Ogston's on North St

At Connoisseur Golf we don't normally dip below 5* accommodation. Our clients demand the finest hotels combined with excellent service. Occasionally though, these pre-requisites can be achieved elsewhere and I am delighted to add Ogston's on North Street to our preferred list of hotels in St Andrews.

The rooms give a fresh, clean take on modern Scottish design and the character of the building has not been sacrificed during the recent make-over. The public areas, bars and restaurant have been sympathetically refurbished to a high specification but the general atmosphere remains homely with all the comforts you would expect from a high-end hotel.

Owner and local entrpreneur, Fraser Ogston, must be delighted to have added North St as his flagship venue. Where it impresses as a hotel, it excels when it comes to location. Situated a mere 300 yards from the 18th green of the Old Course, it doesn't get much more central when it comes to finding a great base in St Andrews.

Manager, Ali Knight, is one of the bright young lights of the hospitality sector in Scotland. Having played cricket and rugby at international level and also being a keen golfer, he knows exactly how to cater for the golfing fraternity. Ali is always on hand to ensure you get the most from your stay at Ogston's, and is especially happy to go that extra mile for Connoisseur Golf clients.

If you require any further information on Ogston's on North Street, don't hesitate to e-mail or give me a call.

1916 Rebellion Tour

I am delighted to introduce a guest blog from one of our clients currently on tour - Nancy Carpenter:

One of the best tours Connoisseur Golf suggested for a day off from golf was The 1916 Rebellion Walking Tour in Dublin. We met Lorcan Collins, our guide, at The International Bar on Wicklow Street where he greeted us at the door, handed out a brochure about the tour and then invited us downstairs for a pre-tour briefing. The dark, mysterious basement pub set the scene for the tour. Lorcan related tales that made you feel the urgency of the secret meetings and coded messages between various rebel groups who came together to fight for Irish Independence. For two hours we walked through the streets of Dublin as Lorcan, an exceptional storyteller, pointed out historical landmarks while introducing us to the men and women who led the struggle for independence -- and adding his own brand of humor to their stories. When he ended the tour at the Post Office where much of the action had taken place, the columns with bullet holes almost a century old spoke solemnly of the failed rebellion and the execution of the leaders which ultimately lead to Irish independence. The website for this "Simply Must Do" walking tour is www.1916rising.com. July 14, 2010 --- Nancy Carpenter

Seafood in Kilkee

The next time you're at Doonbeg, don't be afraid to venture outside the resort. Only 10 minutes away, the seaside town of Kilkee offers an outstanding selection of gastropubs and restaurants. Naughton's, in particular, is a little gem of a pub. I say pub, but the food is outstanding. If the seafood was any fresher you would be eating it underwater. Alhough it's usually packed, there's a very laid back, relaxing feel about the place. Because they do such a great trade during the summer months, no bookings are taken. So simply arrive at your leisure and browse the menu with a nice pint of Guinness (one of the best I've had in the south west of Ireland incidentally). The jumbo tiger prawns certainly live up to their name. Each one of the beasts needed cutting into three...

Kilkee, you may remember, was the starting point for Tom Coyne's mammoth walk around Ireland in which he played every decent course the Emerland Isle has to offer... on foot. "A Course Called Ireland" is well worth a read, and although I may not agree with his ranking of Irish bars (my specialist subject), the book provides a very humourous commentary of his golfing heroics.

Just around the corner from Naughton's is The Strand - a fantastic hotel/bar/restaurant. Importantly, this place ticks my no.1 box - being allowed to eat from the restaurant menu while sitting at the bar and not feel out of place. There was even a widescreen plasma showing live PGA tour golf, so everything was all set for my perfect evening of post-round entertainment. The food didn't disappoint either. A strong fish menu was dotted with a couple of alternate choices, but why would anyone not order seafood when you can see the boats coming in 100 yards away from the window? The Strand is first-class and I will be certain to return next time I arrive in Doonbeg.