The Seafood Restaurant

I am often asked by clients where to find the best food in St Andrews, and the truth is that there are many excellent restaurants covering a multitude of various styles of cuisine. But, there is one that stands out in particular - The Seafood Restaurant.

Before I can even begin to describe the wonderful gastronomic experience available here I should really mention it's location and setting, which is truely breathtaking. A short walk behind the R&A Clubhouse and nestled on steep cliffs overlooking St Andrews Bay, the building itself is an architectural delight. An uninterupted glass wall wraps around the building to provide panoramic views of the crashing waves and dune-lined beach. I can't ever remember dining in such a glorious settting.

The wine list is comprehensive, with bottles ranging from £16 up to three figures. At £35, a nice of bottle of Michel Laroche 1er Cru Chablis is a sublime and affordable accompaniment to any fish on the menu.

My favourite selection from the menu is a little gem of a starter - 'Smoked Haddock Rarebit'. A beautifully cooked mini-fillet of haddock is placed upon a bed of smoked pancetta and creamed leeks, with a subtle layer of grilled cheese on top. It's to die for.

You will often find the meatier fishes such as monkfish and seabass on the entree menu, but there is always a couple of mouthwatering alternatives for those that don't like to pursue fish right throughout the evening. Gressingham duck and pork belly are two successful dishes worthy of note.

The restaurant provides the perfect ambience to enjoy a few glasses of port after dinner. Watching the sun go down behind the Old Course is the perfect end to a perfect meal. It is often wise to make a reservation here a couple of weeks in advance though, because it is exceptionally popular and covers are limited throughout the evening. You won't be disappointed.

The Road Hole

The 17th at St Andrews is universally known as the most famous and toughest hole in world golf. I can't think of another hole where the majority of a field of professional golfers will knowingly attempt to miss the green short and right with their approach shot.

The reason is that you can still putt from this position, and it is often the safest way of achieving par. But the problems actually begin a few minutes hence. From the back markers the hole measures 455 yards, so it is a reasonably lengthy par 4. The main trouble from the tee is that instead of looking down the fairway, you are treated to a view of the old green-stained railway shed - now converted into offices for the Old Course Hotel. There is only one route to the fairway, and that is up and over. But the trick here is hitting your drive down the correct line. If you wish to play safe, there is always the option of bailing out left to the patch of rough adjacent to the 2nd hole, but a par from here becomes extremely demanding if not impossible. There is actually more room than you think down the right here, and although it takes a few deep breaths before missing the hotel by a whisker, a 230 yard carry should see even the most attacking tee-shot finish in a safe position.

Leaving yourself on the right half of the fairway, or even in the semi-rough, means you can see most of the green for your approach. This is a huge advantage, because from the centre of the fairway you don't have an awful lot to fire at. A little too much draw and you will find yourself in The Road Hole Bunker and praying for an unrestricted stance. Get greedy by taking too much club, and you will very likely finish on the road itself. Unlike many other courses, The Old Course requires you to play off all paths and roads, so this leaves a particularly difficult chip shot off tarmac or gravel. The ideal shot, as I mentioned earlier, is to try and finish on the front right edge of the green.

I'm afraid a par is still not guaranteed however. With an Open Championship 'Sunday pin position' this putt swings anything up to ten feet from right to left and just giving yourself an uphill putt for four is a success story.

Once played it is never forgotten. It is possibly the most famous scorecard wrecker in professional golf. Nothing is set in stone with two holes to play on The Old Course. Just ask David Duval. Chasing Tiger Woods in 2000, he attempted an audacious escape from the face of the bunker. And another. And another. And then finally managed to get it out. Tommy Nakajima actually putted into the sand here in the 1978 Open and suffered a similar fate. I will admit that the bunker itself it slightly less penal since the changes were made before the '05 installment. The face was lowered 9 inches, but it was also widened and given a larger collection area. So although the bunker shots aren't as tricky as they once were, there are now plenty more Titleists finishing up in its grasp.

It's one of the most fearsome sights in golf, but you must embrace it and enjoy the experience. 9 times out of 10, it will eat you up and spit you out. But on the rare occasion when things do go to plan, the first pint of beer in the Jigger tastes oh so good.

Myers Castle

A mere thirty minutes drive from The Auld Grey Toon of St Andrews, you will find one of the most luxurious exclusive-use properties in Scotland. For corporate golf travel, or a larger group of golfers, Myers Castle is the ultimate home away from home.

