tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84026214907421191862024-03-13T21:29:11.746+00:00Scotland's West Coast Golf LinksIan McCaighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08867447706592162945noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402621490742119186.post-2564462703653756922012-07-09T14:24:00.001+01:002012-07-09T14:24:08.018+01:00Seniors Open Qualifying on Scotland's West Coast Links<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtPe_MBKwJY9UzyWL2dQTVpPnYkyGK21ZamsR8ZlPcuJ0oB3bunQbCl9z9I52QGSTVfeAKfTKatbMUGR5bau0Kr9zyxwTQ-ltiOYuif1_qNPjC2w_zBOxrADt6Ny3LrGD4Of2TCzSXoj7V/s1600/swcgl_logo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtPe_MBKwJY9UzyWL2dQTVpPnYkyGK21ZamsR8ZlPcuJ0oB3bunQbCl9z9I52QGSTVfeAKfTKatbMUGR5bau0Kr9zyxwTQ-ltiOYuif1_qNPjC2w_zBOxrADt6Ny3LrGD4Of2TCzSXoj7V/s1600/swcgl_logo.gif" /></a></div>
Of course the thing about Scotland's West Coast Golf Links is that it provides so much more than just three Open Championship venues and that has been shown this year with the number of clubs involved in providing venues for big events.<br />
<br />
2012 has seen The Amateur Championship being held over Royal Troon and Glasgow's Gailes Links, The Scottish Amateaur at Barassie Links and the Seniors Open is on its way to Turnberry's Ailsa course - however three other great west coast links courses are involved in the Qualifying for the Seniors Open. <br />
<br />
Dundonald Links,
Kilmarnock Barassie Golf Club and Turnberry’s Kintyre Course will be hosting an
estimated 300 hopefuls hoping to seal a spot in the Championship on the
Ailsa course at Turnberry.<br />
<br />
The 18-hole qualifier will be played
across the three courses on Monday July 23 ahead of the star-studded
Senior Open Championship starting three days later and it
will give non-exempt players the chance to join some of golf’s great
names in the Championship with the hope of reproducing the performance
of Pete Oakley in 2004, who came through qualifying before going on to
win the Championship at Royal Portrush.<br />
<br />
Johnnie Cole-Hamilton,
R&A Assistant Director of Championships, said on behalf of the
Championship: “We are delighted to bring this most prestigious
tournament back to the wonderful Ailsa course at Turnberry, which has
produced so many historic and memorable moments in the past. The
quality of golf courses on display for the qualification stage of the
Senior Open Championship, as well as the main event at Turnberry, only
serves to highlight the plentiful golfing assets in the region of South
Ayrshire.<br />
<br />
The 2012
staging will be third time since the turn of the century that the
Championship has been held at Turnberry and if the previous two
occasions are anything to go by, it is sure to produce some drama.<br />
<br />
We think the drama will start on the three qualifying courses and if you get the chance why not pop along - it's free admission at all three clubs.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402621490742119186.post-63256577759970214062012-07-09T13:30:00.003+01:002012-07-09T13:30:54.177+01:00Seniors Open Returns to Scotland's West Coast LinksIf you're looking to generate interest in a golf event the press release often needs embellishments and facts and figures and lots of pictures and price incentives.<br />
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This blog has none of these; here is our content to promote to Seniors Open Championship at Turnberry from 26th - 29th of July 2012. You decide whether more words are required... <br />
<br />
Tom Watson, Bernhard
Langer and Greg Norman, Fred Couples, Tony Jacklin, Tom Lehman, Corey Pavin, Sam Torrance...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://tickets.europeantour.com/Event/THE-SENIOR-OPEN-CHAMPIONSHIP/Turnberry-Golf-Club/594944"><img border="0" src="http://tickets.europeantour.com/Skins/EuropeanTour/Images/SeniorOpenPromo.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402621490742119186.post-64452514203480943762011-10-24T10:36:00.000+01:002011-10-24T10:36:04.936+01:00Dundonald Links Best Environmental Performance<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.dundonaldlinks.com/wp-content/themes/dundonald/images/bg-images/BGimg1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://www.dundonaldlinks.com/wp-content/themes/dundonald/images/bg-images/BGimg1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Dundonald Links has received the ‘Best Environmental Performance
Award’ at the recent Ayrshire Business Awards. Over 260 business
leaders from Ayrshire and beyond attended the annual awards ceremony
which recognises the best performing companies in Ayrshire. The event
was held at the Gailes Hotel, Irvine where the BBC’s Kaye Adams
presented the awards.<br /><br />The ‘Best Environmental Performance Award’
award, sponsored by Nestle (worlds leading Nutrition, Health and
Wellness Company), has been designed for organisations that demonstrate
environmental best practice, ethical best practice or sustainable
development. In order to qualify for the final selection process,
Dundonald Links was invited to demonstrate these practices and to
explain the impact that these initiatives have had on the company.<br />
<br />
Dundonald competed with two major employers in Scotland, McCaig Renewable and Lowmac Recycling, for the award.<br /><br />Bill Donald, General Manager, Loch Lomond Golf Club and Dundonald Links, commented:<br /><br />“This
is a tremendous achievement for the team at Dundonald Links and is
testament to all their hard work and commitment in ensuring that the
golf course is maintained to the very highest of standards with
environmental best practice always in mind.”<br /><br />The <a href="http://www.dundonaldlinks.com/the-club/environmental-policies/">club website also features an environmental policy</a>.<br /><br />Dundonald
Links is committed to the implementation of a wide range of proactive
measures, to help protect, and sustain, the local, national, and global
environment, and strives for continual improvement of its environmental
management systems. <br /><br /><b>Our Vision </b><br /><br />To provide players with an authentic and distinctive links land experience by using best environmental practices and policies. <br /><br />Our aim is to: <br />
<ul>
<li>Minimise waste, working towards zero waste</li>
<li>Minimise energy consumption</li>
<li>Protect and enhance biodiversity</li>
<li>Maximise the Club’s role to provide the public with knowledge of ongoing environmental issues</li>
<li>Inspire others to pursue sustainable resources </li>
</ul>
For further information, please contact Guy Redford, Director of Golf, Dundonald Links<br /><br />T: 01294 314000 or E: guy.redford@dundonaldlinks.com<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402621490742119186.post-5983064556847976722011-07-25T08:19:00.001+01:002011-07-25T08:20:21.075+01:00Turnberry and their iWine List!<div class="ds-firstpara" id="ds-firstpara">It's been repoerted in the Scottish papers as the world's most expensive menu. The West Coast Golf Links golf resort of Turnberry has decided to use iPads for the wine menu instead of traditional paper and leather bound versions!</div><div class="ds-firstpara" id="ds-firstpara"><br />
</div><div class="va-bodytext" id="va-bodytext">Turnberry is trialling the product for the wine list in its fine dining restaurant and plans to extend the concept to its other restaurants and bars by the end of the year all owing their guests to use the obvious benefits of inbuilt search tools to find out more about their wine.</div><div class="va-bodytext" id="va-bodytext"><br />
Ralph Porciani, director of operations at Turnberry, said: "We've seen this in the States for a while and it improves and enriches the experience of choosing from a menu. The ability to combine images, with more colourful background information on the product - be it the wine maker or the grapes - is incredibly satisfying for guests and gives them a far more informed choice."<br />
