Posts Tagged ‘golf tour’
Tuesday, August 18th, 2009
To most “experts” and casual fans alike, it was a foregone conclusion Tiger Woods would win his 15th major championship (5th PGA Championship) this past Sunday at the beautiful links of Hazeltine Country Club in Chaska Minnesota.
Why even watch? Tiger would surely hold on to his lead, and his competitors would surely wilt under the relentless pressure and mystique Tiger has cast upon the PGA Tour. Sure, Tiger may come up with some fantastic shots during the big pressure moments, but doesn’t this get a little boring? Certainly no need to remove yourself from your cherished mid-summer activities, just turn on ESPN or The Golf Channel before work on Monday morning and watch Tiger’s recent highlight reel. After all, Tiger was a perfect 14 for 14 when holding or sharing the lead going into the final round of a major championship.
Well, it is a good thing the engraver of the Wanamaker Trophy stuck around to see the results of the final round of the PGA Championship. And, if you were fortunate enough to trade your day at the beach for an afternoon of being a couch potato you may have witnessed one of the greatest upsets in recent sporting history, thanks to Y.E. Yang’s gutsy and ice cool performance. If only our good friend Tom Watson could have pulled off a similar and equally stunning upset, at Turnberry Ailsa last month during the 138th Open Championship in Scotland. However, we still expect another strong performance by Watson in 2010 at the Old Course, in St. Andrews.
Yang Yong-eun, known in the United States as Y. E. Yang, not only put an end to Tiger’s 14 for 14 streak. He also became the first Asian born player to win a major championship. Ironically, Y. E. Yang was able to turn the tables on Tiger by making “Tiger-like” shots with a “Tiger-like” demeanor. Chipping in for eagle on the short par 4 14th and ultimately ending the tournament with a heroic approach on the final hole. Equally impressive was the true sportsmanship and class displayed in defeat by the great champion Tiger Woods. Odds makers, analysts, experts and just about everyone gave no one a chance of passing Tiger in the final round, let alone the 110th ranked player in the world. But, that is “why they play the game”.
Tags: 138 Open Championship, 139 Open Championship, 2010 Open, 2010 Open Championship, 91 pga championship, British Open, british open packages, chaska, Golf, golf packages, golf tour, golf trip, hazeltine, hazeltine country club, minnesota, old course, open, open championship, pga, pga championship, saint andrews, Scotland, scotland golf, Scotland golf trip, St Andrews, tiger, tiger woods, Tom Watson, turnberry, Turnberry Ailsa, watson, y.e. yang, yang
Posted in European Golf Tours, Scotland Golf Trips, Scottish Golf Holidays | No Comments »
Thursday, July 16th, 2009
Turnberry Ailsa - 11th Hole
The 138th Open has started today at the Turnberry Resort on Scotland’s west coast. The build-up and ‘Phoney War’ of the past few days (during which more media attention seems to have concentrated on the tiff between former champion Sandy Lyle and Colin Montgomerie than the forthcoming championship) is now past and the ‘serious’ business has begun.
The fabulous Ailsa Course (Par 70, 7200 yards) is ready to test the world’s best players, and find out their weaknesses. Arguably the most scenically-stunning layout of the Open rota, the course now has many more teeth – in the form of additional fairway and greenside bunkering as well as more length. The 16th has undergone the most radical changes of all – a previously straight hole is now a left-to-right dogleg, making Wilson’s Burn in front of the green a greater lateral hazard than before. Expect this hole to dish out a lot of punishment!
A warm, wet Spring and early Summer has also ensured that the rough is high and fierce. Doug Sander’s comment during the 1966 Open at Muirfield: “give me the hay concession and you can keep the prize-money” comes to mind. If the wind blows at all there will be lost balls and tears before bedtime for a few players!
Tags: 2009 British Open, 2009 Open Championship, British Open, colin montgomerie, european golf tour, European Golf trip, golf tour, golf trip, luxury tour, luxury trip, open championship, sandy lyle, Scotland, Scotland exotic trip, scotland golf, Scotland golf tour, Scotland golf trip, Scotland luxury trip, turnberry, Turnberry Ailsa
Posted in European Golf Tours, Scotland Golf Trips, Scottish Golf Holidays | No Comments »
Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009
Four of St Andrews Links’ seven courses have been listed in the prestigious Golf Digest Top 100 Courses outside the USA ranking for the first time. The rankings were compiled from ballots submitted by over 900 U.S. and international golf course panelists, Golf Digest Editors and various other experts.
The Old Course (at #2) is the top course in Scotland according to the poll, finishing ahead of Muirfield in third position, the Ailsa Course at Turnberry (#5), Royal Dornoch (#6) and Carnoustie (#8). The often underrated New Course at St Andrews (opened in 1895) is listed as number 63 and the Jubilee Course (1897) has slipped in at 92nd. Entering only its second season in operation the new Castle Course has gone straight to number 65.
