TURNBERRY RESORT: (Soon to be rebranded “Trump Turnberry”) - Within 360 acres on Scotland's west coast of Ayrshire is the Luxury Collection Turnberry Resort, a world renowned resort encompassing two fine golf courses, which underwent 10 months of extensive renovations just in time for the 2009 Open Championship at Turnberry. The hotel boasts some great rooms, and many overlook the golf courses and sea (premium price), and the excellent staff is always pleasant to assist. Everything in the hotel is done with class, including complimentary wireless throughout. There are a few nice sitting rooms and lounges, the Duel In The Sun Bar, Ailsa Bar and many places to relax. The world class Turnberry Spa features a pool, Jacuzzi, salon, squash, tennis courts, steam rooms, full treatment facilities, massage rooms and more. Warning: book your massages early because the staff gets booked up! If time permits, try fly fishing in the private pond (huge trout!), skeet shooting, archery, or maybe off road driving all through the Outdoor Activity Centre. The golf courses are down the hill in front of the hotel, and your clubs will be stored there, or near the hotel entrance in the “golf club drying room”. The driving range (normally off mats) is in the Links Golf Academy just to the north of the golf clubhouse. For fun, play the “wee course” in front of the hotel after dinner, or try a game of snooker! The golf clubhouse has an excellent full service locker room; pro shop and Tappie Toorie grill for lunch or casual dinner. Dinners can be taken in The 1906 Restaurant (grand room), The James Miller Room (formal fine dining) or the golf clubhouse. The concierges are among the best in the country and can arrange almost anything. Nearby the hotel is sightseeing at beautiful Culzean Castle (pronounced "CUL-ean") and Robert Burns Cottage.
HOTEL DU VIN ST ANDREWS: This beautifully restored 4-star Victorian boutique hotel sits on the cliffs overlooking St. Andrews Bay and Links. The new food & wine motif is part of the chic Hotel Du Vin chain of exquisite small properties of high standard and excellent reviews. The 36 bedrooms are clean, fresh and attractively furnished; and some overlook the coastline and toward the golf courses. Located just two hundred meters from the first tee of the Old Course, this hotel is the perfect spot to soak up the atmosphere in golf’s most iconic town. Guests will enjoy relaxing on a single malt whisky or choosing from the many wine by-the-glass and beer selections in the No. 40 cocktail bar. For elegant cuisine made with local ingredients, the Bistro is the perfect dining experience and one of the best in St Andrews.
TURNBERRY AILSA COURSE: The sublime ocean setting of Pebble Beach and Cypress Point in California is without equal, but a balmy summer's evening (admittedly not the commonest occurrence) on the Ailsa course at Turnberry runs a close second for most people. Situated 17 miles south of Ayr, on the Firth of Clyde on Scotland's west coast, it is the most glamorous of British Open Championship venues, and its holes along the shore have earned it worldwide acclaim. This course is ranked #18 in The 2013 Golf Magazine World Top 100. The Ailsa has hosted only three British Opens, but the first, in 1977, is now widely acknowledged to be the most exciting of all time, when Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson, the two greatest players of the day, indulged in a foot race that left the rest of the competitors so breathless, that third-placed Hubert Green later remarked: "Tom won the Open from Jack; I won the tournament the rest of us were playing in." Nine years later, when the British Open returned, the weather was completely different and while many competitors in the second round struggled to better 75, Norman shot a round of 63. Watson hailed it: "the finest round in any event in which I have been a competitor." Nick Price won the 1994 Open here, and the 2009 Open was a nearly-epic win by Tom Watson at 59 years old, but in a playoff was beaten handily by Stewart Cink. This is certainly a golf course that you will enjoy playing and remember for a long time!
ROYAL TROON GOLF CLUB: Royal Troon Golf Club (ranked #44 in the world), located on the West Coast in Ayrshire, is one of the most famous clubs in the world, and is part of the Open Championship "rota". Founded in 1878 by 23 former members of Prestwick, the club's first clubhouse was a rail car, expertly run by George Strath, who also served as greenskeeper, instructor and clubmaker, all for 1 pound per week! Troon first hosted the Open in 1923, and since then has hosted tournaments won by the likes of Bobby Locke, Arnold Palmer, Tom Weiskopf, Mark Calcavecchia, Justin Leonard and Todd Hamilton in 2004. The 2016 Open Championship will be staged at Troon. At 6664 yards long and a par of 73, Troon features the 6th (577 yards), and the 8th (126 yards "Postage Stamp") as the longest and shortest holes in Scottish Championship Golf. The Postage Stamp was the hole where an aging Gene Sarazen had a hole in one during the 1973 Open. World War II took its toll on the course, because several of the holes were used for grenade practice, and the beach was rehearsal ground for "Operation Overlord", the 1944 invasion of Normandy. So prominent were soldiers on the course, that special rules were derived for this troublesome period: 1) In competitions, during gunfire or while bombs are falling, players may take cover without penalty for ceasing play; and 2) a player whose stroke has been affected by simultaneous explosion of a bomb or by machine gun fire, may play another ball from the same place. Penalty: one stroke! The second course, the Portland Course, is a fine test at 6274 yards, and available to anyone who has paid the green fee for the championship course on the same day. Take time to visit the Men's Bar and Guest Dining Room, where a buffet, soup and sandwiches are available. There is a nice guest changing room, with showers on the left, as you go through the entrance. Ladies are restricted to the coed dining room at the east side of the clubhouse. Green fee includes a round on the Portland course, which you can play or discard.
TROON PORTLAND GOLF CLUB: The adjoining Royal Troon Golf Club course, The Portland, is a deceptive companion to Royal Troon Championship Course. It is a fine test of golf in the classic links manner and although shorter, a good relief from the difficult Championship Course. Originally the ladies club at Royal Troon, the course now gets as many of the men members to play it and the juniors craft their skills on the links. The Portland Course is included in green fee of The Championship course (to be played on the same day), but many pass on playing it.
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