<br />
"Around 60 per cent of our guests wander around with an iPad already tucked under their arm. So it is a technology which is very useable and very familiar to many people."<br />
<br />
In other countries where the iPad has been used instead of a menu, restaurants have claimed a rise in turnover from diners finding their ordering inhibitions are lifted when ordering direct, rather than via waiters.<br />
<br />
The trend began in the US shortly after the launch of the tablet devices last year. The technology used in some American restaurants allows staff to communicate with customers through email-style messages, suggesting, for example, that they may be ready to buy another drink - and also pay for their meals through the device using an in-built swipe card slot.<br />
<br />
Another first for one of Ayrshire's West VCoast Golf Links</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402621490742119186.post-13664970891145194292011-07-25T08:12:00.000+01:002011-07-25T08:12:20.491+01:00Scottish Amateur Heads for West Coast Links<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.westerngailes.com/files/westerngailes.com/35/frontpage_pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="119" src="http://www.westerngailes.com/files/westerngailes.com/35/frontpage_pic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Troon Welbeck’s Michael Stewart heads into this week’s Scottish Amateur Championship which is being held at the West Coast Links gem of Western Gailes between the 25 and 30th of July aiming to become the first golfer for twenty-eight years to successfully defend the title.<br />
<br />
The 21-year-old, who defeated Fraserburgh’s Jordan Findlay 3 and 2 in the final at Gullane twelve months ago, has enjoyed another superb season, winning the South African Amateur Championship in February before narrowly losing the final of The Amateur Championship at Hillside last month.<br />
<br />
Legendary amateur Charlie Green was the last man to win back-to-back titles in 1982-83 and Stewart is relishing the prospect of retaining the championship in his native Ayrshire, believing he is a vastly improved player a year on from his East Lothian win.<br />
<br />
“I’m looking forward to the challenge of defending the title as it’s been a while since anyone’s achieved that. There will obviously be some extra pressure on me but I seem to thrive on that and play some of my best golf in pressure situations, as I did in some of my close matches last year,” said Stewart, who is eyeing a place in the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup side to face the United States in September.<br />
<br />
“All aspects of my game have improved since my win at Gullane and I would say I’m definitely a better golfer. The SGU squad training over the winter was of real benefit and the win in South Africa and my run in The Amateur Championship was great for my confidence. It will be nice playing at home in Ayrshire and I’m excited about the week ahead.” he added.<br />
<br />
Scotland’s 256 leading amateur golfers representing 150 different clubs will descend on the Western Gailes links, which last hosted the championship in 2002 when Andrew McArthur defeated Scott Jamieson in a keenly contested final, before both players went on to compete on the European Tour.<br />
<br />
The last Ayrshireman to win on home soil, was from another West Coast Links course, Barassie’s Jim Milligan in 1988.<br />
<br />
Action gets underway on Monday morning at 0645 with 128 ties being played over the first two days. The 36-hole final will take place on Saturday 30 July with 0830 and 1300 tee-times. Live scoring and updates will be available throughout the week here on the SGU's website.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
You can find out how you can play <a href="http://www.scotlandswestcoastgolflinks.com/golf_course_details.php?id=43">Western Gailes</a> and the rest of Scotland's West Coast Golf Links courses on the websiteUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402621490742119186.post-38218986923539585552011-07-13T09:34:00.001+01:002011-07-13T09:37:41.215+01:00Golf and Bed and Breakfast Ayrshire<div class="post-header"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYaeUJcPBGmlTOExTrQHH0_bQ4_vbQH39fm_HB06fNNakmUBg7AK_v-WjyLRiI5mkj92geFvPEhrVZPp8a-1qoA6BJHYe4kFAev4x3NSH06J0fYLOcEqJF09xQnOGISDjJOxC2CFwrIKc/s1600/scan0003.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYaeUJcPBGmlTOExTrQHH0_bQ4_vbQH39fm_HB06fNNakmUBg7AK_v-WjyLRiI5mkj92geFvPEhrVZPp8a-1qoA6BJHYe4kFAev4x3NSH06J0fYLOcEqJF09xQnOGISDjJOxC2CFwrIKc/s320/scan0003.jpg" width="217" /></a></div>A new collaboration has been set up in Ayrshire to help promote and develop the bed and breakfast marketplace to Ayrshire. The group calling themselves ABBA is being promoted <a href="http://www.abba-scotland.com/">via their new website </a>with information on more than three dozen B & B's across Ayrshire.<br />
<br />
Last year B & B owners were invited to a meeting hosted by Ayrshire Business Gateway where more than 30 owners met and voted in favour of forming such an association. A working committee was formed to devise ways forward such as sourcing funding, web design and promotion of local attractions. They have since had discussions with Business Gateway, South Ayrshire Council, VisitScotland, Ayrshire’s Tourism Forum, the Ayrshire and Arran Hoteliers Association and also the Ayrshire Food Network who have all been very supportive of the venture. <br />
<br />
Essentially the aim is to publicise what Ayrshire has to offer in order to encourage people to come and enjoy their stay so that they want to come back again. <br />
<br />
If you are interested in joining ABBA or for more information please contact any of the following Ayrshire B & B Association Committee Members through the <a href="http://www.abba-scotland.com/">ABBA website</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.theclaymoreproject.com/images/uploads/hotel/844/dormie_house_header_new.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.theclaymoreproject.com/images/uploads/hotel/844/dormie_house_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.theclaymoreproject.com/images/uploads/hotel/844/dormie_house_001.jpg" /></a></div>The Dormie House in Prestwick is already an associate member of Scotland's West Coast Golf Links offering a high quality bed and breakfast property in close proximity to the wonderful Prestwick Links. Peter has some great golf deals throughout the summer so have a look at <a href="http://www.guesthouseprestwick.co.uk/index.php?context=hotel_campaign&id=844&page=golf">The Dormie House website</a> where you can book his best rates directly online.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402621490742119186.post-67624760461037297092011-06-03T13:03:00.005+01:002011-07-01T13:22:13.591+01:00Dundonald Games Golf Links Swings into Action<a href="http://www.theclaymoreproject.com/uploads/associate/416/image/Hole18%281%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img align="right" alt="" border="0" height="200" src="http://www.theclaymoreproject.com/uploads/associate/416/image/Hole18%281%29.jpg" width="121" /></a><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Entries are now being accepted for the inaugural Dundonald Games Links Golf Day. This unique eighteen hole handicap stableford event is open to both ladies and gents and will be played over the magnificent Dundonald Links golf course in Ayrshire on the west coast of Scotland just 24 hours ahead of the annual Dundonald Games on Friday 5th of August. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">A <a href="http://www.dundonaldgamesgolf.co.uk/">website specifically for the event</a> has been created by joint sponsors Plan B and visitors can book their accommodation online courtesy of Bookasssist.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.theclaymoreproject.com/uploads/associate/416/file/Booking%20Form.pdf">Entry forms can be downloaded</a> </span><span style="font-size: small;"> or you can go <a href="http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=lbqrnxn6&oeidk=a07e3zszyq7c748de6b">reserve your fourball online</a> and pay by Cheque or even PayPal.<br />
