

The golf courses offered on this cruise fit seamlessly into the mood of the week: they are well-conditioned and enjoyable, challenging in spots but played in shorts and shirt sleeves under pleasant skies and offering opportunities to make a birdie or two.

Designed by Robert Trent Jones II and opened in 1991, Four Seasons Nevis is a pleasant par-71 layout, measuring 6,766 yards from the championship tees and playing to a slope of 132 and course rating of 73.1

Royal St. Kitts delivers views of both the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Redesigned by noted Canadian architect Thomas McBroom and re-opened in 2004, it features lush fairways and demands golfers avoid the water hazards in play on 10 holes and the more than 80 bunkers dotted across the layout.  The par-71 courses offers four sets of tees, ranking from 5,000 to 6,851 yards.

The only golf course on Anguilla, Cuisinart Resort was designed by Greg Norman and is a world-class championship layout. The Shark plotted five sets of tees so golfers of all skill levels can have a fun round at Cuisinart as the par-72 course measures from 5,317 to 7,063 yards.

Norman Island

Located at the southern tip of the British Virgin Islands, this privately owned island may have been the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson’s literary masterpiece, Treasure Island. Perhaps there’s a trove of pirate’s gold buried in the sand or hidden in the caves, as local lore suggests. Considered one of the “Little Sisters” islands, many a sailor sought shelter from a storm here through the centuries.

Enjoy hiking the pristine beaches, snorkeling around the wrecks and reefs and be certain to allot time for a cocktail or two at Pirates Bight or the abandoned schooner, Willie T, next door which serves as an eating or dining establishment. Norman Island does not have any fulltime inhabitants, although in true Caribbean fashion, it offers two bars.

Champagne & Caviar

Needing minimal explanation, if any, SeaDream’s legendary, world-renowned Champagne & Caviar Splash delivers the ultimate conclusion and an emphatic exclamation point to your seven-day voyage.  A shore side celebration of the yachting lifestyle, guests and crew reflect on good times shared and look ahead to meeting again, enjoying flowing champagne toasts and delectable caviar. A gourmet barbecue served on a white sandy beach will follow. At the sound of the yacht’s horn … play the music, let the bubbles flow and enjoy a bite of caviar.

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5 Reasons to Take an Arabian Golf Cruise

Brian Mull

Enchanting days, relaxing nights and world-class golf are cornerstones of PerryGolf cruises to the Arabian Gulf.

The 2018 Arabian Gulf & Emirates Golf Cruise embarks from Dubai on Oct. 31, 2018. PerryGolf Co-Founder Colin Dalgleish is your host for this 7-Night, 4-Round voyage which tours the Persian Gulf.

Clients interested in enjoying a few more days at sea (and another round of golf) might prefer the 11-Night, 5-Round 2019 Arabian Gulf & Emirates Golf Cruise, which also departs Dubai, setting sail on Nov. 29 of next year.

Whatever your pleasure, PerryGolf and Azamara Quest form the ideal partnership to help you enjoy this mystical corner of the world, experience the culture, refresh at sea and play exquisite golf courses sprinkled throughout the region.

Open your eyes to these five reasons to cruise the Arabian Gulf.

Dubai

Dubai Grand Mosque

Known as the ‘Venice of the Gulf,’ endless skyscrapers and the powerful beauty of extravagant architecture mark this progressive oasis in the desert. Explore the Dubai Grand Mosque, which was originally constructed in 1900, but has undergone numerous rebuilds and renovations during the last century and features the tallest Minaret in Dubai. Gold Souk is the largest market of its kind and offers an array of goods that should not be missed. Traditional wooden boats (dhows) float along the Dubai Creek Waterfront, which separates Deira from Bur Dubai, carving through the city center. Walk the narrow streets and gaze at the limestone homes in Bastakia, a neighborhood  and restored  Bastakia, a neighborhood

 

The Golf

Saadiyat Beach was designed in harmony with the natural landscape and with respect for the coastal environment.

Perhaps you watched the epic shootout last month between Haotong Li and Rory McIlroy at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. Li outlasted McIlroy with a remarkable 23-under total, taking full advantage of the pristine condition of the Emirates Golf Club Majlis Course, which was the first grass course in Dubai and the longtime host of this marquee event on the European Tour schedule. PerryGolf cruises to the Arabian Gulf include a round on the Majlis Course, which includes seven freshwater and saltwater lakes. This region is loaded with an array of other wonderful courses available as part of the cruise package. Saadiyat Beach Club, designed by Gary Player, was the first oceanfront layout in the region. Royal Golf Club Bahrain is a Colin Montgomerie design, mixing links-style and desert golf. It was the site of the European Tour’s inaugural Volvo Champions Tournament. Doha Golf Club, available on the 2019 PerryGolf Arabian Golf Cruise, is the home of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, which you can enjoy on Golf Channel from Feb. 22-25. The talented South African professional Branden Grace won at Doha in 2015 and 2016 while reigning U.S. Masters champion Sergia Garcia took the crown in 2014.