Equipped with nine bedrooms, drawing room, dining room, billiard room, study and library, it is the perfect base for a trip to The Home of Golf. Your very own chef will prepare bespoke meals, and it's 5-Star status means no stone will be left unturned in the quest to meet your every request.

With one of the most significant Major Championships in history just around the corner - the 150th staging of the Open Championship at St Andrews - Connoisseur Golf are proud to offer Myers Castle as it's stand-out accommodation option for the week. This package can include VIP passes to the tournament itself, guaranteed seats at the 18th grandstand, group tee-times at The Old Course and many of the other championship courses in the area including Carnoustie and Kingsbarns, a chauffeured Mercedes executive coach or helicopter transfers, and a team of on-site Connoisseur Golf representatives to assist with all aspects of your trip. If you require further information or an individually tailored proposal please contact Jim Stewart at jim@connoisseurgolf.com.

Heli-Golf

Helicopters and golf are a match made in heaven. The very best courses in Scotland and Ireland are not always adjacent, which means that you often have to select a certain geographical area to base your trip around. 'Heli-Golf', as it is now commonly known, removes this logistical barrier and allows the freedom to play anywhere across the two countries.

Basically it allows you to stay at your favourite hotel or residence and play where you want - when you want. Another advantage is the ability to fit an itinerary into a much more compact time-frame. Some executive travellers may not have the ability to secure seven or ten days off work, but a series of helicopter charters allow even the most separated itinerary to be completed within a four or five day period. For the corporate trip, it's the perfect solution. It maintains the level of luxury that you wish to convey to your clients and allows golfing schedules to be completed in a matter of days.

Scotland in particular has a very rugged coastline, and driving in a direct line from A-B is not always possible. Below, I have listed a few examples of how the length of transfers can be reduced:

Turnberry - Machrihanish

Road: 4 Hours 40 mins / Helicopter: 15mins

St Andrews - Royal Dornoch

Road: 4 Hours / Helicopter: 1 Hour

St Andrews - North Berwick

Road: 2 Hours / Helicopter: 15mins

But Heli-Golf doesn't only allow you to save time within the same country, it's greatest plus point is the ability to play golf in both Ireland and Scotland on the same day. Let's say you were based at Turnberry and wanted to take a trip over to play Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland. By road and sea, this journey would normally take in excess of five hours. But a return journey of ten hours and four hours on a golf course isn't really feasible in the one day - so you would also require an overnight stay in Portrush or Belfast. Aside from being extremely tired, you would have used up two valuable days of your trip. With the aid of a helicopter, you can walk out the front door, jump on board, play Royal Portrush and be back at Turnberry in time for lunch. The possibilities towards building an itinerary become endless.

Turnberry - Royal Portrush

Road+Ferry: 5+ Hours / Helicopter: 45mins

Chartering helicopter transfers is also a fantastic way of seeing the beautiful countryside and coastlines that both Ireland and Scotland have to offer. On the way to Dornoch it is possible to take in The Highlands and Cairngorms, and flying to Portrush gives you an incredible overhead view of The Giants Causeway.

The most favoured model for Heli-Golf is the AS355 Twin Squirrel. It can carry up to five passengers and has specially fitted side-pods which allow four golf bags to be kept separate from the main cabin. It's twin engine allows it to operate long distances over water and low over urban areas.

There is no doubting that Heli-Golf is the ultimate form of luxury golf travel, but many people dismiss it as being too expensive before even enquiring as to the costs. The truth is that chartering a helicopter can actually prove cost-effective to your itinerary, especially if you plan on playing golf in both Scotland and Ireland. If you think such a trip may be of interest to you or your company, visit http://www.connoisseurgolf.com/packages.php for examples of our Heli-Golf trips, or feel free to e-mail me for a personalised itinerary and quotation.

Lowry wins at Baltray

On Sunday afternoon at Baltray, romanticism returned to golf. On one of Ireland's finest links golf courses we had Irish weather, a partisan Irish crowd, an Irish storyline, and a very Irish winner.

