Let your golfing guide take you on a journey from east to west, travelling in the footsteps of golfing greats. Play the Championship British Open Collection in Scotland Muirfield, the Old Course, St Andrews, Carnoustie, Royal Troon and Turnberry and to complete, the PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles, hosting the Ryder Cup in 2014 Greywalls Arrival into Edinburgh International Airport and welcomed by your golfing guide, who will then accompany you on your journey. Transfers made via luxury mini coach spacious and comfortable seating with TV and DVD on board perhaps watch one of the legendary playoffs en-route. A bespoke goody-bag for each - including score-cards, tees, maps and course history. Transfer via Edinburgh, Scotland s capital city for a panoramic city tour. Although golf is the key, a panoramic city tour with highlights including the cobbled streets of the Old Town should not be missed. Continue along the East Lothian coastal path to Greywalls Hotel, uniquely situated on the edge of Muirfield Championship golf course with stunning views over the world famous greens and the Firth of Forth. It offers the very best of Edwardian country house accommodation and your home for the evening. And for dinner, the wonderful Chez Roux restaurant the menu is unashamedly French with a Scottish twist, using only the finest local produce.
Golfing No: 1 Muirfield, (2002 Open and 2013), 7034 yards, Par 71 And so we tee off in the east - the The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, home to Muirfield, is one of the oldest golf clubs in the world, and the source of the earliest written rules of golf, which date back to 1744. Muirfield The course is renowned amongst golfers as being perhaps the fairest test of all the Open venues, with few of the quirky bounces and hidden danger that links courses often contain. Whether the honesty of the layout has had anything to do with it or not, the fact remains that Muirfield has an astonishing record of identifying the greatest golfers of the age, with a roll of honour which reads like a Who s Who of golf over the last century, with winners including Els, Faldo, Watson, Nicklaus, Player, Hagen and Vardon. Its golfing moment is considered to be Nick Faldo scoring 18 consecutive pars in terrible conditions to win The Open in 1987. Dinner and overnight Greywalls.
Golfing No: 2 The Old Course, St Andrews (2010 Open), 7305 yards, Par 72 Depart Edinburgh and head through the Kingdom of Fife to St Andrews, undisputedly internationally renowned as the home of golf. To play the hallowed grounds of the Old Course, known as the Old Lady is often the pinnacle in any golflers history. As you enter the town, you will travel alongside the infamous Old Course and the Swilken Bridge. It would be wrong to rush the St Andrews experience perhaps take time to play the New Course often regarded as the oldest new course in the world a classic links with undulating fairways and delightfully challenging greens set out in 1895 by Old Tom Morris alternatively try your hand with a putt or two on the Himalayas. The Himalayas, Putting Green Alternatively, join an expert on a walking tour of the world s most famous course. Glean invaluable advice on the tees and fairways and hear wonderful anecdotes regarding legendary golfers such as Tom Morris and Tiger Woods. Today, the Old Course remains essentially unchanged from the days of Old Tom Morris in the mid-to-late 19 th century. The double fairways, double greens and natural bunkering combine to produce a set of strategic demands on the golfer which are unmatched and completely unique. I fell in love with it the first day I played it. There s just no other golf course that is even remotely close Jack Nicklaus Without a doubt, I like it best the best of all the Open venues. It s my favourite course in the world Tiger Woods
The Claret Jug, Swilken Bridge, The course has played host to 27 Opens and has a habit of throwing up winners who are the best of their generation. Tiger Woods, produced performances in 2000 and 2005 that left him comfortably clear of the field, with victories by eight and five shots respectively. During the 2000 Open, Woods 19 under-par total surpassed the mark set by Nick Faldo ten years previously, when at the height of his powers the Englishman shot 18 under par to win by five. Jack Nicklaus
Jigger Inn Ask any golfer, the greatest moment has to be, Jack Nicklaus waving farewell to golf from the Swilken Bridge in 2005, bringing down the curtain on the greatest career in golf history at the venue where he won two of his three Opens. Overnight in the 5* Old Course Hotel and for dinner -perhaps stroll to the Jigger Inn. Dating back to the 1850 s this is charming and traditional building - full of golfing memorabilia, it has a great atmosphere and it is popular with both visitors and locals. Golfing No: 3 Carnoustie, (2007 Open) 7421 yards, par 71 Golf has been played at Carnoustie since the early 16 th century, and in that time the links have earned themselves a well-deserved reputation as one of the toughest golf destinations in the world. Carnoustie has provided The Open Championship with many of its most notable winners. At its first Open, in 1931, the winner was Tommy Armour, a First World War veteran who was blind in one eye; in 1937, Henry Cotton won the second of his three Opens in horrendous weather conditions. As for its greatest moment a tough one - perhaps Ben Hogan winning The Open in 1953 at his first and only attempt, after arriving two weeks early to practise. It was Hogan s third consecutive Major victory and more recently, who could forget Paul Lawrie s incredible 67 and subsequent play-off brilliance in stormy conditions on the final day in 1999. Return to St Andrews for dinner and overnight in the Old Course.