 

Abu Dhabi

The capital of the United Arab Emirates features a population of 1.2 million, 80 percent of which are expatriates. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is a must-see attraction on any visit to this city. It’s the eighth-largest mosque in the world, but you’ll be hard pressed to find one that’s more spectacular. Constructed entirely with white marble, featuring massive chandeliers, the mosque is intricate and rich in detail, and the abundance of natural sunlight flowing into the building alters the appearance and feel of your visit, depending on the time of day. Making a desert safari in a four-wheel drive vehicle is also an enjoyable way to spend part of a day in Abu Dhabi, not to mention the gorgeous waterfront along Corniche Road or the plethora of souks and malls where you can shop to your heart’s delight.

Doha

From the city’s social center in centuries-old Souq Waqif to the striking beauty of the Museum of Islamic Arts on the waterfront, which was designed by I.M. Pei and a multitude of historical buildings and artifacts that represent the region’s diverse and interesting culture, Doha is a interesting city that can be enjoyed on PerryGolf cruises to the region. Hop aboard a dhow and cruise the bay along the seaside promenade Al-Corniche, sure not to miss Palm Island and its beauty. Doha is the capital of Qatar and the recent rapid economic expansion is easy to see.

 

Relaxation and Relationships

What better way to rekindle your relationship with your better half, than spending a week or so at sea and on land, enjoying the amenities of an elegant ship like Azamara Quest, playing golf together or simply experiencing the culture and history available in this unique part of the world. Onboard the ship, you’ll enjoy fine dining and beautiful views from the deck in addition to an array of lounges and bars, where you can expect first-class service and hospitality from the highly trained staff and crew. Make friendships with your fellow guests that are certain to last a lifetime. That’s a hallmark of any PerryGolf cruise and the exotic adventures awaiting in the Arabian Gulf are certain to be satisfying and memorable.

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5 Reasons to Visit Argentina

Brian Mull

With a population of roughly 44 million, Argentina is the second-largest Spanish-speaking nation in South America. The beautiful nation on the continent’s southern portion delivers a variety of features and attractions certain to please an array of travelers.

Along those lines, PerryGolf’s Best of Argentina Escorted 2018 is sold out later this month, however don’t fret because space remains on the 11-night, 6-round Escorted Tour in Feb. 2019.

From breathtaking waterfalls to incredible dining to entertaining and educational slices of culture – not to mention world class golf, PerryGolf’s Escorted Tours are the ideal way for the discerning traveler to enjoy this expansive and diverse nation. Whether you enjoy the fast-paced action in the city or peaceful natural beauty in the countryside, Argentina has plenty to offer.

If you enjoy combining your love of the game with a passion for travel, you’ll find a lot to like about this escorted experience for a party of 20-24.  Arrangements are in place for every aspect of this fully managed program including various meals, guided sightseeing, carts/caddies and local transportation.  It is an excellent opportunity for couples and individuals to join a group of like-minded future friends!

Here are five reasons everyone should save space for a trip to Argentina.

The Weather

Argentina is located in the Southern Hemisphere, so summer spans from December to February, encompassing the months when PerryGolf will take you there.

The average high temperature in Buenos Aires during these months is roughly 85 degrees and the average low is 69. Visitors can expect approximately nine hours of sunshine per day as they peruse boutique shops in the high-energy cosmopolitan city of nearly three million or wind down the scenic Camino de los 7 Lagos (The Road of the Seven Lakes). Shorts and shirt sleeves will generally suffice on the golf course and you’ll return home tanned, refreshed and eager to return.

The Golf

Buenos Aires Golf Club is a treat. Avoiding the water hazards is top priority at this Robert von Hagge designed which opened in 1994 and held the World Cup of Golf in 2000. Americans Tiger Woods and David Duval teamed to win that event by three shots over the host country.

Olivos Golf Club is considered one of the finest courses in South America, and the best in Argentina. It routinely serves as host for the nation’s most significant championships, including the 2016 Argentina Open.