In a field containing McIlroy, Harrington and McDowell, the best golfer over 72 holes was an unsuspecting and affable young amateur from County Offaly - Shane Lowry. He seemed to forget that he was playing in his first European Tour Event as an invitee. But throughout the week, he showed many of the qualities required to make it as a professional golfer. By shooting 62 in the second round, it's obvious that hes not scared of going low. He embraced the occasion and used the vociferous crowd to his advantage - a sign of maturity beyond his years. But perhaps the most important quality he displayed was his mental toughness and the ability to bounce back from adversity. At the final hole of regulation play, he had a four foot putt to win. It slid past the lip, and the crowd moaned in unison. But to pick himself back up, and win the ensuing playoff was a demonstration of immense character. Sunday afternoon will go down in Irish sporting folklore.

But Shane wasn't the only winner last week. In testing weather conditions, the course and greens stood up magnificently. It is undoubtedly one of Ireland's best links courses, and perhaps one that is occasionally forgotten. And it's strange to think why that might be? It may not have 'Royal' attached to it's name, or it may not lie within the land of milk and honey down in Kerry (an area many golfing tourists don't venture beyond), but it is one fantastic golf course. It is perfectly placed in between Portmarnock and Royal County Down, and can be easily added to most itineraries. At 125 euros, it is still fairly priced considering the extreme inflation of many lesser courses' green fees. In fact, there is no reason not to play it. I have a feeling Shane Lowry's famous win on Sunday could be responsible for opening this course up to the world, and there is no more deserving recipient that Baltray.

The Caledonian Hotel

Back in the late 19th century, trains used to travel through Edinburgh on a slightly different routing, and The Caledonian originally served as the station and hotel for the west end of Princes Street. Over 100 years later, it is still regarded as one of Scotland's finest 5* accommodations.

Many golfers now enjoy adding a little sightseeing to their itineraries. It makes for a more balanced and relaxing schedule to spend at least one day away from the links, and there is no better place to inject some culture than Scotland's capital city - Edinburgh.

Perched on an extinct volcano, Edinburgh Castle is the prominent feature on the city's skyline. It's records date back at least 1400 years, and as a World Heritage site, plays host to over a million visitors each year. But Edinburgh is far from a 'one trick pony', and is also home to The Royal Yacht Britannia, The Royal Mile, Holyrood Palace and The National Gallery of Scotland. When based in Edinburgh, you are also within touching distance of some of East Lothian's finest golf courses including Muirfield, Gullane, North Berwick and The Renaissance Club.

But after deciding to make a stop here, the question is not what hotel to stay in, but rather what room type you will choose at the The Caledonian Hotel. My selection would be the newly renovated Deluxe Plus Rooms on the southern wing of the hotel. The living space consists of a spacious bedroom, walk-in closet, and it has to be said - one of Scotland's most impressive hotel bathrooms. But where the room elevates itself still further is the view. It feels as if one quarter of your bedroom is acting as a picture frame for the captivating view of Edinburgh Castle. The subtle hints of tartan and tradition balance excellently with the modern Scottish decor.

The hotel sits on the corner of Princes Street, the city's main shopping thoroughfare, and is less than five minutes walk from many of it's top attractions. It is also comforting to know that you're only 7 miles from an International Airport, and a mere 75 minutes from St Andrews.

We take pride in offering our clients the best accommodation to be found at each stop of their golf tour, and in Edinburgh the No.1 hotel is undoubtedly The Caledonian.

Play Turnberry after The Open

Turnberry, one of Scotland's most famous golfing resorts, will re-open after a £28 million refurbishment to host The Open Championship in July.

The Ailsa course is sure to throw up some drama before Peter Dawson announces 'The Champion Golfer Of The Year'. Who will forget 'The Duel in The Sun' won by Tom Watson in 1977, or Nick Price's amazing finish in 1994. The course has been bolstered with increased length and bunkering since lasting hosting the Open, and now measures 7,204 yards. The old 410-yard 16th has changed to a 455-yard dogleg right, while the par-five 17th has been stretched from 498 to 559 yards with three new bunkers also added.

Harrington will be aiming for his third Claret Jug in a row, but neither himself nor hot favourite Tiger Woods have played competitive golf here before. I believe the days are long gone, when you can declare before the tournament that the winner will come from maybe a handful of the leading players. Depending on how they set the rough for the four days, I think it could be a course for the shorter hitters. 7200 yards is still nothing for the world's top golfers, especially on links ground in July. Having said that, the 200-yard carry over the sea on #10 could be a little nervy if the players are hitting into a strong headwind.

