New Chef at the Barceló Troon Marine Hotel

July 8, 2010June 14, 2010 PerryGolf Staff

The Barceló Troon Marine Hotel has appointed Robert MacGillvray as their new head chef in its Fairways Restaurant. It’s the first time in 42 years they’ve had to appoint someone to the position, so it’s bound to add an exciting and new aspect to the hotel’s restaurant. Kevin has been in the industry for 30 years and has a wealth of experience; having worked in some of Scotland’s best kitchens (including Lochgreen House and Ballathie House). He focuses on traditional Scottish flavours with a modern twist and has twice been voted Scottish Chef of the Year (2000 & 2002), as well as being the President of the ‘Federation of Chefs Scotland’…so it’s a move which can only be a good thing for the hotel.

The restaurant itself is in a spectacular location within the hotel; overlooking Royal Troon Golf Club, with great views over to the Isle of Arran; it’s the perfect place to enjoy the sunset and a fantastic evening meal after a day on one of the area’s great links courses. If you’d like to make a reservation in advance of your trip to Scotland, please don’t hesitate to contact your Golf Travel Specialist, who will be happy to do so.

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

150th Anniversary and End of an Era

July 8, 2010July 2, 2010 PerryGolf Staff

This years Open Championship at St Andrews will be the 150^th anniversary of the event and to mark this, the R & A have arranged for a special 4 hole Past Champions Challenge. All living past champions will be present with the exception of Jack Nicklaus, Nick Price, Johnny Miller, Kel Nagle, and (sadly) Seve Ballesteros.

The 4 hole event holds special significance for me as my granddad, Willie Aitchison, has caddied for 2 Open Champions – Robert Di Vicenzo and Lee Trevino. He was ‘on the bag’ for Di Vicenzo when he won at Royal Liverpool in 1967 and won back-to-back Opens with Trevino at Royal Birkdale in 1971 and Muirfield in 1972. The pairings for the event have still not been announced but it would be special if Di Vicenzo and Trevino were paired together.

It has been estimated that 30,000 fans will be present for the 4 hole exhibition match and I certainly plan on being one of them. This will definitely be the last time that my Grandad and both men get to meet, and although he will not be able to caddy, he does plan on walking the fairways one last time. This promises to be a special moment and it’s something that I would hate to miss. I’ve always been an admirer of Trevino’s game and the way he handled himself on the course; he was a crowd pleaser and certainly someone that the crowds would flock to see. There was never a dull moment and always plenty to talk about after a round when he was involved and I’m already looking forward to seeing him in action in a few weeks time.

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By Gary Sheppard. Gary has been with PerryGolf for over 4 years and is one of our Golf Travel Specialists.

Recent Weather in Scotland

July 3, 2010July 2, 2010 PerryGolf Staff

The last 2 months have seen Scotland benefit from a surprisingly long spell of nice weather, and golf courses all over the country are reaping the rewards. Scotland has a diverse climate and the weather is unpredictable even in the summer months, so the recent high temperatures and sunshine have been welcomed by everyone.

I haven’t played many rounds away from my home course this year, but when I have, the condition of the courses has been superb. I’d actually say that some courses would benefit from a touch of rain as approach shots to greens can be unpredictable with the hard ground conditions. I’m not complaining about the hard fairways though, as drives are gaining 30-40 yards in some cases. I never thought I’d see the day when I’d be hoping for rain in Scotland…but it has arrived.

On the run up to trips I am often asked by clients what kind of weather they should expect and I generally respond with the same answer – prepare for all conditions and hope for the best. It is a difficult question to answer as you can literally experience all 4 seasons during the same day. Clients who have travelled in the last 7-8 weeks have definitely enjoyed some of the best weather Scotland has to offer. I struggle to enjoy golf when it’s raining, the wind is blowing so hard I can’t put my umbrella up, and I play badly, but this has not been an issue so far this year. Here’s hoping it keeps up!

By Gary Sheppard. Gary has been with PerryGolf for over 4 years and is one of our Golf Travel Specialists.

The Willow Tea Rooms – Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow

July 1, 2010June 10, 2010 PerryGolf Staff

If you have heard of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and recognise his style, then, like me, you will want to visit the Willow Tea Rooms in Sauchiehall Street in Glasgow. Sauchiehall is Gaelic for ‘Alley of Willows’ and is the inspiration behind the building. The very distinctive patterns he incorporated into his designs are beautiful in their own right, but when you consider that he was born in the 1800’s, the clean, almost stark lines were way ahead of their time.

The tea room was designed entirely by Mackintosh, including the building which houses it. Every detail was included from the tables and chairs down to the teaspoons – and even the dresses worn by the waitresses were designed by him. I found it hard to concentrate on the food surrounded by so much of this living art. As it happens, the traditional Scottish cakes and tea were delicious too and the whole experience was a delight.

By Yvonne Shaw. Yvonne has been with PerryGolf for over 10 years and is a member of our admin team.

Tiger Prowls at the 2010 Open

June 18, 2010May 24, 2010 PerryGolf Staff

It can only be good news for St. Andrews that Tiger Woods has confirmed his entry into this year’s Open Championship. Tiger will be trying to win the Claret Jug for the third time; the first player ever to do so. Always a crowd-puller, this year he is sure to add even more interest to the event…and I for one will be watching!

By Yvonne Shaw. Yvonne has been with PerryGolf for over 10 years and is a member of our admin team.

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