Golf & Travel ~ Scotland
The British Open returns to St. Andrews, Scotland in 2015,
and with the CSGA planning it’s first ever member trip
overseas next Spring, it’s only fitting that we feature the
“home of golf” in this month’s edition of Golf & Travel.
Where to Play?
Scotland is known as the Home of Golf for a reason. Of course,
Scotland is known best for its famed Royal & Ancient Golf Club
of St. Andrews, with houses the R&A, governing body of golf.
But there are literally hundreds of courses sprawled across
the gorgeous countryside, all of which will literally take your
breath away. Below are few of the highlights from courses
that CSGA members can play on the 2015 Scotland trip.
Turnberry Golf Club/Ailsa Course (Pictured):
Imagine rolling hills, sandy dunes, a stiff breeze blowing
off the Ayrshire coast. Before designer courses, before
manicured greens and major championships, these lands
inspired local Scots to play the game of golf. Beloved since
its first formal course was built in 1901, Turnberry’s fairways
have been shared by the game’s elite and casual enthusiasts
from around the globe. Home to four Open Championships,
Ailsa has shaped some of the most remarkable moments in
the tournament’s history.
Royal Troon Golf Club: Located in South Ayrshire,
the club was founded in 1878 and has hosted the Open
Championship a total of eight times, most recently in 2004.
The course, which took its current form in 1888, is designed
in the traditional out-and-back manner of the Old Course
at St Andrews. A gentle opening few holes and relatively
straightforward closing stretch are the bookends for a series
of holes which weave up, round and through some of the
most striking linksland to be found at any of the host venues.
This character makes the strength and direction of the wind
even more important than is usual on a links course: if the
wind is against the players on the back nine, it’s as tough a
finish as can be found anywhere.
Kingsbarn Golf Links: Located just 7 miles from the
“home of golf”, Kingsbarn is part of the long heritage of links
golf centred around St Andrews. Golf has been played on
the present site since 1793 when the Kingsbarns Golf Society
was established as the 11th earliest golf society in the world.
The Society was later reconstituted as The Kingsbarns Golf
Club which remains active to this day. Kyle Phillips designed
the course in its present championship layout which was
opened in 2000. Kingsbarns is currently a co-host venue of
the annual European tour’s prestigious Alfred Dunhill Links
Championship.
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Connecticut State Golf Association