TEE
TIME IN SCOTLAND
With
over 500 golf courses to choose from Scotland’s golf card comes
in way under par every time. From tackling some of the world’s
most famous golf courses such as the Old Course at St Andrews,
Royal Troon, Muirfield or Turnberry to discovering the many ‘hidden
gems’, Scotland has something to suit all types of golfers.
Golfers
are being treated to a bumper season in Scotland this year. Five
major golf championships and competitions are scheduled, new golfing
holiday packages and facilities are being launched and a host
of golf passes make Scottish golf greater value then ever before.
For
more information on golf if Scotland why not check out the Scottish
Tourist Board website www.visitscotland.com
or call 08705 511511 for a free copy of the new Golf Scotland
Map.
The
Full Monty – The Colin Montgomerie Links Golf Academy
From
beginners to scratch players, all golfers can benefit from lessons
at the world’s first links golf academy. The Colin Montgomerie
Links Golf Academy opened in Spring this year at Turnberry Hotel,
Golf Courses and Spa and offers a range of personalised programmes.
Tuition at Turnberry is given under the guidance of Colin Montgomery
and a team of PGA professionals.
Situated
between the first tees of both the Alisa and Arran Championship
Courses, the academy’s state of the art teaching facilities include:
indoor and outdoor teaching areas with covered driving and teaching
bays, a simulator and swing analyser, an open air driving range
with landscaped target areas and nine academy practice holes.
A
variety of packages are available. For example, “The Full Monty”
is the ultimate academy programme to give all the help and practical
advice needed to tackle links courses. As well as a three hour
lesson with ‘Monty’ the programme includes a golfers’ lunch at
the clubhouse, 9 New Arran holes under instruction from a top
professional and a coffee table book ‘How to Play Links Golf’.
Costs start at £130pp for group bookings and £170pp for individuals.
Tel: 01655 334 190.
Open
Golf Championship 2000 (20th – 23rd July)
There
can be no more fitting location to host the first Open Championship
of the Millennium than The Old Course St Andrews – recognised
the world over as the ‘Home of Golf’, St Andrews Links has witnessed
over 600 years of golfing history.
Blue
Chip Travel (T: 0131 226 6157) offer two, three and four day ‘make
your own way’ packages including accommodation in a 3 star hotel
and admission to the Open Championship. Cost for the two-day
package is £129.95 per person.
The
luxury cruise liner the QE2 will be moored off the Fife Coast
at Anstruther for the duration of the Open Championship. Scotia
Travel (Tel: 0141 305 5050 or USA Tel: 001 883 336 4281) have
a variety of accommodation packages based around the luxury ‘floating’
hotel. Prices start at £200pp for one night including entry to
the Open for one day.
Ladies
at Loch Lomond – The Solheim Cup (6th – 8th
October)
Loch
Lomond Golf Club will be the scenic setting for this years Solheim
Cup – the women’s equivalent to the Ryder Cup and recognised as
one of golf’s most prestigious events. The match features Europe’s
top 12 lady professionals against their American counterparts.
More than 60,000 spectators are expected to attend the event.
Daily
passes range from £5 - £10 on practice days , £22 - £24 on tournament
days. For ticket information call 0870 240 1818, (Monday – Friday
0900 – 1700) or check out www.solheimcup2000.com
Freedom
of the fairways – Golf Passes
One
of the best value ways to play golf in Scotland is to buy a golf
pass for the area you are planning to visit. These generally
cover 3 or 5 days golf and other terrific venues and value. Take
for instance the Perthshire Green Golf Card - £50 for 5 rounds
of golf on distinctive courses in glorious Highland scenery from
Crieff to Comrie, Kenmore to Fillin. For more details on golf
passes call 08705 511 511 for your copy of the new golf map.