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For those who just want to play great Ayrshire golf you could hardly do better than play 18 holes over the magnificent Kyle Phillips layout at Dundonald. The course is a wonderful challenge but remains a fair test of all golfing abilities with fast, three club greens, some wonderul pot bunkers, an abundance of dunes and some of the best laid out holes in Scotland.<br />
<br />
The day is about enjoyment and added to the golf you will have access to the practice area and free range balls as well as Nearest the Pin, Longest Drive and the handicap stableford event - if you don't have an official handicap there are limited spaces available just to enjoy the course. </span><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
<br />
Entry is currently strictly limited to 60 golfers and it is sure to be subscribed very quickly so don’t hesitate to get your application in. You can reserve a single or a discounted fourball and pay by debit or credit card. </span><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
<b> </b></span><br />
<h2 style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>And the Kilted Part?</b><br />
Well first off it’s not obligatory but we thought that given that it’s an official part of the Annual Dundonald Games week and the day before the games itself we’d add a little bit of fun and offer players the opportunity to compete in their kilt with a special commemorative Targe being presented to the winner of, we believe, Scotland's very first Kilted Golf Classic.<br />
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We look forward to welcoming you to both the Links and the Games and perhaps an extended stay in the Ayrshire area.</span></h2>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402621490742119186.post-77249217431448422422011-05-27T13:47:00.001+01:002011-05-27T13:50:13.348+01:00Fun Golf Event for Ayrshire Visitors in AugustThis year will see the inaugural Dundonald Games Links Golf Day incorporating the first Kilted Golf Classic teeing off on Friday 5th August.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrSqXx-ZhSPTYa9kI1SoO5fW7WJl16_K_uNT0m1EHdG_0x2vTJu9_8Ris_bzx14lIT0IoXMB2XAX5GAXiwiPSurrpxWuLA2ijRrzDYY2vc-bjXofYYdnqh0PQTuOz8F5wG-GP6HrOCuFqK/s1600/Screengrab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrSqXx-ZhSPTYa9kI1SoO5fW7WJl16_K_uNT0m1EHdG_0x2vTJu9_8Ris_bzx14lIT0IoXMB2XAX5GAXiwiPSurrpxWuLA2ijRrzDYY2vc-bjXofYYdnqh0PQTuOz8F5wG-GP6HrOCuFqK/s400/Screengrab.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />
This unique 18 hole handicap stableford event is open to amateur ladies and gents with an official handicap and will be played over the magnificent Dundonald Links golf course. The course is a wonderful challenge but remains a fair test of all golfing abilities with fast, three club greens, some wonderful pot bunkers, an abundance of dunes and some of the best laid out holes in Scotland.<br />
<br />
And the Kilted Golf Classic? Although not obligatory we thought that given that it is an integral part of Dundonald Games Week we would add a little bit of fun and offer players the opportunity to compete in Highland Dress with a special commemorative trophy being presented to the winner!<br />
<br />
Entry is strictly limited to 80 golfers and it is sure to be subscribed very quickly so do not hesitate to enter. You can reserve a single or a discounted fourball from only £45 per person including coffee and bacon roll on arrival.<br />
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For further information and reservations visit <a href="http://www.dundonaldgamesgolf.co.uk/">Dundonald Games Golf </a>websiteUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402621490742119186.post-8314353907015596902011-05-06T09:49:00.005+01:002011-05-19T11:59:49.400+01:00Prestwick St Nicholas co-hosts the Scottish Area Team Championship<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.prestwickstnicholas.com/templates/prestwickstnicholas/images/logo.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.prestwickstnicholas.com/templates/prestwickstnicholas/images/logo.jpg" /></a></div>Prestwick St Nicholas is co-hosting, along Prestwick Golf Club, the Scottish Area Team Championship on the 14th and 15th May.<br />
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The field will feature 96 of the country's leading amateur players (including internationalists) representing their respective areas. The Ayrshire six man team consists of Scottish and South African Amateur Champion <b>Michael Stewart</b> (Troon Welbeck), a trio of Kilmarnock Barassie players - the new Ayrshire Strokeplay Champion <b>Jamie Mackay</b>, 2010 Ayrshire Matchplay winner <b>Euan Brown</b> and Scotland boys international<b> Jack McDonald</b>, and bidding to go one step further than their semi-final appearance last year are <b>Michael Smyth</b> (Royal Troon) and <b>John Haggarty</b> (Loudoun).<br />
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The format will see all 16 teams play 36 holes stroke-play on Saturday 14 May (one round over Prestwick and one round over St Nicholas) with the leading 4 teams qualifying for match play on the Sunday to determine the medal positions.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402621490742119186.post-68851553547268251362011-04-27T07:19:00.000+01:002011-04-27T07:19:24.733+01:00Ailsa Craig for Sale!According to our very favourite online news website <a href="http://forargyll.com/2011/04/ailsa-craig-for-sale/">For Argyll</a> - and it is worth reading some of the opinion pieces that they write - Ailsa Craig, or Paddy’s Milestone as it's always been known to us as kids, the unforgettable iconic shape seen from many of the golf courses of Scotland's West Coast Golf Links and seen by millions of TV viewers when the Open is held at Turnberry is up for sale!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.scotlandswestcoastgolflinks.com/images/banners/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="http://www.scotlandswestcoastgolflinks.com/images/banners/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Owned by the 8th Marquess of Ailsa, it is being sold by <strong><a href="http://search.knightfrank.com/edn100158" target="_blank" title="Knight Frank Ailsa Craig">Knight Frank</a></strong> and by <strong>Vladi Private Islands</strong>, the agent who sold Sanda Island off the east coast of the Mull of Kintyre and who is currently also selling Barcaldine Castle in North Argyll as ‘an island-like property’.<br />
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Ailsa Craig is not even yet on the Vladi website, but the 245 acre rock with its distinctive conical shape, lying ten miles off Girvan on the south Ayrshire coast has an asking price of £2.5 million.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402621490742119186.post-59784727915019019552011-04-26T13:30:00.001+01:002011-05-19T12:13:11.282+01:00Final hole swing sees Charlotte Ellis clinch Helen HolmEngland's Charlotte Ellis staged a charge over the last few holes to win the Helen Holm Scottish women's open amateur stroke-play championship over Royal Troon's Open championship links course on Sunday 24th of April. She had been trailing 16 year old twin Leona Maguire from Co Cavan, Ireland by three strokes with six holes to play until the 25-year-old from Minchinhampton birdied the 13th, 15th and 16th holes to be one shot behind Maguire with two to play. Both parred the short 17th and then Leona, who had made all the running from the start of the 54-hole tournament, ran up a double bogey 6 at the last, taking three shots to get on the green and quite depressingly a further three putts from six feet. Ellis stepped in to win with a par 4.<br />
