13 Courses in 13 days: A golfing experience across the Land of Saltire By Javier Pintos On May 22nd I left Buenos Aires on a trip that in the company we believe is the seed for many more trips to “The Home of Golf”. Although we have been in the past to and we have sold the destination for the past 4 years, this trip was a stronger bet as we were leading a 34 golfers party and we added some more days at three new destinations we had not visited yet (, Aberdeen and East Lothian) and which we believe deserve to be considered when travelling to The Saltire for a golf trip.

Scotland offers not only golf at the highest level but a lot more for devoted golfers: playing courses were golf oldest Major Championship has been played, visiting places with over 200 years of history with our game and walking along towns that breath golf in every corner.

Our first three days were in East Lothian playing Gullane no.1, (The Honorable Company of Edimburgh Golfers) and North Berwick using it as a Fam Trip trying to discover every secret of this area in order to be able to tell our customers what to expect when visiting this corner of the country. And we believe it holds one of the biggest advantages: you are so close to Edimburgh that you can go after golf to walk the city, have dinner or just discover Murrayfield, the first Rugby Museum in the world.

The golfing tour was about to start, it was an intense journey throught 13 classic venues, playing them, taking pictures, glancing at every detail and breathing golf in every step.

May 23rd Gullane no.1 After a very long plane trip and driving for 30 minutes we arrived to the Gullane visitors Club House to meet our friend Andy Newmarch (Top 100 Golf Courses Manager) and James McCann for some catching up chat and lunch before some good golf. We started the game around 2pm in a sunny and pretty hot day, it looked like Florida rather than Scotland. The Course is really good and demands the need of all type of golf shots: low cuts, high draws, chip and run and some floppy lob shots. But the fact is that you have to be accurate and creative with your short game. Some greens are really tough to get in so how good you are with the short game will tell how good you can score. First at Gullane no.1. Tee 7th with Muirfield GC on the back of the image. If we have to mark a hole as the best on the course it would be unfair: 4 8th, par 4 11th, par 5 15th and par 4 17th are maybe the most creative in design and the ones that offer more difficulty. But I found par 4 2nd the best one: a very tough tee shot and then an upright approach shot to a very narrow and small green, where missing increases the difficulty in getting those 4 shots. A view of the Bar at Duck's Kilspindie House, with the Helmet of the British Army After the long day and the round of golf we had a and the one of an Argentine Soldier. great dinner at Kilspindie House, where it's owner Malcolm Duck offered us a very fun night with his inside games to be played while sharing some good beer and memories of the 1982 Malvinas War, where he served the British Army and he told us that it is a very strong memory when those years come back to his mind. It was a great experience for me as an argentine, listening to the story told from “the other side” and my conclusion is that the War was even more stupid than what I thought. There's a song called “Fortunes of War” perfectly well what the soldiers, from both sides, felt after the war ended.

May 24th Muirfield (The Honourable Company of Edimburgh Golfers) You know when you are in front of a special day. And this one was a real special one, a golfing day to be remembered for ever. It started early with a breakfast at Archerfield with the Director of Golf, Mr Stuart Bayne. The place is stunning and has 2 great golf courses, one of them hosted an European Ladies Tour event won by rising star Carly Booth. Despite not being links courses, both of them are very nice designs and deserve attention. Once you have played Scotland's main courses, you may wish to have some alternatives and

both courses at Archerfield are a great option to play golf and stay in a very high quality lodge. Finished our meeting and after a ride along both courses, we went to Muirfield for what was meant to be not only a special day as golfers, but also as part of the golf industry: once we experienced what Muirfield offers, it will be easier to tell potential golfers what they can expect when getting to play the 2013 Open Championship Venue. 2 Once lunch finished we changed our shirt and tie attire for the golf shirt and were ready for The Test: Muirfield is a golfing test from beginning to end, every shot offers a challenge and you have to be prepared to control frustration, because if not score can go really high. The course is as fair as a can be, every hole has its character and you can remember each of them when you finish despite non of them will be famous for their beauty like maybe 15th at Kingsbarns. I loved every inch of it and if I have to call the best hole for me it is par 4 6th, which played 460 into the wind that day and were I needed driver-driver to reach the green. Holes 11, 13, 15 and 18 are also big ones, holes that you wish to play every day to become a better golfer. I have to say that par 3 13th shows to be harmless, but if your short goes the wrong way God save you! Once the round finished, you feel adrenaline so high that you want to play the course again, but this time it was not possible so we went to an Italian Restaurant at North Berwick for a nice dinner and to remember what had been a real golfing day.