Golfing No: 4 PGA Centenary Course, Gleneagles And so we head travel from St Andrews to Gleneagles and as the saying goes There are many beautiful places in the world. There are many great hotels. There are many famous golf courses and resorts. There is only one Gleneagles. Home to no less than three Championship Courses the Kings, the Queens and the PGA Centenary Course, which will be hosting the 4 th Ryder Cup on 2014. And for your opening shot, a quick refresher with a professional in the Golfing Academy. Perhaps over the past three days, you feel the need to improve your swing, putt or drive. Take a leisurely swing onto the PGA Centenary Course Course, created by Jack Nicklaus. Not only, the longest inland course - it is described as a modern classic course, combining the best of both the Queens and the Kings. Time at leisure before dinner for perhaps a spa treatment a therapeutic massage to take away the day s exertions. Dine in the newly refurbished Dormy clubhouse with overnight at Gleneagles.
Golfing No: 5 - Royal Troon, (2014 Open), 7151 yards, Par 71 Turnberry Resort And so we drive west to the Ayshire coast and to Royal Troon, having played host to The Open eight times since it started in 1923. A gentle opening few holes and relatively straightforward closing stretch are the bookends for a series of holes which weave up, round and through some of the most striking links-land to be found at any of the host venues. This character makes the strength and direction of the wind even more important than is usual on a links course: if the wind is against the players on the back nine, it s as tough a finish as can be found anywhere. And as for its moment in golfing history, Gene Sarazan, holing-in-one at the famous 8 th hole, the Postage Stamp, in 1973 at the age of 71. It made up for Sarazen s disappointment at the same venue some 50 years earlier, when he came over from the USA but failed to qualify after enduring high winds in qualifying. Dinner and overnight at the renowned 5-star Turnberry Resort
Golfing No: 6 - Ailsa, Turnberry, (2009 Open), 7250 yards, par 70 And for our final shot the Ailsa. On a clear day, see both the Ailsa Craig and the Isle of Arran some would say, one of the most scenic courses in the world. The Ailsa Craig Given the merits of the Ailsa course, it was no surprise when it was announced as the venue for the 1977 Open Championship, an event which was to become famous as one of the greatest showcases of golf in the game s history: the famous Duel in the Sun. In brilliant sunshine, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson went head-to-head and blow-for blow over the final two days, with Watson eventually finishing a shot clear of his rival and 11 shots ahead of the rest of the field. And when The Open returned in 2009, Watson once again captured the world s imagination as he stood at on the 72nd tee needing only a par to become the oldest-ever Open Champion. It was not to be, however. Watson bogeyed to finish tied with Stewart Cink and in the ensuing playoff, the younger American produced a fantastic display of golf under pressure to become the 2009 Champion Golfer of the Year. And for your final evening in Scotland a champion s dinner in the hotel s signature restaurant, 1906, offering spectacular views across the sea. The menu is classical using fine, fresh local ingredients. Depart with driver the following day to airport