<br />
"Even when I holed out for a par on the last green, I really didn't think it was to win. It was only when Leona eventually missed a two-foot second putt, that I realised I had won. It's the biggest golf title I've ever won but I feel sorry for Leona."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402621490742119186.post-12135404726158477632011-04-22T11:19:00.000+01:002011-04-22T11:19:45.621+01:00Scottish Women's Open Amateur Golf at TroonIf you're at a loose end this weekend you could always head for the Ayrshire coast to Troon and see a field of 99 ladies compete for the Helen Holm Trophy the 54-hole Scottish women's open amateur stroke-play golf championship at Troon.<br />
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The event which is taking place between Friday 22nd and Sunday 24th of April is played with two rounds over Troon Portland after which the leading 66 players and ties contest the final 18 holes over Royal Troon. The field of 99 is made up by golfers from 11 countries, including Russia and the Czech Republic and with the weather forecast set fair it could be a nice relaxing day out.<br />
<br />
<br />
Live scoring from the <a href="http://www.golfbox.dk/livescoring/leaderboard.asp?tour=%7B927ADA2B-48F7-4DF5-86EE-D4AE70F54F26%7D&clubOnly=1&color=1&lang=1033">Helen Holm Trophy 2011 event</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402621490742119186.post-90615742104946219672011-04-15T11:26:00.002+01:002011-04-15T11:28:30.921+01:00Ayrshire Burns Festival 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp44gecvwKPCQIHE6472mE3vNajsQxcqHzIp_0iaD9SMVWkdfUXZxK-dc27DyHyzmsDFPJG4cknydG5s_IuAUtbYexhLaAAQwgnurFQpsQ2sqm13u8uSWrSuwqb4u2GGmaSIWtI1goH29Z/s1600/Burns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp44gecvwKPCQIHE6472mE3vNajsQxcqHzIp_0iaD9SMVWkdfUXZxK-dc27DyHyzmsDFPJG4cknydG5s_IuAUtbYexhLaAAQwgnurFQpsQ2sqm13u8uSWrSuwqb4u2GGmaSIWtI1goH29Z/s200/Burns.jpg" width="159" /></a></div>"No golfer is an island." I think that was the saying was it not?<br />
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Anyway the point is that whilst the reason for your visit to Ayrshire may well be world class links golf there is a whole lot going on in Ayrshire throughout the year from great wining and dining to a full calendar of events at Scotland's number one horseracing venue Ayr Racecourse.<br />
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There's also a number of great festivals and events across the county.<br />
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May sees the tenth anniversary of the Burns Festival with a range of music and cultural events taking place over four days so if you're in the area golfing you may want to take in a concert or comedy show in the evening. You can find out more at the <a href="http://www.burnsfestival.com/">Burns Festival 2011</a> website or <a href="http://www.scotlandsforme.com/booking.html?inday=25&inmonthyear=2011-05&outday=27&outmonthyear=2011-05&county_id=825&user_language=en&ch=97&service_model=1&county=826&months_ahead=12">check hotel availability for Ayrshire</a> that weekend.<br />
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And while you're at it as well as downloading your golf app for the courses you might want to brush up on your Burns Poetry and yes there's an app for that too... An iPhone app has been developed to allow enthusiasts around the world to download and instantly access Burns' poetry. <br />
The app includes:<br />
<ul><li>a searchable database of every poem written by Burns</li>
<li>a summary of facts about the poet's life </li>
<li>a guide to hosting a Burns Supper</li>
</ul>The <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/the-works-of-robert-burns/id414486992?mt=8">Robert Burns iPhone app</a> is available from the iTunes store.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402621490742119186.post-75456186519108350582011-04-15T10:20:00.001+01:002011-04-15T10:20:50.690+01:00Prestwick's Salt Pan HousesThe Salt Pan Houses, Prestwick St Nicholas Golf Club - a history outdating the 26th Oldest Club in the world <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM78ZP7XC0Y7OFZTshFS310xwHFQ7SlnBLNxRHquwrOt0qVaqksmN1bbrmhSy-bQRAcsMCP9CfwwUYks4bniFJmFAi-SCQke86zJA0OODQL09NJjqT1coJ13-yEgm3uYfCEXZDL1TcSg6v/s1600/Salt+Pans+-+Prestwick+St+Nicholas+GC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM78ZP7XC0Y7OFZTshFS310xwHFQ7SlnBLNxRHquwrOt0qVaqksmN1bbrmhSy-bQRAcsMCP9CfwwUYks4bniFJmFAi-SCQke86zJA0OODQL09NJjqT1coJ13-yEgm3uYfCEXZDL1TcSg6v/s400/Salt+Pans+-+Prestwick+St+Nicholas+GC.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Standing on at least at least half of the tees and fairways of Prestwick St Nicholas a player cannot miss these iconic features, sitting between the 1st and 3rd greens. <br />
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Occupying what today would be a prime residential site these grade A-listed buildings sit right at the seashore, built around 1760 for the salt boiling industry; before the advent of refrigeration, salt was vital for preserving food for the table and also for sailors travelling around the world. Known as the Maryburgh Salt Works, they were probably salt pans with housing above. Women would collect buckets of salt water and bring them into the Salt Pan House, emptying the water into large metal basins (salt pans) under which a fire would be kept stoked. The water would be boiled off and the resulting salt deposits scraped off and bagged for sale. <br />
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The pair of houses are linked by a later wall which has been heightened and which was originally open at centre. The roof covering may originally have been pantiles or thatch, as shown by the deep skews with moulded skewputts along the roofline. The buildings were occupied well into the 20th Century with a recent visit by an elderly Canadian gentleman to the Club confirming for us that his uncle had grown up in the southerly one.<br />
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Although what remains is incomplete, the surviving buildings have been described as "certainly the most complete upstanding remains of the (saltboiling) industry on the west coast of Scotland". In fact, they appear to be most complete to survive in Scotland. The Prestwick burgh/records of 12th February 1480 uses the term "salt pan hous" which suggests the existence of the industry locally by that time. The burgh records also discussed applications for erecting of salt pans on 25th June 1763 and 7th Sept. 1765 (information provided by Kyle & Carrick civic society). <br />
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With the Club moving to its current site in 1892, it's clear that the Salt Pans are significantly older and are important historical Scottish buildings which can often be taken for granted. Why not come along and see them from the course, where the sea can be seen from every hole. <br />
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See the new video of Prestwick St Nicholas on <a href="http://www.prestwickstnicholas.com/">www.prestwickstnicholas.com</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402621490742119186.post-51249090191147454442011-03-28T10:53:00.001+01:002011-03-28T10:53:37.968+01:00Sunset Golf on Scotland's West Coast Golf LinksTurnberry, the world’s first golf resort located on the Ayrshire Coast, will relaunch its highly popular sunset tee‐off times from next week as the clocks change and the long summer nights stretch out ahead.<br />