May 25th North Berwick and goodbye to Andy Newmarch We met in Marbella 2008 during my first experience with IGTM (International Golf Travel Market) and since then Andy and Me have become real close friends. We share the same passion for golf, for its history and for every golf course we visit. We write our reviews telling what we feel when meeting a new course or when playing an Open Championship Venue. We shared 3 very special days and I have to say thank you Andy for allowing me to stand on these First and telling how the experience is to all potential argentine golfers that want to stand on an Open Venue and feel like the pros. The day started with breakfast at the North Berwick Club House with Managing Secretary Chris Spencer, where we discussed possibilities with them and he also explained how the club works it out with members and guests. And he also gave us a little bit of history about the Club, the Redan Hole (par 3 15th) and other particular stories about the Golf Course. The round was fun although in the first 3 holes a dense fog made it tough to see the ball further than 100yds, but after that a 15°C sunny and windy day gave us one of the best golfing experiences you can enjoy, with a finishing hole that you can but where you can also smash the glass of one of the cars at the parking. Andy left to his home and we continued to where we were receiving 35 golfers from Argentina ready to play in Scotland for the first time. 3 On the right side the famous par 3 15th, “Redan”. It gave the idea for many designers, being 7th at Shinnecock Hills as one of its more renowned “brothers”.

May 25th - 28th: Turnberry playing Ailsa and Royal Troon (Old) After the East Lothian days, we moved to Turnberry to receive the big group that departed from Buenos Aires. It was a big challenge for WeGolf to host such a big group outside Argentina, but all the planning was done carefully so we just needed some friendly climate in order to enjoy world's best links at “The Home of Golf”. Despite a couple of the group arrived on Friday, the big part arrived on Saturday to Airport. We were there to receive them and what we saw in their faces was pure emotion, excitement, joy and adrenaline before playing golf at places where the best golfers have done it. No golf that day, just some fun at the par 3 course in front of the Hotel, a perfect place for fun and some bets between friends. On Saturday night we hosted the welcome dinner at “Wildings”, that restaurant in which Tom Watson had dinner every night when he lost to Stewart Cink in 2009. After maybe the best dinner you can have in the West Coast of Scotland, Mr Augusto Portais spoke to the group explaining the trip, the tournament and how everything was going to happen. Playing golf in Scotland is special, very special. But how good can it be if climate helps? We played Ailsa with 25°C, sun and wind, conditions were as good as they can be for golf. It seemed we were honouring the 1977 “Duel in the Sun” between and Tom Watson. After the round everybody had lunch at the Club House and the sensation was common to everyone: happiness, joy and satisfaction. We played a best ball 4 players team competition, scores were not that good, I believe that because almost everybody had never played real links golf. And the best was yet to come.

4 What can we say about Ailsa as a golf course? Challenging and very scenic, with a walk along the coast from 4 to 12 that can't be beaten. The golf course plays tough if wind is there, specially those holes with wind in your face as we had on 2 and from 4 to 11. It seemed God wanted us to really enjoy the trip, because on Monday at Royal Troon climate was event better: sunny again but almost no wind, ideal conditions for golf! Troon is a very special place despite being private: they treat you like a member, you are welcome since you arrive and all the staff is ready to make your day unforgettable. First you arrive and when checking in a bag tag with your name and the date is given to you. Then you walk into maybe the best proshop in the Tour and afterwards you walk into the first tee of a great golf course. After the round some great lunch at the Club House ends a perfect golfing day, so perfect that scores were amazing as one team scored 54 (-17) and two scored 57 (-14). Birdies and good shots were all over the place. A special mention to par 3 8th known as “Postage Stamp”, a 126yds hole that is very special in Open Championship's history. What does The Old Course at Royal Troon offer as a golf test? Everything. Some blind shots, some really tough tee shots, a nice set of par 3s, some heroic carries and approach shots were you need to be precise and clever. Can you score? Of course, you just need to hit fairways and understand that the center of the green is the best option always. Rough is in some parts really penalizing and bunkers will always take a shot from you, so just accept the miss trying it not to be expensive. First part of the trip was over and we already thought the trip was a success. Turnberry Hotel suits perfect as a place to be and the views you have really pay the price.

View of the Club House. 8th green seen from 10th green.

5 May 29th: PGA Centenary at Glenagles Many golfers think it is special to play a Tour Venue ( 2014 and Johnny Walker Championship in this case), so on Tuesday we prepared something special and 22 of the 36 golfers took the ride to The Gleneagles Resort to experience something great. The round was not part of the Tournament, it was just a fun round. We played the course just 3 weeks after it was re-opened with the changes done to 9th and 18th for The Ryder Cup. The Course runs along a very similar piece of land as its sisters Kings and Queens, but it is totally different, with all the features of modern design applied by Course Designer Jack Nicklaus. If I am asked if I liked it more than the other two which I played last year, I will say no. It is really good, but the older ones are nicer and more natural.

After the game we drove to to enjoy the last four days of the trip with the big group. Dinner was made at Fairmont St Andrews and all the golfers stated that up to that moment and with the help of climate, the golf trip was being perfect.

