The season begins

The 2011 season kicked off in style with the arrival of the Norcross Group from central California.

April and May are fast becoming the most popular months to travel as the weather in recent years has been exceptional. The Norcross group played Turnberry and Western Gailes before checking in at The Old Course Hotel for a week of sunshine golf at St Andrews. Steve Norcross (pictured above holing out on 17) managed a career best by shooting 85 on The Old Course, but his improvement over the week makes us think he will be back next year to post in the 70's. His brother Everett can also look back on two very near misses for a hole-in-one and be thankful that his bank balance is still intact, as the caddies at The Home of Golf are known to have an above average appetite for the occasional cold beer.

The town had an even greater buzz about it than normal this past week, with students and locals alike both preparing for the Royal Wedding celebrations on Friday 28th April. Jack and Sheena were on typically great form at The Dunvegan, and Kenny at Drouthy Neebors was again proving that his bar on South Street is becoming the place to be in St Andrews. Antoinette - host at The Jigger - never fails to impress with her customary warm welcome.

All courses are in tremendous shape, and if you would like to discuss requirements for your upcoming trip, e-mail Jim Stewart at jim@connoisseurgolf.com. We are delighted to host groups of any size at both The Old Course Hotel and The Fairmont, and there is still availability left for packages including guaranteed Old Course tee-times.

Golf Shops in St Andrews

Twenty years ago, if you wished to purchase a club shirt or hat to remember your round at a specific course, you would walk past the line of rusting pull-carts, bravely enter the small cupboard of a shop beside the 1st tee and ask the guy smoking a pipe what he had in your size. Nowadays the visiting golfer has a plethora of choices.

St Andrews is now such a mecca for golfers from around the world, that it unsurprisingly has a vast selection of official and independently owned pro-shops and golf merchandise stores. I like to consider it a golfing theme park, but in a classy, refined manner - if that makes sense...

The Links Trust (who manage all seven of the links at St Andrews) have numerous golf shops. Their flagship outlet is now situated directly to the right of the 18th green. It's an enormous store that sells countless varieties of golf shirts, hats, umbrellas, bag tags, outerwear and even tea cups - all crested with that all important Links Trust logo.With top of the line brands ranging from Burberry to Ralph Lauren, this is the place to pick up your high-end designer clobber. It doesn't come cheap though. Expect to pay around £70 ($110 US) for a premium golf shirt or £20 ($30 US) for a cap.

Perhaps the most famous golf shop in town is Auchterlonies, which sits proudly on the corner opposite the Dunvegan pub, around a hundred yards from the final green. They have been making hand-crafted wooden clubs since the firm's inception in 1895. Of course now they also offer the latest in equipment in addition to a wide range of clothing and accessories. What I like most about Auchterlonies is their honest approach and pricing. With their prime location and rich heritage, they could almost be forgiven for charging the earth - but they don't. The clubs are priced at recommended retail price, or even less in some cases, and their high quality golf shirts range from around £25 - £60. They also ensure they are at the fore-front of innovation, having the latest putters and drivers the very week they are released.

There used to be two excellent, independently owned pro-shops further into town, but since Jim Farmer left the trade to assume his position as Honorary Professional at the R&A, I have only tended to use 'The Pro Shop' on Ellice Place. This is a great little shop, owned by local scratch golfer Andrew Donaldson. Here, you can trade in your old equipment, or even pick up a quick sleeve of Pro V1's on your way to the course.

Last year witnessed the first branch of a major chain to arrive in St Andrews when Nevada Bob's opened it's doors on Market Street. Yes, they may sell 2-piece golf balls at a heavily discounted price by the barrel-load, but shopping here is a little like going to the Big Apple and buying a I♥NY tee-shirt that was made in Taiwan.

For the real experience, support the local businesses and you will be sure to leave St Andrews with your own little piece of history.

St Andrew's Day

St Andrew's Day is celebrated on 30th November.

Andrew was said to have been a disciple of Jesus, and brother to Peter. He was a fisherman from the town of Galilee. On one of his missionary duties, he was reportedly crucified by the Romans at Patras in 69 AD. Apparently he did not feel worthy to have been put to death on the same cross as Jesus, and so asked to be bound to a different shape. This x-shaped frame is the one we see on the logo of The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, and also the white cross of The Saltire Flag.

In the fourth century, some of his remains were said to have been removed from a tomb in Constantinople to a Pictish settlement on the east coast of Scotland by Saint Rule. He was told in a dream to take the bones to the end of the earth for safe keeping, and this settlement went on to become known an St Andrews.

The colours of the Scottish Flag, or The Saltire, are known to have stemmed from a ninth century battle in East Lothian. The Scots were entrenched in a showdown with Northumbrians. The night before battle, St Andrews was said to have appeared in a vision to The High King of Alba. During the fighting the following day, a large cross-shaped cloud appeared in the sky, which encouraged the Scots - who eventually triumphed despite the fact they were outnumbered.

Today, St Andrew's Day is an opportunity to celebrate Scotland, it's culture and it's heritage. The 30th November is a day for bagpipes, thistles and haggis. It is also an opportunity to have a look around the clubhouse of The Royal & Ancient Golf Club which stands proud behind the 1st tee of The Old Course. Non-members are allowed in for a short visit of the club rooms and trophy room.

So although St Andrew himself had nothing to do with golf, his bones have named a town that has become almost as spiritual to golfers as the relics themselves were to the medieval religious pilgrims. Slainte Mhath!