With the Ayrshire sunset in April touching down at 7.56pm and with daylight lasting until 10.05pm in June, golfers are presented with a new four hour window to take to the course with tee off times starting from 3pm to as late as 6pm.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.turnberryresort.co.uk/assets/u/Turnberry-Resort-Scotland-Ailsa-11th-tee-350px.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="90" src="http://www.turnberryresort.co.uk/assets/u/Turnberry-Resort-Scotland-Ailsa-11th-tee-350px.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The sunset rates start on Monday 28 March 2011 with a round at the world‐famous Open Championship Ailsa course costing £95. The sister course, the Kintyre, can be played for £55. Tee Times can be booked in advance with no restrictions.<br />
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Stewart Selbie, General Manager at Turnberry Resort, commented; “Sunset golf is very popular because of our West Coast location. The views across the Irish Sea to Ailsa Craig in sunset hours are simply stunning. The colours of the course, the sea, the sky and the beach come into sharp contrast and in dramatic light provide the most incredible scenery. Quite a backdrop while playing, what I believe, is the best golf course in the world.”<br />
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Earlier this month, The European Tour announced that Turnberry will stage the 2012 Senior Open Championship for the seventh time, making it the most popular venue for the tournament in its history.<br />
Sunset Golf at Turnberry is available seven days a week until 30 September 2011. For further tee time information contact 01655 334 032 or email turnberry.teetimes@luxurycollection.com<br />
<br />
You can also <a href="http://www.scotlandsforme.com/booking.html?inday=28&inmonthyear=2011-04&outday=29&outmonthyear=2011-04&county_id=825&user_language=en&ch=97&service_model=1&county=826&months_ahead=12">book your Ayrshire accommodation online</a> with a number of great golfing hotels in Ayr, Troon, Prestwick and Irvine.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402621490742119186.post-62953567611366382932011-03-04T13:29:00.000+00:002011-03-04T13:29:49.716+00:00Senior Open Championship to return to Turnberry in 2012<div class="page_title"><h1></h1></div><img align="right" alt="" src="http://www.randa.org/en/RandA/News/News/2011/February/%7E/media/RandA/Images/News/2011/Feb/Turnberry.ashx?h=190&la=en&w=245&rgn=39,13,844,638&as=1" style="height: 190px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 0px; width: 245px;" vspace="5" />The Senior Open Championship will return to the spectacular setting of Turnberry on the Ayrshire coastline from July 26-29, 2012, continuing the Scottish resort’s rich history with the prestigious Championship which began with the inaugural staging in 1987. <br />
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It will be the seventh occasion that Turnberry’s Ailsa Course has hosted The Senior Open Championship, the most of any venue on the roster, surpassing the six editions played at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland. <br />
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The classic links hosted the first four Senior Open Championships, with Neil Coles wining the inaugural Championship in 1987, Gary Player capturing the title in 1988 and 1990 and Bob Charles lifting the trophy in 1989. <br />
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Tom Watson, whose own career is so closely aligned with Turnberry’s proud heritage, then held off the European Senior Tour’s leading career money winner Carl Mason in a play-off when the Championship returned to the Ayrshire Coast in 2003, before fellow American Loren Roberts captured his first Senior Open title in 2006. <br />
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Turnberry has also hosted The Open Championship on four occasions with Watson featuring prominently in 1977, when he memorably defeated Jack Nicklaus in what became known as ‘The Duel in the Sun’, and in 2009 when he lost in a play-off to Stewart Cink at the age of 59. <br />
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David Hill, Director of Championships for The R&A, said on behalf of the Championship: “We are delighted to announce the return of The Senior Open Championship to Turnberry in 2012, a venue that is steeped in the history of both The Senior Open and The Open. <br />
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“The Ailsa Course has provided some of golf’s most memorable moments over the years and hopefully we will once again experience the magnificent support of the Scottish golf fans, just as we did the last time The Senior Open Championship visited the Ayrshire coast in 2008 when we had record crowds at Royal Troon.” <br />
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Stewart Selbie, General Manager of Turnberry, said: “Turnberry is delighted to welcome The Senior Open Championship back to the Ailsa course in 2012. Following the success of The 2009 Open, it is entirely fitting that our next Major should be the Senior Open, a tournament which has such a strong connection with the Ailsa course over the years. This announcement confirms Turnberry’s position as a great venue for major Open Championships” <br />
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Councillor Bill McIntosh, Leader of South Ayrshire Council, said: "Turnberry is an iconic golf location and I am thrilled The Senior Open Championship is returning to South Ayrshire next year. We are, of course, the birthplace and home of Open Golf and we are also well-known for hosting major international events, so it’s going to be a fabulous sporting occasion. <br />
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“I look forward to welcoming players, staff, fans, family and friends to South Ayrshire for this wonderful event and will ensure a great time is had by all here on Scotland’s very own golf coast.” <br />
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EventScotland, the national events agency, has supported the staging of The Senior Open Championship since 2005 and the 2012 event will be the marquee event on Scotland’s golfing calendar that year. <br />
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Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer for EventScotland said: “The Senior Open Championship is one of Scotland’s most prestigious regular golf tournaments. We are delighted to see it return next year with significant benefits for Turnberry, South Ayrshire and the wider ‘Home of Golf’ expected. It is important for Scotland to maintain its support of these major events as we prepare to host The Ryder Cup in 2014 and to ensure the ongoing development of the sport on our shores.” <br />
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The Senior Open last visited Scotland in 2010 when Carnoustie hosted the Championship for the first time. Germany’s Bernhard Langer claimed his first Senior Major Championship and will defend the title from July 21-24 when Walton Heath Golf Club, in Surrey, England, is the host venue for the Championship’s 25th edition. <br />
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Discounted advance tickets can be purchased online, with season tickets now available at £60 for a season pass and any one day passes at £16.50. They can be booked online at www.europeantourtickets.com, where other discounts and offers can also be found.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402621490742119186.post-67092171176056780362011-02-18T14:46:00.001+00:002011-02-18T14:47:52.787+00:00Ian Bunch Retires from Role at SWCGL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_-tYig_x_nG0/Sf8conWWYdI/AAAAAAAABeU/AZ6VguCSP-w/s512/P1060139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_-tYig_x_nG0/Sf8conWWYdI/AAAAAAAABeU/AZ6VguCSP-w/s320/P1060139.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Following his recent retiral from his position as Secretary at Prestwick Golf Club, Ian Bunch has now passed the baton on with regards to Scotland's West Cost Golf Links.<br />
