6 Nights Scottish Golf and Cuisine
Day 1 – Day 4
Upon arrival at Edinburgh Airport your chauffeur will transport you to the East of Scotland to the beautiful university town of St Andrews; there you will stay at St Andrews Old Course Hotel, with its perfect location – and stunning views over The Old Course. This will be your base for three nights.
The Old Course Hotel is a deluxe five red-star resort hotel of exceptional quality offering its own golf course, luxury spa and four restaurants. Spectacular views of the Old Course links, Fife coastline and St Andrews—Scotland’s oldest university town. The highly professional and friendly staff create a welcoming ambience.
Day 4
Check out and depart St Andrews for a wonderful drive across to the West coast of Scotland, picking up some wonderful views and magnificent historic facts from your accompanying guide and chauffeur. Today is a day of relaxing, enjoying the scenery and the ambiance...... before you check into your next experience at Turnberry.
Dinner tonight is The Chef's Table - pure indulgence at the heart of the kitchen. Accommodating up to 10 guests, The Chef's Table is located right next to the open kitchen. Enjoy unrivalled views and observe great culinary magic while Head Chef Ralph Porciani personally guides you through his cooking methods, the provenance of the ingredients and how they come together creating the perfect dish. Enjoy a glass of Krug whilst you listen.
Day 5
To work up an appetite for tonight, a round of Golf. Home to the iconic Ailsa and an Open Championship course four times over, Turnberry offers one of the world's great golfing experiences. Watson, Norman and Price have all won the famous Claret Jug here. And, in 2009, Stewart Cink added his name to that exclusive list following his play-off triumph over Tom Watson at the 138th Open - or British Open as our American friends might prefer.
Long regarded as one of the finest golf courses in the world, the Ailsa came to international prominence with the famous duel between Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson over the four days of the 1977 Open. It was then, in brilliant sunny weather, that a capacity crowd was treated to an exhilarating display of golf from two of the best golfers the world has ever known.
The first three holes of the Ailsa golf course pose a fairly tough opening, particularly when the wind blows from the direction of Ailsa Craig, the dramatic rock 11 miles out to sea.
From the admirable short fourth to the short 11th the Ailsa Course follows the shoreline, the fifth to the eight framed by dunes and the ninth, tenth and eleventh flanked by craggy rocks. It is a thrilling passage full of stout hitting.
Perhaps the ninth is Turnberry's trademark, the remote tee set on a rocky promontory on the edge of the sea, the drive across the corner of the bay and a glimpse of the site of Bruce's Castle (Robert the Bruce, Scottish King, 1306-1329). The narrow path to the tee and the tee shot itself are not recommended to those of a nervous disposition.
The scenic glories of the Ailsa Course are to be savoured - the granite dome of Ailsa Craig, the low form of the tip of Argyll and the peaks of Arran highlighting the changing patterns of light and shade. Closer at hand, the lighthouse, and the ninth's lovely back tee are other symbols of Turnberry, the hole's title adding an historic echo.
Lunch everyday will be served in the Tappie Toorie, the golf club house, with captivating views across both courses.
The afternoon can be spent in many ways, you have a choice from:
A golf clinic at the famous Colin Montgomerie Links Golf Academy, the facilities are
• large indoor teaching area
• 16 covered driving and teaching bays
• state-of-the-art audio-visual theatre, featuring a fully integrated digital video, simulator and swing analyser
• open air driving range with landscaped target area
or
A relaxing afternoon in the magnificent Spa at Turnberry, a restful haven with beautiful views over the Irish Sea, providing the ideal place to relax and revitalise. Heat experiences and relaxation rooms provide the ultimate prelude to advanced, bespoke ESPA treatments. In the heart of the Spa lies a 20 metre swimming pool with whirlpool and outdoor terrace, and state of the art Technogym Fitness Studio.
or
Perhaps an interesting tour of the area - a land where heritage and legend blur. This is Scotland's South West, a land bound by sea, marked by history. The land of poets and heroes, like Rabbie Burns and Robert the Bruce. Mile upon mile of coastline and gently rolling hills. Here you can savour the art of whisky making on Arran, experience the thrill of playing a fish in a fast-flowing Kintyre river or wonder at the mystery that is the rocky island of Ailsa Craig.
Close at hand lies the magnificent Culzean Castle, where a whole day's exploration and discovery await, everything from Kennedy to Eisenhower!