The Torrance Course

If courses in Scotland were to be judged by scenery, course layout and quality of greens, then The Torrance Course at The 5* Fairmont Resort would be challenging for one of the top spots.

It may not share the history associated with one of it's close neighbours in the St Andrews area, but this is a serious contender among it's more contemporary peers. This was highlighted by it's selection to be one of the qualifying venues for The 2010 Open Championship at The Old Course. At 7230 yards, it's no pushover, and the scores at the Final Qualifying reflected this. Only a fifth of the players broke par over the 36 hole event, and Competition Standard Scratch was calculated at 75 (3 over par).

The Torrance also holds down a regular place on our screens each August when it hosts The Scottish Seniors Open sponsored by Cleveland Golf / Srixon. This year a four round total of -4 proved good enough for Barry Lane to capture the title.

The greens at The Torrance are magnificent. They run fast and true all 12 months of the year, but particularly in the summer season when they are undoubtedly amongst the best putting surfaces in Scotland. The course was re-routed a couple of years ago, and a multitude of Scottish revetted bunkers were added. It's a challenging but fair course from the tee. The par 5's are a classic blend of risk and reward, and the par 4's are an exciting mix of birdie opportunites and tight demanding holes.

It's definitely a course that should be added to any week long itinerary in Scotland. For corporate events, there is probably no better venue in Scotland. When you add a luxurious purpose built clubhouse to the adjacent 18 holes on The Kittocks Course (which is also a championship standard Fairmont course), you have all the ingredients for the perfect days golf.

Connoisseur Golf offer The Torrance Course and The Fairmont's 5* accommodation at preferred rates, and are also available to host corporate events of any size. For further details, visit our main website at http://www.connoisseurgolf.com/.

Drouthy Neebors, St Andrews

Many of our clients ask me where is the best bar and best place to eat is in St Andrews. The answer could well be under the same roof. Drouthy Neebors in St Andrews is owned by popular local golfer Kenneth Phillip, and is taking over as the place to be for a cold beer after your round on The Old Course.

He has created an atmosphere that attracts all three main components of the town - visiting golfers, locals and students. As with most of the main bars and restaurants in St Andrews it's standing room only during the major tournaments, but throughout the season Drouthy Neebors is one of the few bars that maintains a steady crowd. It's rare that you would walk in and not find yourself having a chat to the neighbouring table about how their golf went on that particular day.

Head chef Martin Reid has grabbed the town's attention with a reasonably priced menu boasting a selection of local dishes and themed specials, all created with locally sourced produce. Very popular among the golfing fraternity is his steakhouse offering. Here you can decide on the cut and weight of your steak, which is then chargrilled to your particular preference. Martin has previously worked as head chef at one of the prestigious golf clubs in St Andrews, and knows exactly what is needed by players, pre and post round.

Located under the ancient landmark of the Westport on South Street, Drouthy Neebors is only a few minutes walk from the course. After you sample one night here, I am sure it will soon become your local for the rest of your trip to The Auld Grey Toon.

White Tees at St Andrews

This was the first season that visiting golfers were permitted by The Links Trust to choose which tees they wished to play from. Any visitor could play from the white tees on The Jubilee, The New, The Eden and The Castle; while any single-figure handicapper could play from the whites on The Old Course.

Rangers had the authority to move golfers to the yellow tees should they lose their position on the course, but overall the new protocol seemed to work fine. One advantage of this new system was that wear was spread more evenly across the tee boxes, but most importantly it allowed golfers to experience more of The Old Course.

Playing it in excess of 7000 yards affords players more of the experience that a pro would encounter - i.e. having to avoid more bunkers from the tee, longer approach shots, and generally playing a tighter course. Some of the pin positions look a lot more tricky when you're standing with a four-iron in your hand!

For 2011 packages including guaranteed Old Course tee-times, contact us at info@connoisseurgolf.com.

5th at Royal Portrush

Aptly named 'White Rocks' after the stunning seaside cliffs, the 5th on the Dunluce Course at Royal Portrush is in my opinion one of the best holes in Ireland.

At 411 yards from the championship tees, the length of the hole is not overwhelming. But it's still one of those holes where you will be very happy to walk away with a par. The new tee box requires a carry on the ideal line of around 260 yards. There is a small strip of fairway running down the outside lane of this right-hand dogleg, but for those who possess the required length, it is definitely a hole you should consider shortening with an attacking drive. Both the contours and the downhill nature of this hole can make for some very long tee-shots.

From a good drive, the approach can be anything from 50 - 150 yards depending on your line off the tee. Most of the time the ball will kick across to the left edge of the fairway leaving you around 120 yards to the middle of the green. However, the green is divided into two distinct levels with a steep ridge dissecting top and bottom. It is imperative that you find the correct plateau, but one place you do not want to finish is short and right. A collection of humps and hills will send your ball into the adjacent area of thick rough, leaving a flop shot where not only are you short-sided but you must also hope for a playable lie. Even worse than short and right is overclubbing and going long. A couple of yards over the back fringe is out of bounds where your ball will most likely make it's way towards the sandy beach 100 yards below. A lot of seasoned links players prefer to 'feel' their yardage through experience, but this is one shot where you definitely need to know the pin position and your exact number.

Upon completing the hole, your are rewarded with one of the most beautiful views in the whole of Ireland - the White Rocks Beach, Dunluce Castle and the rugged North Antrim Coastline.