The poll was topped by Royal County Down in Northern Ireland. Overall, seventeen courses in Scotland populate the top 100, while the British Isles as a whole account for 42 places in the list.
Tags: ailsa, carnoustie, castle course, dornoch, exotic golf, Golf, golf digest, golf tour, golf trip, jubilee course, luxury golf, new course, royal county down, royal dornoch, saint andrews, St Andrews, turnberry
Posted in European Golf Tours, Ireland Golf Trips, Ireland Golf Vacations, Irish Golf Vacations, Scotland Golf Trips, Scottish Golf Holidays | No Comments »
Friday, April 17th, 2009
Doonbeg Golf Club is located on the Atlantic coast of Ireland in Co Clare, only 45 minutes or so from Shannon Airport and 15 miles south of Lahinch.
A first-class golf and spa resort with a Greg Norman-designed course, Doonbeg can now offer very competitively-priced deluxe bedrooms as part of its accommodation inventory. Each of the seven bedrooms has 6’6” Zip & Link beds and a large marble bathroom, plus other amenities comparable to adjacent suites. Rates start from €140.00 (room-only) in April and October.
A driving range is also now part of the facilities, while on-site fly & sea fishing is available and complimentary shuttles to/from Doonbeg village are provided for guests.
“Imagine a coastal haven… remote, yet easily accessible, luxurious yet unpretentious…where every taste is catered to and every request considered.” So says the resort’s website; perhaps you should find out for yourself?
Tags: doonbeg, exotic golf, Golf, golf tour, golf travel, golf trip, greg norman, Ireland, luxury golf
Posted in Ireland Golf Trips, Ireland Golf Vacations, Irish Golf Vacations | 1 Comment »
Friday, April 10th, 2009
Musselburgh Links in Edinburgh has been certified by Guinness World Records as the “Oldest Golf Course in the World”. The official citation states: “Documentary evidence proves that golf was played on Musselburgh Links as early as 2 March 1672 although Mary, Queen of Scots reputedly played here in 1567.”
The 9-hole course was one of the original Open Championship venues, hosting the competition on six occasions between 1874 and 1889. Threatened in recent years by potential development of the surrounding racecourse, the course now appears to have secured not only its immediate future but also a place in history. But, the strange sounds you might be hearing is the wailing and gnashing of teeth from the residents of St Andrews, who believe their little piece of heaven should really have the accolades!
Musselburgh was also home to a number of famous golfers including Willie Park – winner of the first Open in 1860 – and members of the Dunn family. Willie Dunn, Jnr won the first professional golf tournament in the United States, at the Saint Andrew’s Golf Club in 1894.
Tags: Golf, golf tour, golf trip, guinness book, guinness world records, Mary Queen of Scots, Musselburgh, Musselburgh Old, oldest golf club, oldest golf course, oldest golf course in the world, open championship, saint andrews, St Andrews
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Tuesday, April 7th, 2009
1. It is estimated that the British Isles have about 3,000 regular golf courses and 1.5 million affiliated players. According to data compiled by Golf Digest, Scotland has more golf courses per capita than any other country in the world, with about 9,000 people for each of its 550 courses. The Republic of Ireland is second in Europe, with one course for about every 14,000 people. Scotland has approximately double the number of courses per capita compared to the USA.
2. The British Pound has fallen 30% against the Dollar in the past year and the Euro approximately 15% in the same period. So each US Dollar goes a lot further.
Tags: British Isles, Golf, Golf Courses, golf tour, golf tours, golf travel, golf trip, Ireland, luxury golf, luxury golf travel, Republic of Ireland, travel, Trip, UK
Posted in England Golf Trips, European Golf Tours, Golf Packages England, Ireland Golf Trips, Ireland Golf Vacations, Irish Golf Vacations, Scotland Golf Trips, Scottish Golf Holidays, Wales Golf Trips | No Comments »
Monday, February 23rd, 2009
According to The Herald, Scotland’s leading quality daily newspaper, Donald Trump is moving full steam ahead on his Aberdeenshire golfing project. Although Donald Trump is working through some bankruptcy issues and since resigned as chairman of his former company, Trump Entertainment Resorts, he is not stopping his work on the Scotland development. This new project, called Balmedie Golf Resort, will consist of two 18-hole championship courses, 450-bedroom five-star hotel, along with numerous holiday apartments, villas, and private homes. Trump feels confident that his new Scotland project will someday host the Open Championship; a bold & aggressive statement in our opinion, when Great Britain has numerous and historic golfing venues ripe for their first Open.
