April 7, 2008
The first major of the year starts on Thursday at Augusta. What an amazing looking golf course, hopefully I’ll make it there for the Masters sometime, or maybe even get to play the course, which looks difficult as it’s members only. If someone told me I could play a round of golf on any course I wanted I’d have to pick Augusta. Maybe, coming from Scotland, I just take for granted all the great courses we have here. I think the closer you live to somewhere famous the less likely you are to visit it, for some reason. I’m sure there’s many people in Scotland who’ve never even been to St Andrews, in the same way there’s probably many New Yorkers who’ve never visited the Statue of Liberty or been to the top of the Empire State building. When I worked in Edinburgh I used to see the castle every day but I’ve never been on the tour inside, i’ve only ever seen it from the outside.
I wonder what someone from the US would say when asked which course they’d want to play? Would it be Augusta, the Old Course at St Andrews or maybe somewhere else? I guess the one thing that makes Augusta different, and more desirable to play, is how inaccessible it seems to be. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who’s played Augusta, I think you need to be a member or a guest of a member.
The question everyone seems to be asking this year is, can anyone beat Tiger Woods? Well he’s definitely not unbeatable, as Geoff Ogilvy proved a few weeks ago at the World Golf Championships. With Ogilvy also finishing 2nd last week at the Houston open it’s looks like he’ll be Tiger’s main threat. But when you look at the statistics, in 2007 and 2008 Tiger’s played in 23 tournaments and won 12 of them. In 2008 alone he’s played 5 and won 4 so it’s hard to see him not winning. My one hope is that it’s close, I hate it when a big tournament like this is all but over with most of the last round still to play. Of the other players, I think Lee Westwood, KJ Choi and of course Ogilvy are all in with a chance. Can’t wait to see what happens.
April 5, 2008
The tradititional season opening event is taking place this weekend when the Old Course, at St Andrews, will be played in reverse. The course was originally played this way but was changed to the present format in 1870 when the 1st green was built. Players start at the 1st tee and play to the 17th green, then from the 18th tee to the 16th green, and so on until they finish by playing from the 2nd tee to the 18th green. The course is played this way on Friday, April 4rth, Saturday April 5th and Monday April 7th. Would be fun to play, there would definitely be a few interesting shots. 
For full details click here.
April 4, 2008
The St Andrews Citizen newspaper are reporting that the unpopular St Andrews parking voucher system is to be phased out by the 1st of November 2008. It will be replaced by a pay and display system and 28 solar powered ticket machines will be put in the centre of the town.
The parking vouchers were too much hassle. You had to park your car, find a shop that sold parking vouchers, wait in the queue in the shop, buy the voucher, walk back to your car then put it on top of the dashboard. Pay and display should be much better.
For the St Andrews Citizen report click here.
April 3, 2008
In an interview with Vanity Fair magazine, Donald Trump commented regarding his planned Aberdeenshire golf resort “If Jack Nicklaus tried to do this he’d have zero chance, but they like what I’ve done, and because I am who I am and my mother is Scottish, between you and me … I’m going to get it.” I can’t help but think that he’s made an error by making a statement like this. The implication that he can do what he wants because of who he is will no doubt irritate opponents to his plans and also members of the Scottish Parliment. I remember seeing George Sorial, Trump’s head of international development, on the news at a Scottish Parliment inquiry being aggresive when speaking to MSP’s. I can’t see how this strategy will work, they seem to be trying to bully their way through the planning application.
http://www.trumpgolfscotland.com/Default.asp
April 2, 2008
Just noticed today that the St. Andrews Links Trust have a live web cam on their site. There are a few different web cam positions to view, most of them looking onto the Old Course.
Here’s the link if you want to take a look.
http://www.standrews.org.uk/welcome/webcam/webcam.html
April 1, 2008
I found this interesting blog today about a guy who’s trying to play the top 100 golf courses in the world, according to Golf Magazine’s 2003 rankings. He’s currently played 73, of the 100, and has 10 more scheduled for 2008. He’s already played the 3 courses on the list that are in St. Andrews and the surrounding area, the Old Course, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns, the links will take you to his reviews of these courses.