May 30th: Castle Course at St Andrew’s We were at The Home of Golf and our first round at St Andrew's was at this special course, set in maybe the best piece of land in , with views of the Bay and the Town, opened just a few years ago. The course itself is very playable from the tees although the controversial greens make it a place which some golfers love and some others hate (I am in the first team!). Greens have big slopes and a lot of earth was moved to construct them. It is a nice test of golf and some holes are really spectacular, specially 6, 7, 9, 17 and 18. It is true that the course is very different from the others and maybe not so traditional, but when constructing a new golf course would you expect more of the same or something different? Said this, most of the golfers loved the course and a couple of them stated it was the best of the tour in their own opinion. The day was tipically Scottish: some fog, some little rain and wind, which made it a little big tougher, but in the end we believe it is really worth to be played.

Due to climate and course difficulty golf round took a little bit long, despite almost all players had . It is a course where if you can receive the help of a , do it.

6 May 31st: Carnoustie Well, maybe one of the most dreamed days of the trip arrived, the day we were going to play The Monster, a course that in my like list is maybe number 1 or 2 in Scotland. And not because of its beauty, because it really lacks of it, but because it is “The Test” every golfer wants to face, were you need every shot in the bag (low cuts, high draws, chips, from 50 yds, flops, everything). If you wish to score, your game has to be at the top of its shape. Greens here roll almost 9 feet in the stimpmeter and they run really true, fairways are kept as in the best private clubs and the staff is trained to make you feel at home and enjoying every minute of the visit. We played in tough weather again, some of us 4-5 holes and some until 9, but then the day turned friendly (and windy) and we played a real golf challenge. My experience compared to 2011 is different as we played the wind in different direction and the course varies a lot: just an example in 2011 I hit driver-2 iron on 17th and this year driver and 51° wedge. Once we finished the golf round, every player concluded that in any golf trip to Scotland, The Championship Course at Carnoustie has to be there always.

The team competition was really tight, with 3 leaders, 2 teams 1 stroke back and another 2 strokes behind. All teams were allowed to eliminate the worse of the first four rounds and the Tournament was to be defined with the round at The Old Course. A nice moment for me was when I was able to hold a replica of The , dreaming the moment of being called “Champion golfer of the Year”. Of course it is a dream, but holding the Trophy was really special!

June 1st The Old Course: that special moment in a golfer’s life What can we say at the moment where you are about to play the most famous golf course in the world, the place where this special game was born? It is an experience that every golfer deserves to enjoy at least once in his life. And what about if it is done with friends, in a nice sunny day and playing a tournament in which all 8 teams could win? It cannot be better. As we understood it was a very special moment, we recorded every possible moment: practicing putting, holding nerves, teeing off, standing in front of the R&A, walking the course, at Swilcan Bridge …

7 Many pictures and movies were taken and for sure will remain in the group's memory. What can we say about the course? A nature's masterpiece, with plenty of special places in the course, great golf holes and where despite not being that tough, you need to play if you want to score. And we played the last 7 holes into the wind and with some cold, what really made it a challenge.

Rodrigo de la Arena, Nito Greco, Gustavo Lichtmajer and Claudio Sapag were the winners after a great round of 60 strokes. Four teams tied for second place, and tie break was done by the last round. A great picture at the stairs beside the R&A and dinner at the Club House at The Fairmont St Andrews to end maybe the most special golfing experience of all this golfers so far. One very nice memory comes to my mind all the time: the excitement and emotion all these golfers showed before teeing off and the adrenaline that came out of their swings when at the 1st tee. Almost everyone had a good shot, but all of them had a great round and those four hours walking “The Old Lady” will remain with them for the rest of their lives.

8 These were the scores for all 5 days:

June 2nd Kingsbarns and a Hole in one!!! This was the final day of the trip and although the round was not part of the Tournament, all of us enjoyed a sunny and windy day at this Kyle Philips masterpiece. But one guy enjoyed it more, Rodrigo de la Arena, who aced 2nd hole with a 4 iron to end a perfect week of golf. Some really good champagne was served at the 19th hole for everybody and all the smiles showed the trip had been a real success. The course as usual was in great shape, the staff is the best in Scotland and the entire experience of Kingsbarns is as special as all the traditional courses on the Open Rota. The course is very playable for golfers of all levels, you just need to choose the correct set of tees. The greens roll really fast for this geography and as every course in Scotland, misses are penalized. What makes Kingsbarns special among her neighbors is the views and the piece of land, you will not be wrong if you state it is the nicest course of the Kingdom of Fife. We cannot say Scotland, as regarding beauty maybe the best was yet to come.