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Ian was instrumental not only in the creation of Scotland's West Coast Golf Links but also in the earlier set up of Golf Tourism Scotland. His enthusiasm for and understanding of the golf tourism sector made both contributions invaluable and his presence in Ayrshire's golfing circles will be missed.<br />
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SWCGL however will now look to appoint a new chair to take the marketing group forward. In line with the changes there will be a new Executive Committee set up to develop the new strategies required to deal with the current challenges and this committee will meet early in March and be comprised of four golf course representatives, one golf professional and a hotelier.<br />
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Anyone looknig for further information on how Scotland's West Coast Golf Links can work with your business should in the meantime contact administrator Ian McCaig on 01292 521404.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402621490742119186.post-65839338293273634132011-02-18T14:40:00.001+00:002011-02-18T14:40:37.962+00:00New Bunker for Dundonald LinksOnce again the greens crew at Dunonald Links are hard at work reconstructing the 9th fairway bunker, making it more of a challenge for your return visit to Dundonald.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Currently the 9th is playing as a long par 3. Upon completion it will be sure to test your golfing ability and add new character to an already challenging hole here at Dundonald Lin<span class="messagebody">ks.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8TuAJSgttQqRWxgK5TAs5IcQ-U6mCA0nOl9yYNNuegRQZYd03Ae7A5a_5HTOuv0WmpSKz3NJAWCM5MXom9Ywe2WE-D0YwsHrVIRX9h8Mc4rEhVglFgFTHvg9dFTQ8OfeR8ocp6TjnvU1/s1600/ddl+2011+bunker+315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8TuAJSgttQqRWxgK5TAs5IcQ-U6mCA0nOl9yYNNuegRQZYd03Ae7A5a_5HTOuv0WmpSKz3NJAWCM5MXom9Ywe2WE-D0YwsHrVIRX9h8Mc4rEhVglFgFTHvg9dFTQ8OfeR8ocp6TjnvU1/s320/ddl+2011+bunker+315.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZNVHWym_xGrF2xhQObzRDmWFNEIn-EAq_KAaE53qhTTBT-dHb8eKWVbbY5v79yUFxue0UfL4DkMvxFn0C-oUuAYUSLWDE64OENiIJ4CW9rZ6XEvQJ5bgHiTeYu0sMg7KgUriJX8JdYYk/s1600/ddl+2011+bunker+321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZNVHWym_xGrF2xhQObzRDmWFNEIn-EAq_KAaE53qhTTBT-dHb8eKWVbbY5v79yUFxue0UfL4DkMvxFn0C-oUuAYUSLWDE64OENiIJ4CW9rZ6XEvQJ5bgHiTeYu0sMg7KgUriJX8JdYYk/s320/ddl+2011+bunker+321.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWbmJtRILQSLuDi9LR1aRjiamzrBRqfi4xDBLlLm01Vz8iAJkfFyD7G6ndHxMDcyEp32Acrfw8feLiaAR79YqSuzcKpWLex8mllsc5fVqXftoieiyyEj5UKn67r8FDfuCdHV6ZJuTS9h2c/s1600/ddl+2011+bunker+335.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWbmJtRILQSLuDi9LR1aRjiamzrBRqfi4xDBLlLm01Vz8iAJkfFyD7G6ndHxMDcyEp32Acrfw8feLiaAR79YqSuzcKpWLex8mllsc5fVqXftoieiyyEj5UKn67r8FDfuCdHV6ZJuTS9h2c/s320/ddl+2011+bunker+335.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402621490742119186.post-40518897150278250622010-11-16T11:14:00.000+00:002010-11-16T11:14:54.492+00:00Great Value Golf Passes in Ayrshire<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-tYig_x_nG0/Sa1JFfeN2CI/AAAAAAAAAf0/_N73HYtU0eg/prestwick.jpg?imgmax=400" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_-tYig_x_nG0/Sa1JFfeN2CI/AAAAAAAAAf0/_N73HYtU0eg/prestwick.jpg?imgmax=400" width="142" /></a></div>We've updated all the rates for the three wonderful value Ayrshire golf passes featuring West Coast Golf Links courses.<br />
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The three passes - Ayrshire Qualifier Card, Gailes Links Experience and The Prestwick Pass - are all bookable now.<br />
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Find out more about<a href="http://www.scotlandswestcoastgolflinks.com/page.php?id=642"> prices, times and availability</a> on the website nowUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402621490742119186.post-76279307382957077082010-11-16T10:12:00.000+00:002010-11-16T10:12:29.273+00:00Fairfield House Offers Free WiFi<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Ky1tgdlO0iPI80ed84CdccVICBhGtqYtfL60AQjAZHhSlOE6Z059ZO69OMGJoAkWwwb6oWOuFZI8h87Pn7cU8ws94ZfhdAh3aBXOWXnhrSwlxMddEGufvj2r-TY4qmAnpgvQFmD2tZ-t/s1600/Fairfield.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Ky1tgdlO0iPI80ed84CdccVICBhGtqYtfL60AQjAZHhSlOE6Z059ZO69OMGJoAkWwwb6oWOuFZI8h87Pn7cU8ws94ZfhdAh3aBXOWXnhrSwlxMddEGufvj2r-TY4qmAnpgvQFmD2tZ-t/s200/Fairfield.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Good news for visitors is that Scotland's West Coast Golf Links hotel partner <a href="http://www.scotlandswestcoastgolflinks.com/hotel_details.php?id=154">The Fairfield House Hotel</a> in Ayr is now offering Free WiFi to all its guests.<br />
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It's also got some great deals for golf groups in 2011. <a href="http://www.fairfieldhotel.co.uk/booking.php?inday=5&inmonth=5&outday=8&outmonth=5&check_av=Check+Availability">Check availability at the hotel's own website</a> with four star twin rooms from only £99 per room in May 2011 - tie in with one of West Coast Links great golf packages for a superb value Ayrshire Golf BreakUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402621490742119186.post-87247636276694315452010-11-16T08:30:00.003+00:002010-11-16T13:40:44.733+00:00Ayrshire Golf and Hotels Represented at IGTM<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1TMbqb26KcLrUxiLd-U2rDk5jAOCVMe25YIp3D6SRAWTM3QkZfXCSKwSY5bV9FvYQKtsl2HacrZGRFhuzDHPy0flMR6qmtUl6OYYa1oAs2B22o7ldyNwGtMjs1eEFgMSbf3J0uZ2RaDR8/s1600/igtmdesk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1TMbqb26KcLrUxiLd-U2rDk5jAOCVMe25YIp3D6SRAWTM3QkZfXCSKwSY5bV9FvYQKtsl2HacrZGRFhuzDHPy0flMR6qmtUl6OYYa1oAs2B22o7ldyNwGtMjs1eEFgMSbf3J0uZ2RaDR8/s200/igtmdesk.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>At the time of writing the first appointments for IGTM will be due to start and for the first time in many years Ayrshire's golf and hotel product has a co-ordinated representation at this premium event for the golf tourism industry.<br />
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The group of ten links golf courses - from Irvine Bogside south to Turnberry are represented by Guy Redford of Dundonald Links who will be meeting more than forty buyers from across Europe, North American and emerging golf markets such as Russia, China and India. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjKTkGtNCHx4JorrUDVbOo4SKQQyzbq4vR7TUe1p7Lte5IPlKPRw4Muo0LR3ZWsKMxVWrjX2F8dwsu_Ik8HWLaG7m1LgwsvC2197UjkoZDNDH7swnH6QIuESUT8hW7sduk0VJo05UwD1yV/s1600/IGTM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjKTkGtNCHx4JorrUDVbOo4SKQQyzbq4vR7TUe1p7Lte5IPlKPRw4Muo0LR3ZWsKMxVWrjX2F8dwsu_Ik8HWLaG7m1LgwsvC2197UjkoZDNDH7swnH6QIuESUT8hW7sduk0VJo05UwD1yV/s200/IGTM.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Guy said this morning, "I'm delighted to be representing the clubs and hotels out here and looking forward to generating some really positive interest in what Ayrshire has to offer both on and off the course. It's great having the materials pulled together for the first time with all the green fees, tour operator rates and playing information all collated. It's really positive to have the golf clubs recognising that collaborations with hotels, service providers and even the golf pros is the way forward. I'm very encouraged that Scotland's West Coast Golf Links has achieved this in its first year and look forward to cementing that presence over the next few days in Valencia."<br />