There are 9 Scottish courses on the list so if you’re planning a golf trip take a look at the reviews on the blog. He’s also written about some Scottish courses not on the top 100 list, which he’s played.
http://top100golf.blogspot.com/
March 31, 2008
The Lundin Links Hotel has recently been put on sale for offers over £975,000. The owner is selling the hotel as a going concern and it is being promoted by Colliers Robert Barry, an Edinburgh based selling agent.
The hotel is around 12 miles from St. Andrews in the village of Lundin Links. It has 21 bedrooms, lounge bar, restaurant and function rooms, while it has recently been granted planning permission to build a 3 bedroom townhouse. The residential development plot is on the market for offers over £100,000.
Apparently there has been an Inn of some sort at the site of the Lundin Links Hotel since the early 17th Century. It was originally called the Lundin Mill and seems to have changed it’s name to The Lundin Links Hotel sometime between 1880 and 1890. Famous visitors to the hotel include the Sultan of Brunei, who had lunch at the hotel in 1952.
http://www.lundin-links-hotel.co.uk/
http://www.colliersrobertbarry.co.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx
March 30, 2008
May 1 – 3 Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open, The Carrick, Loch Lomond, Dunbartonshire
May 30 – June 1 Curtis Cup, St Andrews, Fife
June 11 – 15 Ladies British Open Championship, North Berwick, East Lothian
WOW !!!!!! what a summer of golf to come.
* CURTIS CUP
THE 2008 USA TEAM
Amanda Blumenherst, 21 11/4/86 Scottsdale, Ariz.
Meghan Bolger, 29 5/30/78 Haddonfield, N.J.
Mina Harigae, 18 11/1/89 Monterey, Calif.
Tiffany Joh, 21 12/8/86 San Diego, Calif.
Kimberly Kim, 16 8/21/91 Hilo, Hawaii
Jennie Lee, 21 11/6/86 Henderson, Nev.
Stacy Lewis, 22 2/16/85 The Woodlands, Texas
Alison Walshe, 22 5/14/85 Westford, Mass.
THE 2008 GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND TEAM
The Great Britain and Ireland squad for the Curtis Cup, from which the team was chosen, have already visited St Andrews and played a game on the New Course (St Andrews already has six courses and will have seven by the end of June when the new Castle Course opens) against a team from Stirling University.
Liz Bennett, 25, Brokenhurst Manor
Carly Booth, 15, Comrie
Krystle Caithness, 18, St Regulus
Jodi Ewart, 24, Catterick
Breanne Loucks, 20, Wrexham
Florentyna Parker, 18, Royal Birkdale
Michele Thomson, 19, McDonald Ellon
Sally Watson 16, Elie and Earlsferry Ladies
Some of these ladies will be very close to home when they play for their country at St Andrews.
*What do you need to know ?……….where to go for beauty treatments, the best tea/coffee shops, the best pubs !!!!
More to come……
March 30, 2008
Carnoustie Golf Links, which hosted the 2007 Open Championship, are doing a great deal this summer. From 1st April until 31st October, a combination ticket giving you 1 round on each of the 3 courses (Championship, Burnside and Buddon Links) will cost £145. The only condition is that you play the 3 rounds over a 3 day period. Seems to be a good deal considering 1 round on the championship course normally costs £125. They also have some other good combination ticket deals. For more info click here.
http://www.carnoustiegolflinks.co.uk/
March 29, 2008
Apart from golf there are lots of other interesting things to do in and around St. Andrews. If you’re having a day off from golf or have a free afternoon, then you may find a trip to the Secret Bunker interesting. It’s an old cold war nuclear bunker, that was hidden beneath a farmhouse for 40 years, with 24,000 square feet of accomodation, on 2 levels, 100 feet underground. They also have a collection of military vehicles including tanks and missile launchers.
The Secret Bunker is about 7 miles from St. Andrews. Admission prices are:
ADULT : £ 8.60
CHILD : £ 5.60
FAMILY TICKET : £ 23.60 2 Adults & 2 Children
GROUP : £ 7.60 (Min 10 people)
O.A.P GROUP : £ 6.60 (Min 10 people)
CONCESSION : £ 7.10
For opening times and contact details click here.
http://www.secretbunker.co.uk/
