|
I discovered St. Andrews in the mid 1970s, when my parents used to visit Scotland on holidays. I immediately fell in love with the Links, always managing to get at least one round on the world famous Old Course, with the rest of the week being spent playing the other 3 courses, the Eden, New and Jubilee.
In the early 1980's I joined the Royal Air Force, based at RAF Leuchars just across from the River Eden and the Links of St. Andrews, where, over the years, I witnessed more Courses being developed in and around St. Andrews (The Strathtyrum, and Balgove on the links)
I was fortunate enough to represent the RAF at golf, and discovered some amazing golf courses in the Fife, Angus and Perthshire regions local to St. Andrews, you really haven't sampled Scottish golf unless you play the historical Crail, Lundin Links, Scotscraig or Ladybank Golf Courses and the likes.
St. Andrews has improved incredibly over the years, the facilities, the courses, and the management have all seen major reconstruction, no more so than the introduction of the fantastic practice and catering facilities
1995 saw my demob from the forces, I created the well known Barber's Pole shop, where clients enjoy a ''free nip of whisky'' with every haircut, voted #14 attraction in St. Andrews by Golf Digest in 2002!
People who were visiting the shop were generally in St. Andrews for a day or two, and never got to experience the 'real' home of golf
I soon realized that almost the vast majority golf tour operators wanted to take visitors on ALL the ''Trophy'' courses, traveling hundreds of miles, from west to east, south to north in a very short space of time, burning a massive hole in tourists pockets.
This is when St. Andrews Golf Vacations was created
We have had dozens and dozens of clients through now, have fantastic staff, organized 3 Charity Golf days which have raised over £10,000 (approx. $20,000)
In August 2008 we have 350 Liverpool Golf Captains coming to St. Andrews, who will enjoy the largest ever dining function at the Old Course Hotel, and includes a civic reception where the Provost of Fife will welcome the group
Its being a very rewarding and enjoyable journey. The past few years have seen me sitting as Vice President of the St Andrews Merchants Association, a member of the Kilrymont Rotary Club of St. Andrews, Vice Chairman of the St. Andrews Town and Gown (working with St. Andrews University) and as treasurer of the St. Andrews Week festival Committee.
I look forward to personally meeting YOU at the ''home of golf''
|
|