Llao Llao Golf Club is surrounded by deep-blue lakes, snow-covered mountains and natural forests. The layout crosses the Nahuel Huapi Lake a number of times and its dramatic 18th hole is one of two holes in Argentina which are rated among the best 500 in the world. This is  a challenging and scenic experience that will not soon be forgotten.

 

The Beauty

Iguazu Falls, which is offered as a Pre-Tour Extension and includes a full day tour of the Falls, means great waters in the Guarani language. There are 275 individual drops on this natural wonder, feeding from the Iguazu River, which serves as the border between Brazil and Argentina.

Isla Victoria has varied foliage, including the arctic beech, and some easy hiking trails, and if you spend time wandering, you can find some solitary beaches on which to sit and contemplate the lake. There are cave paintings on the island that mark a distant paste when the island was inhabited by Indians. In the Mapuche language for “Nahuel Huapi”, nahuel means “jaguar” and huapi means “island”.

Fly Fishing on the banks of a Patagonian River is an activity that can be enjoyed by folks of any skill level, providing a enjoyable afternoon in nature – and perhaps dinner for the evening.

The Wine & Food

Eat a hefty steak cut from a pasture-raised and grass-fed cow. A steak dinner at any of the parrillas (beef restaurants) in San Telmo, a trendy barrio with cobblestone streets just six blocks from Plaza de Mayo, promises the most authentic churrasco experience imaginable. 

Enjoy a lovely glass or two of Malbec, the red wine for which Argentina is best known. Dine at the dozens of wonderful restaurants located in the heart of bustling Buenos Aires. This much is certain: guests rarely want for a delicious dining experience on their visits to Argentina. 

Great dining options in Buenos Aires

The Culture

On one enchanting evening in Argentina, enjoy a Tango Show at Gala Tango, which includes a private 30 minute lesson before the dinner. This dance is synonymous with Argentina. Its sensuality has traveled the world in the voices of famous singers. From its origin in the marginal neighborhood of La Boca at the beginning of the twentieth century, Tango has come a long way and today is danced in the finest dance halls in Buenos Aires and the world. 

Buenos Aires is a charming city with a strong influence from many of the main European cities. Beautiful walks, avenues, parks, monumental buildings, cafes, museums and churches gathered in 26 districts, each with its own distinct personality, gives it a truly cosmopolitan air. The northern quarter resembles the most elegant areas of Paris; May Avenue and it’s innumerable cafes houses revives the flavor of Madrid’s Gran Via; the shady Belgrano streets recall the distinguished Londoners suburb; Naples seems to be present in the noisy and colored La Boca quarter.

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Memorable Moments From a Great 2017 Season in Professional Golf

Brian Mull
After sinking a 50-foot eagle putt on No. 15 at Royal Birkdale during the 2017 Open Championship, Jordan Spieth pointed to the hole and told caddie Michael Greller to “Go Get It.” Roughly an hour later, Spieth had completed a dramatic late charge and captured the Claret Jug.

The book is closed on another year of international professional golf. Once again, the world’s best golfers thrilled, inspired and amazed those of us who play the game for recreation and pleasure. Under immense pressure, they remained poised and produced incredible shots that dazzled galleries and television viewers, probably sending more than a few of us racing to the nearest driving range to try and replicate the feats we had just witnessed.

As 2017 winds to a close, it’s appropriate to reflect on some of our favorite golf shots and moments from the past 12 months. What makes our list unique is this: With assistance from PerryGolf and its experienced staff, you can walk many of these same fairways and greens next year on one of many Cruises, Escorted Tours or Custom Tours. Relish the opportunity to test your swing on holes which are forever etched in the history books due to phenomenal performances by the current crop of golf stars. Their talent transcends the game and makes them international ambassadors for the many virtues inherent to his wonderful game we love.

Happy Holidays.

 

Jordan Spieth at Royal Birkdale

It wasn’t just that Spieth, 24, became the youngest American professional to win the Open Championship. Or that he played the final five holes in 5-under-par on Sunday after falling out of the lead for the first time all week. Or, after quite a lengthy delay and debate, he made an unbelievable bogey from the driving range on the 13th hole. It was all of those things and more – the near ace on 14, the 50-footer for Eagle on 15, the way Matt Kuchar answered Spieth’s birdies until the end – which made the 2017 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale an epic for the ages. Spieth claimed his third leg of the Grand Slam and 11th PGA Tour victory, making him the youngest player in history to accomplish such, showing indefatigable spirit and determination in his pursuit of the Claret Jug.

