Palace at Versailles, France

February 9, 2010December 28, 2020 PerryGolf Staff

The day did not start well…Bill just made the train and I just didn’t! Left behind on a Paris station almost threw me and as he didn’t bring his cell phone I had no choice other than to try and find him at the other end, and in any case, I had the tickets! Unfortunately the next train took me to the City of Versailles; not the Palace, but luckily a well-marked tourist route took me on a pleasant fifteen minute walk through the outskirts of the city to the area around the Palace and the train station. It was a beautifully sunny September day and we were soon laughing over a coffee and some delicious pain au chocolates.

The palace, originally a hunting lodge for Louis XIII, was completely transformed by his son, Louis XIV. It is a huge building; two mirror-images linked by a corridor…the famous Hall of Mirrors. The state rooms are full of beautiful paintings, gilded furniture, exotic china, sumptuous materials and rugs – and walking through the private rooms and bedrooms, it was not hard to imagine The Sun King and his courtiers enjoying their privileged lifestyle.

The sunshine eventually tempted us back outside to eat and wander around the grounds, admiring the formal gardens, taking a ride on one of the horse-drawn coaches and visiting Queen Marie Antoinette’s own retreat, the Petit Trianon, with its little farm where she ‘played’ at country life. Eventually we settled down with an ice-cream to watch the ‘Water & Light’ Show as the sun was setting. The terraces of fountains, lit by theatrical-style hidden lights and accompanied by classical music of the period, were breathtaking and were alone worth the journey.

In fact, writing this has made me want to go back…

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

China – Sightseeing Suggestion

February 5, 2010January 5, 2010 PerryGolf Staff

I recently travelled to China for a trip which was truly breathtaking. Included in the trip was some of the most spectacular sightseeing I’ve ever experienced; including the Great Wall and Tiananmen Square, plus golf on the highest and longest course in the world – Jade Dragon – and the two best courses in Asia (the Lake and Mountain courses at Spring City).

One of my most memorable experiences however, was the evening meal and Minority Show in the Kunming area. We were lucky enough to be staying at the Spring City Resort, where the two best golf courses (mentioned before) in the whole of Asia are located, so we were already enjoying a couple of extra special days during the ten day trip…however the night we went to the Minority Show was nothing short of spectacular!

An array of colourful dancers performed on stage throughout the evening, each in their own ethnic minority’s traditional outfits. I’m not normally the most cultured of people when it comes to the performing arts, but this was an absolute treat! We also enjoyed a fantastic meal while the show was going on, and at one point the dancers came over to our table for a bit of interaction. If you’re in China and staying at the Spring City Resort, make sure you find time to go to a Minority Show, because it will turn out to be an evening you’ll thoroughly enjoy and will never forget.

By Keith Baird. Keith has worked with PerryGolf for over 10 years and is one of our Golf Travel Specialists who manages programs to China.

Gun Dog School – Gleneagles

February 1, 2010January 4, 2010 PerryGolf Staff

As the lucky owner of a black Labrador myself, I couldn’t wait to visit the Gundog School at the hotel. There was already a group of children at the kennels and they were playing with the latest puppy recruits – absolutely adorable! That was all I needed to sign up for a basic training session the next day and I had a great time with my doggie partner, Skye; she knew exactly what to do but waited for my commands so I could ‘pretend’ I was in charge!

Gleneagles - Gundog school, dog in training

The trainer also went through the various breeds used in Scotland for shooting parties and it was very informative as well as good fun. Would love to bring my own girl to stay in the guest’s kennels next time and maybe tackle one of the field courses.

The Gundog School is one of the many activities available at Gleneagles. To read about the Equestrian School, Falconry, Fishing and Shooting (to name a few), click here to check out the website.

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

An Overnight Stay in the City of Edinburgh

January 27, 2010December 31, 2009 PerryGolf Staff

Edinburgh is a city that should be on your list of places to visit while in Scotland; a great place full of charm and fascinating history. On a recent visit there, I stayed at the Sheraton Grand Hotel – the hotel is in an excellent location, only a short walk from the restaurants, bars, shops and the sights.

The highlight of my stay was a visit to the Thermal Suite located in One Spa at the hotel; you are able to enjoy the different spa experiences in the thermal suite that include a gently heated Laconium, the blissfully scented Aroma Grotto, the warming Tepidarium and the Rock & Bio saunas. You also have access to the Hammams, the rain forest showers and the rooftop Hydropool. There is an extra cost for use of the Thermal Suite – for a resident to utilize the Suite, it will cost an additional £25.00. I would say it was definitely worth the additional amount, it is a great relaxing experience and I would recommend this to anyone.

After an afternoon spent rejuvinating in the spa, I visited Edinburgh Castle which offers an interesting history and is always a ‘must-visit’ while in Edinburgh. I enjoyed drinks and dinner at The Living Room located in George Street, a short walk from the hotel. Excellent food; classic dishes that I would call home comfort food.

The evening was finished with a night at The Stand Comedy Club – never a disappointment and great end to an excellent night in Edinburgh.

By Denise McKee. Denise has worked for PerryGolf for over 10 years and is one of the members of staff responsible for our British Isles programs.

Re-opening of the Royal Golf Hotel in Dornoch

January 27, 2010 PerryGolf Staff

On the 1^st April 2010, the Royal Golf Hotel in Dornoch will again open its doors and welcome visitors from all parts of the world. This iconic hotel has been closed since 2006, but now with the backing of Grant Sword and other investors from Castle Stuart Golf Links, the newly refurbished hotel will be back in business.

The hotel overlooks the 1^st tee at Royal Dornoch and is in an ideal location for a stay in the Highlands. Other great courses within an hour’s drive are Tain, Brora, Castle Stuart, and Nairn. Dornoch is a great little town which also offers non-golfing activities for those who do not want to play; Dornoch Cathedral is where Madonna’s baby was christened, part of Dornoch Jail is now a lovely little gift shop, and the Glenmorangie Distillery is only a 15 minute drive. Dornoch was also the birthplace of Donald Ross and this is where he took a lot of inspiration for many of his designs in America. He used to work at Royal Dornoch as a green keeper before moving to the US in 1899 and you will find a plaque in his memory outside the house where he grew up in the town centre, just off of the High Street.

The scenery in the area is stunning and many visitors can enjoy long walks or drives to pass the time during the day. You can then retire to ‘the golfer’s bar’ at the hotel for a wee dram before dinner. Highly recommended!

For more information on touring the Glenmorangie Distillery, click here.

By Gary Sheppard. Gary has been with PerryGolf for over 3 years and is one of our Golf Travel Specialists.

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