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Find out more about IGTM and what golf in Ayrshire has to offer for 2011 by <a href="http://www.scotlandswestcoastgolflinks.com/">visiting the website </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402621490742119186.post-6259111409039092672010-10-28T12:47:00.000+01:002010-10-28T12:47:57.163+01:00Gailes LInks Course Guide<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqqHU9qwyiJXXqIYDNZ-bIfEut3T1heGzOiPETjo0OvUffTIRnKTmcZuRUfp5pkc69FWJ6t9YhewBGOukptWd2w7AjL9dqlKCQvuiRHqPpMDKC9W83e2wsz8vvc4SaqQGhXYmMk55zcdQ0/s1600/Gailes+Course+Guide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqqHU9qwyiJXXqIYDNZ-bIfEut3T1heGzOiPETjo0OvUffTIRnKTmcZuRUfp5pkc69FWJ6t9YhewBGOukptWd2w7AjL9dqlKCQvuiRHqPpMDKC9W83e2wsz8vvc4SaqQGhXYmMk55zcdQ0/s320/Gailes+Course+Guide.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">Great new addition to the Gailes Links website has been unveiled with a fantastic Video Course Guide.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Gailes Links, also known as Glasgow Gailes, have introduced a short video on their</div><div class="MsoNormal">web home page showing the course, clubhouse, practice facilities and other amenities.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Even more impressively they have on their web site an <a href="http://www.gaileslinks.co.uk/golf-course-guide.html">“Interactive Video Course Guide”</a> - (right). </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">You can click on a hole number to view the video fly through with expert commentary from John Greaves, PGA Professional, and the Golf Pro at Gailes Links.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Gailes Links will be represented at the forthcoming International Golf Travel Market (IGTM) in Valencia with the rest of Scotland's West Coast Golf Links on the Visitscotland stand.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402621490742119186.post-55787752233866836072010-10-20T12:18:00.001+01:002010-10-20T12:20:33.343+01:00Teeing Off - 150th Anniversary of The OpenTook a couple of pictures on what was a historic moment for the four golfers involved - Brian Morrison Prestwick Club Captain, David Fleming, Club Pro, Ian Bunch club secretary and Ian McCaig from Scotland's West Coast Golf Links - and Jock the dug!<br />
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<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.co.uk&hl=en_GB&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.co.uk%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fscotlandswestcoastgolflinks%2Falbumid%2F5530080669046083857%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_GB" height="192" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="288"></embed>The Club Managerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05023785362629595682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402621490742119186.post-67783739488794455612010-10-18T11:38:00.000+01:002010-10-18T11:38:59.634+01:00Marking the 150th Anniversary of The Open<b>October 17th 2010. </b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj37HhXZ0pJYoz5uSTBjw_ubXzsDpwuQ9MLa0bdyluRFcQGUpI_p9ZQ76ADwqSEGp1jF1CyfQMJoT8uTgGv1RTeUK0A5GteOv7XvgEcc6ukv36QbkmXVE0K7TD7wU58Q14HP_K8k0pCS-w/s1600/plaque.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj37HhXZ0pJYoz5uSTBjw_ubXzsDpwuQ9MLa0bdyluRFcQGUpI_p9ZQ76ADwqSEGp1jF1CyfQMJoT8uTgGv1RTeUK0A5GteOv7XvgEcc6ukv36QbkmXVE0K7TD7wU58Q14HP_K8k0pCS-w/s200/plaque.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>The scene, with four golfers making their way towards the first tee in watery autumnal morning sunshine is not an unusual one in itself being replicated on courses across Scotland and beyond by tens of thousands of Sunday morning golfers.<br />
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The difference this morning however is the location and the date. Accompanied by the Club Captain Brian Morrison, Club Secretary Ian Bunch and Club Pro David Fleming, I was in fact walking towards The Cairn which marks the location of the first tee of the first Open Championship which teed off exactly 150 years earlier over Prestwick Links on the Ayrshire coast.<br />
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<b>October 17th 1860</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.theclaymoreproject.com/uploads/associate/206/image/1860%20Park.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.theclaymoreproject.com/uploads/associate/206/image/1860%20Park.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>That was a Wednesday and on that particular Wednesday morning a small group of eight roughly dressed individuals made their way towards the wind-strewn sand hills of Prestwick from The Red Lion Inn at The Cross which doubled back then as the clubhouse for Prestwick Links.<br />
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According to the history books, “Under his arm each carries a strange assortment of wooden implements. They march, like prisoners under guard, accompanied by four members of the gentry, whose role it is to ensure that none among them shall transgress.”<br />
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For certain they were not aware of what they were about to set in motion but it was on this day 150 years ago that history was made by the eight individuals made up of “golf professionals”. Professionals in the sense that they made a living form the game through as a caddy, club or ball maker.<br />
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The eight players teed of at midday and before dusk had fallen they had played 36 holes of stroke or medal play golf<br />
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They were unknowingly making history by playing the first ever round of The Open Championship resulting in the presentation of The Belt to Willie Park from Musselburgh who won that first Open with a score of 174 and a two stroke cushion over Tom Morris who was at that time the Keeper of Prestwick’s green.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.theclaymoreproject.com/uploads/associate/206/image/belt_small.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.theclaymoreproject.com/uploads/associate/206/image/belt_small.jpg" /></a></div>The red morocco belt was purchased for £25 by the members of Prestwick and subsequently retained by Young Tom Morris after he won it in three successive years from 1868-70. The Claret Jug, still played for now, was then purchased jointly by Prestwick, The Royal and Ancient Golf Club and The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfer and first played for in 1872.<br />
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So it was with this burden of history that our band of four men and a dog took the short walk to the historic mound of stone and the starting point for the first ever Open Championship.<br />
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Now if you’ve played Prestwick before you’ll know that the first runs alongside the Glasgow to Ayr railway line with out of bounds on the right. It is a rather intimidating opener. Well the “old first” exists in the sense that the tee is there and the green is there, the green being the current 16th.<br />
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Apart from that there is no fairway and the thirteenth green stands in your way! The fairway as I saw it seemed to be a path about five yards wide running down from the fourteenth tee. That made this an even more intimidating opener.<br />
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Add to this that every golfer in Scotland has his own Open Championship memories and who wouldn’t have wanted to be standing in our place. My own first Open memory was as an eight year old at Muirfield chasing Tony Jacklin in a buggy (he in the buggy not me) for an autograph. Various spectating highlights have followed over the years at Troon, Turnberry, The Old Course, Carnoustie, Birkdale and Lytham and my own single zenith as a spotty 17 year old youth caddying for English Amateur Chris Poxon at Royal Troon. We (he) may have missed the cut but it is my own special albeit tenuous “professional” connection with the greatest of golf championships.<br />
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It may be gilding the lily slightly to say that it was an emotional moment but there was a genuine sense of history in teeing the ball up on that spot at that moment and I have to say it was with some pride, for all I think, that each drive left the tee – straight - following that historic route.<br />