(Take a PerryGolf Custom Tour and play Royal Birkdale and Northwest England’s other legendary links in the Open rota, such as Royal Liverpool and Royal Lytham & St. Anne’s).  

You can also be there to witness history in 2018, on PerryGolf’s Open Championship cruise, which includes playing historic links across Ireland and Scotland, and attending the final round of the Open at Carnoustie.

 

 

Sergio Garcia’s magical year

Best Player to Never Win a Major is an ambiguous description for a veteran professional golfer. On one side, it means a golfer has enjoyed a terrific career, winning regular events on major professional tours and routinely contending for golf’s four major trophies. On the flip side, a person considered ‘BPTNWAM’ can be perceived as afflicted with the inability to close the deal on Sunday afternoons. If you recall, a little more than a decade ago the American lefty Phil Mickelson wore this moniker like a scarlet letter. Five majors later, he’s considered one of the game’s all-time greats. Others, such as seven-time European Tour Order of Merit leader Colin Montgomerie, were never so fortunate and ended their career with a hole in their otherwise impeccable playing record.

Sergio Garcia started challenging for major championships in 1999 at the tender age of 19. And in many years since, he’d been thick in the hunt on Sunday but fallen short, typically slipping down the leaderboard when his putter went awry.

When he arrived at Augusta National in the first week of April 2017, Garcia had 12 top-5 finishes in majors and nearly 30 professional wins worldwide. When he departed on Sunday evening he had donned a Green Jacket, shed other labels and set a magical year in motion.

(Let PerryGolf take you to the final round of the 2019 Masters).

How’s this for a year? Not only did Garcia nip his pal and Ryder Cup teammate Justin Rose in sudden death to win the Masters on what would’ve been his hero Seve Ballesteros’ 60th birthday, he also got married, announced the impending birth of a child in March and won twice more around the world, including the Valderrama Masters in his native Spain in a European Tour tournament hosted by his own Foundation.

(Cruise from Lisbon to Barcelona with PerryGolf and tackle Valderrama, one of the best courses in Continental Europe).

 

Harman makes his mark in Wilmington

With the PGA Championship taking place at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, roughly four hours west the Southeastern North Carolina coast received a rare treat, serving as one-time host for the PGA Tour’s Wells Fargo Championship.

The tournament was played at Eagle Point Golf Club, a Tom Fazio layout in Wilmington, just down the road from PerryGolf headquarters. The course received glowing reviews from the pros throughout the week and delivered one of the more exciting finishes of the 2016-17 season.

Brian Harman, the diminutive lefthander from Georgia, thrilled a capacity crowd surrounding the 18th green by draining an improbable 28-foot birdie putt late Sunday afternoon to steal a one-shot victory over World No. 1 Dustin Johnson and streaking Pat Perez as rising star Jon Rahm watched from the fairway.

Harman’s second PGA Tour victory was worth $1.35 million and vaulted him to his best season as a professional. He finished runner-up to Brooks Koepka later in the summer at the U.S. Open and ended the season with seven top-10s, ranking 25th in the FedEx Cup standings.

 

Records shattered at St. Andrews

Tyrrell Hatton became the first player to successfully defend his title in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, a marquee event on the European Tour, contested over the Old Course at St. Andrews, Kingsbarns and Carnoustie – which are three of the more popular courses offered on PerryGolf Custom and Escorted Tours.

https://www.perrygolf.com/escorted-tour/scotland-homeofgolf-escorted-2018.php

Hatton blistered the storied links with a 24-under par total for 72 holes in a week during which records were made to be broken. For most of us mere mortals, the only way to shoot 61 at the Old Course is to end our round after 13 holes. Not for Ross Fisher, who toured all 18 in his 11-under round to set the new course record. Tommy Fleetwood also joined in the record-shattering fun, taking advantage of benign conditions to fire a brilliant course record 63 at the ultra-difficult Carnoustie.

 

Fleetwood claims the Race to Dubai

Speaking of Tommy Fleetwood, he captured the prestigious European Tour Race to Dubai, riding a pair of victories and top-five finishes at the WGC-Mexico event and U.S. Open to the lucrative prize.

Fleetwood claimed trophies at the French Open, played at Le Golf de National and the Abu Dhabi Championship en route to his best season as a professional.

The 26-year-old Englishman vaulted inside the top 20 of the Official World Golf Ranking and served notice that he’s likely to be a mainstay on major championship leaderboards and European Ryder Cup teams in the near future.

https://youtu.be/LsCSIQ-ua50

 

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