9 The trip ended for the group, but myself had yet some more work to do. Three hours drive to Inverness to check in at Kingsmills Hotel to meet this destination and see if what this has to offer can match what Gleneagles, St Andrews, Turnberry and East Lothian have to offer for a golf trip: courses, aiport, accommodation, restaurants, the towns and nightlife. Inverness is a really nice city, with plenty of excellent restaurants, a wide range of hotels, a nice parkland course in the middle of the city (Inverness ) and plenty of bars where live music is played. The town has much more “life” than St Andrews and Turnberry, geography is breathtaking and if you wish to drive to the Highlands, this place is where you have to start. After a very long day, some rest was needed. But some good was about to be experienced, not only for the golf, the roads to each course are so nice that the ride is part of the program. June 3rd A walk along Nairn and a game at Royal Dornoch The day started really early to meet captain and vice captain at Nairn. The course was closed as was taking place that week. The meeting was great and after a walk through the course I can say it is a must. Running along by the sea, with some holes going up a forest to offer great views and the finishing stretch of holes can offer a lot of emotion. A real shame I was not able to hit some shots, maybe next time!

The drive to Royal Dornoch is as nice as you can imagine. Road is surrounded by water, strong green colors and the gorse being yellow added more beauty to it. It takes a little bit more than 1 hour to arrive, but it pays every minute of the trip. Once there I had an interview with Neil, some soft lunch and played the course. But just before teeing off I was able to leave a ball marker of my home course, Golf Club Argentino, in the specially prepared for that at the Starter's Cottage.

10 I was told by Giles Greenwood, Director at IAGTO (International Association of Golf Tour Operators), that Royal Dornoch was the best course in the UK for him and he was not mistaken. I can't assure it is the best for me, but it will be really close. The course plays out until 8th green for then coming back to the club house. Wind was in our face for the out holes so difficulty turned really high, hitting driver and spoon at both par 4s 7th and 8th plus gorse surrounding fairways at both sides so it was a great challenge. The piece of land is at the top, with views of the sea on every hole. Regarding the course, variety in design was helped by the land, but all the same it is outstanding. I can mention at least six memorable holes (2-6-8-14-16-17) and all the rest are excellent as well. Greens rolling true and fast, private courses usually give this in Scotland. Climate was hard as on 10th rain appeared and it was cold, but nothing that a fanatic golfer can't stand. My last words from this course are: YOU MUST PLAY IT! And if possible, more than once …

June 4th Castle Stuart plus Royal Dornoch and 200 miles, the trip came to an end. 6am the clock told me to wake up as a really long day was ahead. Breakfast and drive to Castle Stuart to tee off alone at 7:15am and play the Venue. The course was designed by the same team as Kingsbarns, but I believe this piece of land is far better. Not only for the golf course, but the Club House and putting green are located in a high point with views of the ocean from everywhere. A little bit of pride for us when we realized that course record belongs to 2 time Major Champion Angel “El Pato” Cabrera, it really rocks to see fellow country sportsman being present in top venues around the world.

The course is playable, not so tough and every golfer will find it not only nice but enjoyable. Some holes offer very nice views and some others have big level changes between tee and green, which always adds beauty and challenge. I can't tell of one bad hole, each of them has something and again it is a course that leaves you with the wish of playing it again in the exact moment you finish the round.

The meeting with Fraser Cromarty, Golf Director at Castle Stuart, was really good and we found in him great interest for helping in promoting the course and destination for our golfers, who will really love it.

11 Once finished, a call from Ronnie Macaskill from Royal Aberdeen told me the day was way to be finished! A 100 mile drive waited for me to get to Royal Aberdeen, whose front 9 are said to be the best 9 holes in links golf. And I have to say I share that concept, those holes are spectacular and really difficult, and if as I you play them into the wind, it can be called the greatest test in links golf.

I had lunch with Ronnie and we spoke about how we could get our golfers here. He not only helped me with the Club but with advice in accommodation and other details to build itineraries in Aberdeen. He stated that the upcoming Trump International Scotland was called to be a top 10 in the UK, the course is set to be opened to public on July 15th 2012.

Then the best came: playing the course was great, I felt it a challenge and a pleasure to test my game of golf in such tough conditions, as wind was over 40km/h. The course is set along the shore with big sandy dunes surrounding the fairways. And the rough is thick and high, not easy to find your ball if playing alone! Ronnie told me he was going to wait until I finished to listen to what I thought about the course. I was sincere: Royal Aberdeen is top 3 in Scotland and the front 9 can be called “The perfect test for your golfing skills”.

After a very back to Inverness, the Satire Golfing Marathon came to an end offering us the best of the best: golf, food and hospitality make Scotland not only the Home of Golf, but also the destination where everyone who calls himself a golfer has to experience how special it is.

There is so much to do and so much to play that maybe one week is not enough, you will have to take one week for the next four years to really experience and play every course that a real golfer can't afford to ignore.

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