Tee-times and accommodation can be made available here as part of luxury golf tour packages from the 21st July onwards. These can include guaranteed golf at both St Andrews and The Ailsa Course, in addition to chauffeured Mercedes transfers between your 5* hotels. All our packages are bespoke and can be built exactly to your requirements. For further information, or a personalized quotation, e-mail me at jim@connoisseurgolf.com.

Muirfield 2013

The R&A have this week announced that the Open Championship will return to Muirfield - home to The Royal Company of Edinburgh Golfers - in July 2013.

Like the best courses on the Open Championship rota, it has a history of producing great champions. Player, Nicklaus, Trevino, Watson and Faldo have all triumphed over the stunning East Lothian links. Perhaps like no other course, the list of Muirfield champions reads like a 'who's who' of golf.

One of my favourite Opens to date was held here in 2002. As a member of The University of St Andrews Men's Golf Club, myself and a merry band of fellow students were awarded with the annual privilege of marshaling the 18th hole of the championship. What I remember most about that week was the weather. It ranged from cloudless blue skies to a near apocalypse of eastern Scotland. On the Saturday morning in particular, the wind and rain collectively were almost unplayable. Tiger Woods slumped to his worst ever professional score - an 81. Colin Montgomerie was nicely placed after two rounds at four under par, but the weather took it's toll on big Monty and he walked off the course eight over par after a score of 84. I did feel a certain sympathy towards both however - it was so cold, I was having problems gripping my lunchtime gin & tonic at the Schweppes tent. Watching the leaderboard at that point, it seemed as if 76 was a very respectable score indeed. But the wind and rain subsided and the afternoon leaders were able to once again challenge the course par of 72.

The final day was full of drama. England's Gary Evans was amassing the round of his life. He was eight under par for the day, and standing in the middle of the fairway at the par 5 17th. Inexplicably he managed to smother one left into the rough, and the ball was never to be seen again. Such a moment would break mere mortals, but Evans took it on the chin, dropped back on the fairway and got down in two for a par from 250 yards. The ensuing celebration showed just how much this particular major means to the home players, and the emotional lengths some golfers will reach in searching for the ultimate fairytale.

Appleby, Els, Levet and Elkington finished in a tie on six under par. A four hole playoff was to prove too much for Appleby and Elkington, and it became France vs South Africa in a sudden death playoff up 18. Both struggled, but Els played an exquisite greenside bunker shot to four feet as his playing partner could only muster a five. Els' ball found the bottom of the cup, and in doing so he became the R&A's "Champion Golfer for the Year".

If the next installment in 2013 is anywhere near as tense over the final few holes, we have a terrific championship to look forward to.

Glenmorangie House

The North East tip of Scotland contains some of country's most prized links courses. Tain, Brora, Golspie and the famed Royal Dornoch lie in a beautiful stretch of coastline no more than twenty miles long.

Listen to a few of the traditional folk from Sutherland in the rural taverns and pubs and they will tell you that Scotland doesn't really begin until you get past Perth. I might not agree with that particular school of thought but there is certainly a marked difference. Arriving in this remote, unspoilt landscape allows you to feel the complete isolation and freedom that seems a million miles away when staring out the office window. In addition to the golf, the whisky isn't too bad up here either.

The world renowned Glenmorangie malt is produced a mere ten minute drive away from Royal Dornoch. If you happen to like mixing these two intoxicating pastimes, there is no better 'retreat' to spend a few days than The Glenmorangie Highland Home at Cadboll. I refrain from using the term 'hotel' as it tends to upset the owners, who are very keen to make their house into your home. A sociable, relaxed party atmosphere is their goal - where all the guests can feel comfortable in each other's company and have a dram together at any time of the day.

The accommodation itself is extremely comfortable, and delivers a level of luxury expected by the modern five star business traveller. Soft, homely, Scottish furnishings are tastefully presented throughout. Perhaps the real jewel in this particular northern crown though is the quality of it's award-winning food. The finest Highland beef and game are blended together with fresh fruits and vegetables sourced from the adjacent walled garden to create the most mouthwatering menus imaginable.

The House shares a close affinity with the distillery itself, and it's guests are always made welcome to tour the production and maturation stages with some of the institution's most seasoned experts. The tasting sessions are of course the highlight of any distillery tour, and these are often continued back over at the log-fire surroundings in the wonderful highland house described above. It has got to be the ultimate lodging for any golf and whisky enthusiast.