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Returning Home Scottish Golf Breaks
uly 2005 sees the return course needed to change as the
of the world's greatest many of the holes were simply too
golf tournament to its short. As a result the total
spiritual home on the Scottish number of holes was cut to 18 -
East Coast. With the 27th staging which is now synonymous with golf
of the British Open taking place courses around the world.
on the Old Course in 2005, St
Andrews has held the event more However, despite the now settled
often than anywhere else which structure of the course many in
has reinforced its strong the town felt the links would be
reputation as the "Home of Golf". better served as a commercial
This year's event comes at a opportunity rather than a
period of time where the Scottish playground for golfers. This
Golf Industry is enjoying combined with the local councils
something of a renaissance, with financial difficulties led to the
more and more people choosing to links being sold in 1799 to a
visit the country for golfing rabbit breeding company! This
holidays and test themselves on proved to be a very controversial
some of the world's most famous move which essentially led to
courses. what is known locally as the
"Rabbit Wars" for the best part
The Old Course at St.Andrews, of twenty years. Eventually, in
where this year the world's 1821 a gentleman called James
greatest golfing talent will Cheape bought the links for the
compete for the famous Claret sole use of local golfers - which
Jug, originally consisted of 22 essentially led to the great
holes - eleven out and eleven golfing legacy which still exists
back. However, in 1764 the local to this day.
society of St.Andrews Golfers
decided that the format of the While in many countries golf is
seen as a game for the financial the home of golf is the absolute
elite, it has always been a sport pinnacle of achievement that any
that was accessible to all levels golfer can hope or even dream to
of society in Scotland. The achieve.
popularity of the game continued
to grow and in 1860 Prestwick It seems hard to imagine that a
Golf Club held the first Open country with the rich history of
Championship and won by Willie golf that Scotland enjoys could
Park. St Andrews first held the lose its way in terms of
Open in 1873 when Tom Kidd promoting itself as a great
claimed the title and more than a golfing destination. However,
century later the course has seen during the 90's this was
some of the most exciting opens certainly the case. Countries
including the famous Tiger Woods such as Portugal, Spain and even
victory in 2000 where he set a Ireland worked tirelessly to sell
low-scoring record of 19 under themselves to the outside world
par while becoming the youngest as the ideal destination for a
player to have achieved a career golfing holiday. Scotland was
"grand slam" of golf's four major perhaps guilty of arrogance
tournaments. thinking that it could survive on
its historical reputation alone.
In addition to the famous win by
Tiger Woods the winner of the However, the last four years has
2005 Open will be following in seen a definite shift in the
the footsteps of other legends market with large amounts of
such as Nick Faldo, Seve (particularly English, American
Ballesteros, Jack Nicklaus, Bobby and Japanese) golfers once again
Locke and James Braid who have visiting Scottish shores. Helped
all won over the famous links. by the publicity surrounding this
Put simply winning the Open at years Open at St.Andrews more and
more golfers are looking for landscape of East Fife the hotel
golfing breaks and have a large is within a short distance of all
number of companies competing for the St.Andrews courses as well as
their business. other top local courses such as
Lundin Links, Leven Links,
One such company is the short Scotscraig and Ladybank.
break specialist
http://www.superbreak.com whom It seems despite heavy investment
offer a range of golfing breaks in promotion of golfing resorts
to top Scottish resorts such as in other countries Scotland will
Marriott Dalmahoy which is set in always command a very special
1000 acres of wooded parkland at place in the global golfing
the foot of the Pentland Hills community. Lessons seem to have
and has hosted both the Solheim been learnt and the Scottish
Cup and the Scottish PGA golfing industry is unlikely to
Championship. In St.Andrews rest on its laurels again. While
itself the relatively new a rich history and flagship
St.Andrews Bay Golf Resort tournament are important, if the
http://www.standrewsbay.com industry is to continue to
provides 5 star luxury that flourish then continued and
rivals the best of golfing hotels focussed investment most remain a
anywhere in the world. Sitting priority.
amidst the rugged coastal
About the Author:
Robin currently lives in Edinburgh, working hard for a leith based media company, and writes occasional articles for http://www.travel-tips.co.uk/
Source: www.isnare.com
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