Golf On The Rocks!

I remember hearing about this book last summer on Radio Scotland and keep on forgetting to buy the thing! So note to self; Amazon or a bookshop and read it. My island golf has been limited to Arran to date so it may act as the catalyst required to get me on a few Cal Mac ferries.

Here's the synopsis anyway.

Golf on the Rocks: A Journey Round Scotland’s Island Courses

Gary Sutherland was a lapsed golfer until he acquired his late dad’s putter. After studying a crumpled golf map of Scotland, he decided to embark on a voyage. His target was to play 18 rounds of golf on 18 Scottish islands in honour of his dad, a ship’s captain who, when he wasn’t at sea, was never off the golf course.

Gary’s journey would take him from the Northern Isles to the Outer Hebrides. Playing in the Harris hail and Arran sunshine, he encountered all manner of golfing hazards, including sheep on the tees, cows on the fairways and electric fences round the greens.

This is golf in the raw – a million miles from St Andrews. It’s a life-affirming tale of remembrance and discovery. It’s about having a laugh and holding on to what’s dear. And it’s about a putter with magical properties. You can believe what you want to believe, but it all happened…

A heart-warming tale of hooks, slices, ferries, fairways and friendship that’ll make you want to pick up a golf club and phone your dad – Charlie Connelly, author of Attention All Shipping

Buy Golf on the Rocks hardback

Buy Golf on the Rocks for Kindle

Buy Golf on the Rocks iBook

The Open Goes Mobile

Mobile phones will be permitted at this year’s Open Championship with spectators able to keep up-to-date with all the action thanks to a host of official smartphone apps.

Since 2006, mobile phones have not been permitted throughout The Open venue for the entire week. However, at Royal Lytham & St Annes this July, spectators will be able to carry their phones, with calls allowed in designated areas.

Photography and video recording will still not be permitted during Championship days although spectators will be allowed to check their smartphones from the course and in grandstands, and so they will be able to keep up-to-date with live scores, course guides, video, live action and much more from the official Open Championship apps.

“There is no denying the attachment people feel to their mobile phones both in terms of gathering information and staying in touch with family and friends. We understand this and allowing their use at the Championship will enrich The Open experience,” said Peter Dawson, Chief Executive of The R&A.

“We are offering spectators access to an enhanced range of apps for Android, iPhone and iPad that will offer live video of play and other attractions at The Open and will keep them up-to-date with essential Championship information including scoring, tee times, news and an interactive course guide.”

Spectators will have restricted use of their phones and will be limited to making calls in designated areas around the tented village and food and drink outlets. Strict rules will be put in place designed to ensure that play is not affected in any way by the change.

Dawson added: “We understand there will be concerns over this change in policy but will be liaising with spectators at the Championship to ensure calls are not taking place near play. Our spectators are very knowledgeable and understand golf, and so we are confident they will respect the players.”

Source: RandA

Member Galleries for Golf Tourism Scotland

As part of the new Golf Tourism Scotland website design each member can have their own images uploaded to the Golf Tourism Scotland website for free download by visitors and travel trade alike. More details will follow on how this can be done but in the meantime here's how the gallery looks within the blog - Castle Stuart host to the Scottish Open once again in July 2012

Suits You Sir! Down to a Tee!

Fancy some new golf gear? Well GTS member Royal Dornoch golf club have just introduced some snazzy new clothing!

Royal Dornoch Golf Club, the renowned Championship course in the Scottish Highlands, is proud to introduce a bespoke new Royal Dornoch tweed fabric, designed and produced exclusively for the club by illustrious Scottish fabric brand, Hunter’s Tweed.

Being launched today (20th April) at Royal Dornoch Golf Club, by Gavin Hastings, Former Scottish International Rugby Player and keen golfer, he was delighted to be involved in the launch of Royal Dornoch Tweed, a combining of two iconic Scottish companies.

Inspired by a traditional tweed design that dates back to the early 20th Century, the 700 gram fabric features a broad check in the club’s house colours of emerald green and golden yellow, with a touch of cerulean. The tweed is available for a new ready-to-wear selection of apparel and accessories for men and women.

Neil Hampton, Royal Dornoch Golf Club General Manager, comments on the club’s new venture: “The Hunters of Brora roots of Hunter’s Tweed can be traced back almost as far as our own distinguished history, and both names boast exceptional international reputations. There is a distinct synergy between these Highland brands and collaborating seemed like a perfectly natural move. The Royal Dornoch name is synonymous with exacting standards and warm hospitality, and our new tweed is a beautiful quality fabric that represents the proud, gracious heritage of our club. Our unique fabric will enable the club’s admirers to take a piece of Royal Dornoch and Scottish history with them wherever they go.”