Trump’s spokesman’s on the project, George Sorial, advises that given the strong US Dollar (as compared to the Pound Sterling), now is the time to move ahead. As stated by Sorial, “Contracts that were costing us a million dollars a year ago are now costing us $650,000. So we are taking advantage of the exchange rate and the availability of labour. For us it is full speed ahead.”
Adventures In Golf will be certain to update our readers on this project as more information is released.
Tags: aberdeen, aberdeenshire, balmedie golf resort, donald trump, exotic, exotic golf trip, Golf, golf resort, golf tour, golf trip, Golfing, great britain, luxury, luxury golf, Scotland, scotland golf, scottish golf trips
Posted in European Golf Tours, Scotland Golf Trips, Scottish Golf Holidays | No Comments »
Monday, February 2nd, 2009
Colin Montgomerie has been invited to captain the European team at 2010 Ryder Cup. The 45-year old Scotsman will be the 22nd golfer to captain a Ryder Cup team against the United States and the sixth Scot to have the honour, the last of his compatriots to hold the position being Sam Torrance in 2002.
Montgomerie made his first Ryder Cup appearance in 1991 at Kiawah Island and has played in a total of 8 events, being on the winning side in 1995, 1997, 2002, 2004, and 2006. In total he’s played 36 matches with 20 wins and seven halves. Unbeaten in any of the eight singles he has competed “Monty” shares the record for most singles matches won (six) and most singles points gained (seven).
Until very recently it was commonly thought that the 2010 captaincy was between Jose Maria Olazabal and Sandy Lyle (both two-time Major winners), while Montgomerie was considered a shoe-in for the captaincy role in 2014 at Gleneagles in Scotland. However, his age in 5 years time and the possibility that he might by then be out of touch with the players that will likely make up the team, seem to have forced the decision.
The odds on Olazabal being awarded the captaincy for 2012 at Medinah Country Club, Chicago have also shortened considerably.
Tags: 2010 ryder cup, celtic manor, Colin, colin montgomerie, european captain, gleneagles, Golf, golf excursion, golf package, golf tour, golf trip, great britain, jose maria olazabal, montgomerie, ryder cup, ryder cup 2010, sandy lyle, Scotland, scottish, wales
Posted in England Golf Trips, European Golf Tours, Wales Golf Trips | No Comments »
Tuesday, January 20th, 2009
2010 Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor
Wales will graciously play host to its’ first Ryder Cup in the fall of 2010. The tournament will be played on the recently designed “2010 Course” located at the five-star Celtic Manor Resort.
The United States has recently announced Corey Pavin will have the honor of captaining the American squad in 2010. Pavin, no stranger to the international competition was a member of three Ryder Cup teams 91, 93 and 95, compiling an 8-5-0 record during Ryder Cup play. Pavin was also the assistant captain in 2006, so it appears the United States has made the right decision and will be well prepared for the 2010 tournament.
Europe is scheduled to make an official announcement in regards to the 2010 captain in the following weeks, so stay tuned for an updated blog entry. Top candidates to lead the European squad currently include Sandy Lyle, Colin Montgomerie, and Jose Maria Olazabal, although it appears Olazabal is keen on making the European team as a player, which may ultimately exclude him from consideration. Irrespective of Europe’s final decision, the 2010 Ryder Cup in Wales is sure to provide golfing fans with yet another dramatic chapter to this stoic competition.
Tags: 2010, 2010 ryder cup, celtic manor, colin montgomerie, corey pavin, five-star resort, Golf, golf tour, golf trip, jose maria olazabal, luxury golf, ryder cup, sandy lyle, united kingdom, wales, welsh
Posted in European Golf Tours, Wales Golf Trips | No Comments »
Thursday, December 11th, 2008
11th Hole
Castle Stuart
You have played Kingsbarns Golf Links near St Andrews, or heard about it? We’re pretty sure most avid golfers know about the course either way! Despite opening only in 2000, it rapidly was included in many “Must Play” lists and has been a role model in terms of savvy marketing, but certainly allied to a strong product.
Not content with this success story, one of the co-developers has moved on with new partners to another project near Inverness, the principal city of the Scottish Highlands. The Castle Stuart Golf Links is scheduled to open in July 2009, with a boutique hotel, spa, lodges and second course in the plans for 2010 and beyond.
A preview round by the author suggests a fair but still demanding layout, with a sea-dominant visual feast looking over the Moray Firth towards the Black Isle, west to Inverness and the Kessock Bridge or east to Chanonry Point and Fort George. At current exchange rates green fees are expected around $250 – will be interesting to see if golfers consider this a fair cost or if it influences rates at surrounding courses such as Royal Dornoch and Nairn.
Tags: castle, castle stuart, courses, exotic, Golf, golf tour, Golfing, guided tour, highlands, kingsbarns, luxury, new course, Scotland, scottish, stuart, Trips, UK, Vacation
Posted in Scotland Golf Trips | No Comments »