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The original 1st hole measured 578 yards and the talk on the tee was how Tom Morris Jnr could hole out over that distance in three strokes using hickory shafts and a gutty golf ball. I still haven’t figured it out but it would have required me to hole out with a four wood to have replicated the feat!<br />
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As it was the green was reached in three and unusually two putted for a five. Elation.<br />
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Our Professional David Fleming lipped out from a few feet for what would have been a deserved four and Ian Bunch, the club secretary, well Ian was penalised by the fact that what would have been fairway in 1860 was now benefitting from a 150 years of growth!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh_XfhVQw61SjuixfeaZsGoD5rYlcrNRP_tpoSZCG-qXIVK-DWnt4uQ9RLxSCMX8KAS3LE1gtJ-HPFUtWTjsrxGk56l9VYTUjgyFBT0SVkb8J3Ds8n9Rx69FhAsAWhRidqiYlx8zTXfb8/s1600/low3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh_XfhVQw61SjuixfeaZsGoD5rYlcrNRP_tpoSZCG-qXIVK-DWnt4uQ9RLxSCMX8KAS3LE1gtJ-HPFUtWTjsrxGk56l9VYTUjgyFBT0SVkb8J3Ds8n9Rx69FhAsAWhRidqiYlx8zTXfb8/s320/low3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>As I played the rest of the round, I couldn’t help, as I criss-crossed those hallowed fairways, but compare Prestwick again with all of those aforementioned championship links and how well this challenge still compared. So hallowed indeed were those fairways that I quite respectfully avoided playing from most of them!<br />
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Prestwick remains one of the purest links golf challenges that a golfer can take on and while it will never see an Open championship again, it will for sure continue to be high on the list of courses you must play before you die. Indeed it should be very high on that list.<br />
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In those early days Prestwick, however, continued to host the Open and did so intermittently until its swan song in 1925 when sheer pressure of crowd numbers contributed, it is said, to the home favourite MacDonald Smith losing out to his American challenger Jim Barnes.<br />
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Indeed as part of the 150th celebrations, the pro shop has taken a series of the images from that last event and produced a wonderful range of canvasses. David Fleming explained, “There is such a wealth of history in the club archives that it seemed a natural project to follow and they have been incredibly popular with visitors and members alike. When you scale the images up to 40 inches you can see that even in 1925 hospitality tents had already made an appearance and the crowds around the players must have made it almost impossible to play competitive golf!”<br />
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(Since it was formed in 1851, David Fleming is only the eight professional in the club’s history.)<br />
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Indeed the history is all around you at Prestwick. Replica belts and trophies, original scorecards, photographs, winners boards. Yet the contradiction at Prestwick is that while it retains its tradition it is far from lost in it.<br />
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Since becoming the club secretary Ian Bunch has, in his own style, transformed the way the club is seen from the outside. First class visitor facilities and a genuinely warm welcome are offered at Prestwick along with increases in tee time availability for the tourism markets; a position that in itself encouraged other golf courses in the area to follow suit.<br />
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In addition each year Prestwick recognises the role that the golf travel sector play in its success by hosting a wonderfully quirky “six-some” event.<br />
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The cherished highlight was surely the first hole but our game was rounded off with an equally indelible memory coming down the 13th hole. <br />
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Playing into the wind, the club pro once again out hit us both by seventy five yards into the wind. As we approach our balls we witness the gap decreasing with David Fleming’s ball coming towards our own being pushed back down the fairway assiduously by the beak of a rather large black crow! <br />
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Patently tiring the crow looks up towards the incoming golfers and decides to beat an escape with the golf ball firmly fixed in its beak and heads for the beach. Imperiously now, and sensing escape with a Taylor Made Penta, it flies off and lands fifty yards away on the boundary fence separating course from beach; differentiating in-play from Out of Bounds. <br />
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And yes you can guess the next part. It had a last thought about where it was going to drop the ball, turned towards the Firth of Clyde, decided the pro needed penalised and neatly dropped Mr Fleming’s ball Out of Bounds! <br />
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Hole to the amateurs on the day of the first professionals!<br />
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On a day such as this it was quite clear that the spirit of 150 years ago was still very much present in the south westerly Ayrshire breeze and hell if we want to romanticise the presence of our feathered friend on this day then who is to condemn us! <br />
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Thank you Prestwick for what you started and to Ian Bunch and David Fleming for letting me share a little part of it with them.<br />
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You can find out more about the history and heritage of not only The Open Championship at Prestwick but also Troon, Turnberry and the other seven <a href="http://www.scotlandswestcoastgolflinks.com/">links golf courses on Scotland's West Coast</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8402621490742119186.post-70627594439783918622010-10-16T08:43:00.000+01:002010-10-16T08:43:30.447+01:00Winter Tee Times at Royal Troon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.theclaymoreproject.com/uploads/golfclub/111/image/clubhouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.theclaymoreproject.com/uploads/golfclub/111/image/clubhouse.jpg" /></a></div>The Scottish Golf Union has teamed up with one of world golf’s most famous venues, <a href="http://www.scotlandswestcoastgolflinks.com/golf_course_details.php?id=111">Royal Troon</a> to offer SGU affiliated golf club members exclusive green fee rates during the winter months.<br />
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Royal Troon have very generously donated tee times to the Scottish Golf Union to offer to golf club members in Scotland with all proceeds going into junior golf development. The tee times, detailed below are available for £280 per fourball, allowing golf club members a terrific discount on the standard green-fees at Royal Troon.<br />
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The following tee-times are available at the special discounted rate:<br />
All times available are on a Tuesday at 10.00am<br />
<ul><li>November 2010 – 2nd, 9th</li>
<li>December 2010 – 7th, 14th</li>
<li>January 2011 – 4th, 18th</li>
<li>February 2011 – 1st, 15th</li>
<li>March 2011 – 1st, 15th</li>
<li>April 2011 – 5th</li>
</ul>To book your tee-times, please contact the Scottish Golf Union on 01334 466477 or for further information please e-mail <a href="mailto:l.llewellyn@scottishgolf.org">l.llewellyn@scottishgolf.org</a>. All tee-times are subject to availability at the time of booking.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0