Crail

The Crail Golfing Society was founded in 1786, making it one of the oldest in the world. A Grand Bizarre was held with their big marquees, stalls and fiddle bands to raise the pricely sum of £465 required to reconstruct one of the links that we play on today. We also have the choice of a newer course opened in 1998 called the Craighead and with us being Golf Duel, we may just play them both!

Kingsbarns

The new Kingsbarns course reconstructed on the site of an old links has received praise both locally and internationally. The message from the course designers around the time of the millennium was “May the heart, soul and intellect of Kingsbarns be absorbing and provide pleasure to all golfers.” There can be no doubt that these visionary men have achieved their goal, Kingsbarns is an absolute delight from the first to the 18th tee.

St Andrews Old Course

I remember the first time I played the Old Course, a sunny August afternoon, not one who is normally affected by nerves I suddenly found myself overcome by a wave of emotion, this is St Andrews, this is the Old Course, there were several hundred people milling around watching the golfers tee off, could there be a more theatric setting to hit a golf ball? 

The Open Championship itself has always had a special relationship with the Old Course, Arnold Palmer storming back from a seven shot deficit, Seve’s birdie on the 18th, Jack Nicklaus in imperious form, Tiger’s amazing millennium victory and that heart-breaking missed putt from Doug Sanders on 18, what drama!

I’m sure you’ve dreamed it, so ask us to help you relive all of those subconscious triumphs and have your photo taken on the Swilken Burn, holding the claret jug above your head with the Royal and Ancient clubhouse in the background. What a perfect day.

The Kings, Gleneagles

I must confess that I absolutely love Gleneagles, the art deco splendour of the hotel, the scenery, the atmosphere but most of all the Kings Course, it really is my special place to visit if I need to get away. The King’s course on the majestic Gleneagles Estate is widely regarded as the masterpiece of prolific course designer James Braid.

It opened for play in 1919 and has been frequently used for significant competitions. In 1921 a group of American professionals, including Walter Hagen, took on a team from Britain around the layout.

The result was a resounding win for the home side but, more importantly, the event was a forerunner for the Ryder Cup six years later.

You remember that scene from the movie Caddyshack when the Bishop is having the round of his life when the storm blows in? Well that’s the Kings for me, I start the back nine par, par, birdie, birdie, eagle, birdie, I’ll tell you the rest when you come to Scotland!

The PGA Centenary, Gleneagles

Host course for the 2012 Ryder Cup, not a bad place to have a final round of golf before departing for home!