Royal Dornoch tweed is only available through the Pro Shop at Royal Dornoch Golf Club and its website royaldornochproshop.co.uk, which receives orders from all around the globe. The Pro Shop is stocks a range of men’s and women’s headwear, club and putter covers in the new tweed, to name but a few items.

Hunter’s Tweed Managing Director, Tamara Inness, says: “We are as delighted with the opportunity to be associated with such an eminent Scottish institution as with the design and finish of the Royal Dornoch tweed. It is a connection that can only serve to further strengthen each brand, both at home and abroad.”

Founded in 1877, Royal Dornoch Golf Club presents exceptional standards that extend beyond the courses and greens to the restaurant, bar and lounge and other facilities. The course is currently ranked 12th in the world’s top 100 courses and has previously been awarded Golf Tourism Scotland’s “Course of the Year”.

About Royal Dornoch Golf Club
Royal Dornoch Golf Club was founded in the late 19th Century as a private members club, and was given the Royal title by King Edward VII in 1906. The club boasts a Championship course as well as a second 18-hole course, the Struie. Over the years, the club has played host to the Northern Open, the Scottish Ladies, and the Scottish Professional Championships. The club is situated in the town of Dornoch, 45 miles from the gateway to the Highlands, Inverness and its airport.

About Hunter’s Tweed
Hunter’s Tweed is a family run business that produces 100% pure new wool tweed in traditional dark colours and light, natural hues. The fabric is exclusively manufactured in the Highlands and the collection boasts original Hunters of Brora patterns which date back more than 100 years. The tweed is produced at a renowned mill in the Highlands, capitalising on the skills of local artisans who have been making this indigenous fabric for generations. Hunter’s Tweed is one of the only companies in the UK to offer 700 gram tweed, a fabric of such high quality that it can be applied to everything from upholstery to robust outdoor wear. Hunter’s Tweed is available at Calluna Country, the brand’s retail outlet in Brora, Sutherland, and online at hunterstweed.com.

Fife Golf Project Manager Recruitment

Are you a leading light in Golf, do you have the drive and determination to work with others to position Fife as a top golf destination?

The Fife Golf Partnership is seeking a highly motivated Project Manager from within the Golf sector on a part-time self–employed basis.

You will work closely with the Fife Golf Partnership Board to increase membership, develop marketing campaigns, create dynamic business events and to help shape and drive golf tourism in Fife.

If you think you have the qualities to take on this exciting challenge or would like receive further information, please contact
Ann Camus, Tourism Partnership Manager, Fife Council
on 08451 555 555 ext. 442289
or e-mail her on ann.camus@fife.gov.uk

Closing date for expressions of interest is Monday 16th April 2012

Dunbar Golf Club re-development gets approval

Dunbar Golf Club is delighted that East Lothian Council approved their plans for a redevelopment, which will see the creation of a Centre of Excellence for golf in East Central Scotland. The proposals support East Lothian Council's vision of creating a 'mecca for golf' and in turn will create 60 full and part time jobs and 54 equivalent jobs over the four year construction period.

The application, which was originally submitted in 2009 gained the support of Dunbar community council and 650 letters of community support as well as the endorsement of key agencies including clubgolf Scotland, Dunbar Trades Association, the PGA, the R&A, Lothian Golf Association, East Lothian Council Healthy Living Service and VisitScotland.

Janette Main, spokesperson for Dunbar Golf Club said:

"We are delighted that East Lothian Council has approved our application to re-develop the golf club and to help us realise our long held ambition and vision to create a Centre of Excellence for golf at Dunbar. East Lothian will now have world class facilities of which it can be proud, and we look forward to working with the council and local community to make the most of this crucial investment.

The process has been long and arduous but we are thrilled that approval has been granted, a decision that we believe reflects the vast amount of community support we have received. The commitment of those within the club has been truly tested over this period and it is wonderful that our members' hard fork, dedication and patience throughout this project has finally paid off"

The Dunbar Golf Club redevelopment will provide the best training facilities in East Central Scotland, creating a year round golf provision equipped with a golf academy, a new 9 hole practice course and a new clubhouse. The new academy facility aim to increase the participation of young people in the sport to help deliver the club golf National Strategy in line with the Scottish Government Strategy for Sport and East Lothian Council targets.

The new facilities will complement the existing championship golf course creating a world class visitor attraction, bringing approximately £1,000,000 extra revenue per annum to the area. The new facilities will also offer concessions to attract more young people to participate in the sport, giving Dunbar some of the best access policies in Scotland as well as opening ip the clubhouse and facilities to pay and play visitors.

"Following this approval we hope to be able to start work on the new facilities as soon as possible, to maximise the opportunities for the sport and the wider economy. The maximum construction period will be up to four years but we are confident that the new clubhouse can be completed in a much shorter timeframe, ready for the 2013 golf season."