chrisd
Major Champion
My wife booked me a 2 night/ 3day trip as a 60th birthday present.
The hotel is truly a 5 star, attentive staff, great food and we had an upgrade to a lovely room with an enormous bathroom and lovely views. Prices there match the quality and everything is top dollar, but, it's a on off and I didn't ak too much about costs. We flew Gatwick to Edinburgh and hired a car and it was all so simple.
The hotel cocked up the booking for golf that was made. I was supposed to have an hour lesson on the second day followed by an 18 hole playing lesson on the PGA course that next years Ryder Cup is played on. The day before I travelled they said that the course was closed and the game had been moved to the Kings Course. After some "discussion" they gave me a freebie game on the PGA on arrival day nd no charge for the 1hour lesson - a right result!
The PGA course was still undergoing work for both the Ryder Cup and Augusts Jonnie Walker so was a little untidy, the greens were pretty quick and some hole changes meant that my Garmin showed some odd results. I paired up with a couple of guys who were about my handicap and great company. After going to Wembley the day before Scotland and setting off at 4am to travel I was pretty nagered just after the turn but finished with 28 points so I guess I played ok. It will be a good venue for the Ryder cup IMO for viewing spectators, and the greens have underground mechanics to alter humidity etc etc.
The next day, after an hour lesson, the pro and I went on to the Kings Course for a playing lesson. The Craw had told me how beautiful it is and how right he was. It was in magnificent condition, wonderful views and a joy to play. We played off the back blue tombstones and decided to play Matchplay with him giving help and advice along the way. He was a 23 year old 6ft 4in boomer of a ball and started with a birdie but developed a bad push for few holes which helped me, with 12 shots to build a good lead of 5 up at the turn. One hamburger at the halfway house invigorated him though and he pulled it back to all square after 15. I won the next two though for a 2 and 1 win and "the bragging rights"!
The Kings is fantastic and is a must play if you can!
I saw an eagle in the wild whilst on the PGA which I would have only dreamt of, and just before I came home I wandered down to the 1st tee on the PGA and there was Paul McGinley doing some filming and he was kind enough to have a photo with me on the tee!
All in all a fabulous place and a great break. Sorry for going on too long!
The hotel is truly a 5 star, attentive staff, great food and we had an upgrade to a lovely room with an enormous bathroom and lovely views. Prices there match the quality and everything is top dollar, but, it's a on off and I didn't ak too much about costs. We flew Gatwick to Edinburgh and hired a car and it was all so simple.
The hotel cocked up the booking for golf that was made. I was supposed to have an hour lesson on the second day followed by an 18 hole playing lesson on the PGA course that next years Ryder Cup is played on. The day before I travelled they said that the course was closed and the game had been moved to the Kings Course. After some "discussion" they gave me a freebie game on the PGA on arrival day nd no charge for the 1hour lesson - a right result!
The PGA course was still undergoing work for both the Ryder Cup and Augusts Jonnie Walker so was a little untidy, the greens were pretty quick and some hole changes meant that my Garmin showed some odd results. I paired up with a couple of guys who were about my handicap and great company. After going to Wembley the day before Scotland and setting off at 4am to travel I was pretty nagered just after the turn but finished with 28 points so I guess I played ok. It will be a good venue for the Ryder cup IMO for viewing spectators, and the greens have underground mechanics to alter humidity etc etc.
The next day, after an hour lesson, the pro and I went on to the Kings Course for a playing lesson. The Craw had told me how beautiful it is and how right he was. It was in magnificent condition, wonderful views and a joy to play. We played off the back blue tombstones and decided to play Matchplay with him giving help and advice along the way. He was a 23 year old 6ft 4in boomer of a ball and started with a birdie but developed a bad push for few holes which helped me, with 12 shots to build a good lead of 5 up at the turn. One hamburger at the halfway house invigorated him though and he pulled it back to all square after 15. I won the next two though for a 2 and 1 win and "the bragging rights"!
The Kings is fantastic and is a must play if you can!
I saw an eagle in the wild whilst on the PGA which I would have only dreamt of, and just before I came home I wandered down to the 1st tee on the PGA and there was Paul McGinley doing some filming and he was kind enough to have a photo with me on the tee!
All in all a fabulous place and a great break. Sorry for going on too long!
