Package Prices
Please Call or E-mail for Package Prices (904) 823 - 3083 / info@sunandfungolfassociation.com
We have organized a trip that takes you to the Home of Golf and does so in grand style! This trip offers a fine balance of golf and sightseeing and includes accommodations in a couple of the world’s most luxurious resorts. You’ll play golf in the land of its birth all while marveling at truly breathtaking castles, monuments and historic Scottish architecture.
Accommodations
The Carlton Hotel – Edinburgh
The four-star Carlton Hotel Edinburgh enjoys a wonderful location in Edinburgh, set on the Royal Mile the hotel is just minutes away from the famous Princess Street with its numerous shops and historical sights. The hotel offers spacious, well-appointed guest rooms, classically decorated with a hint of Scottish design and all of which feature a variety of amenities including full internet access (fees may apply). Guests may enjoy a full range of facilities and services available at the hotel including the Bodysense Health & Leisure Club which features a gym, swimming pool, sauna and squash courts, offering the perfect place for a workout and a place to meet new people. Dining at the hotel includes the popular Bridge Restaurant which serves an exquisite brasserie style menu, popular with both residents and guests alike. The Edinburgh Carlton Hotel is the perfect choice for those seeking a luxury and activity filled break in the exciting city of Edinburgh. Our participants will receive upgraded Premium Rooms during their stay.
Gleneagles Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort – Perthshire
Set on 850 acres of Perthshire countryside, Gleneagles is a dream destination for anyone who loves the great outdoors. Famed for the three championship golf courses (they will host the Ryder Cup in 2014), as well as facilities for, and instruction in, world-class archery, falconry, horseback riding, off-road driving, and a Gundog School. It is a great family destination, as children can join in with junior golf and off-road driving lessons, mini Highland games, and even a spy school. At the two-Michelin–starred restaurant, Andrew Fairlie @ Gleneagles, much of the produce is sourced locally. This commitment to the environment extends to an award-winning green program, which sees staff on bikes and corks reused in drainage—all to help to preserve the resort's awe-inspiring natural landscapes. Our participants will receive upgraded Sovereign Rooms during their stay.
The Old Course Hotel
Perhaps the most famous golf hotel in the world, the Old Course Hotel and Spa in St. Andrews,Scotland, hovers on the edge of the Old Course and overlooks the sea. While a stay here fulfills the golf aficionado’s ultimate fantasy, it also supplies an authentic Scottish experience of the bagpipes-and-tartan variety. Renovated by its new American owners (the Kohler Company), the hotel goes beyond golf to cater to everyone with a penchant for country squire opulence.The Old Course Hotel offers an exceptional choice of bars and restaurants from the chic informality of the Sands Grill to the fine dining in the acclaimed Road Hole Fine Dining Restaurant(3 AA rosettes). In addition, the hotel’s traditional pub The Jigger Inn serves fine home cooked food and The Duke's Bar & Grill offers a traditional Scottish golfers’ menu. And the our award winning Road Hole Bar offers Scotland’s finest malt whiskies from over 200 distilleries.Kohler Waters Spa is rated amongst the top UK Spas and provides an outstanding spa experience, including a thermal suite featuring a hydrotherapy pool, plunge pool, Japanese steam room and light therapy sauna as well as a 20-metre indoor swimming pool with waterfall, fitness suite and a rooftop hot tub. Spa facilities are complimentary for all hotel residents. With its world-class accommodation, decadent dining, Kohler Waters Spa, own heathland golf course and the utmost attention to detail, this award-winning five red-star resort is the ultimate hotel experience.
Golf Courses
Kings Course at Gleneagles
The King’s Course is a course of great majesty with most holes played through their own natural valley broken occasionally by breath-taking views of the surrounding hills and heather moors. Gleneagles is historically important for the role legendary golfer James Braid played in establishing its golfing credentials; Braid designing both the excellent Kings and under-rated Queens courses. The Kings Course was created out of a dramatic wilderness cleared mostly by horse and cart, its holes built over an undulating sandy heath and the springy fairways lined with punishing gorse areas, heather patches and frequent copse of pine and birch. Most of the golf falls naturally across ridges and deep glades or through small-secluded valleys and attractive glens. With sweeping views of mountains to the north and rolling green hills to the south, the scenery throughout the journey is as rich and impressive as the resort’s luxurious lodgings. Over the years there have been many notable tournaments hosted at Gleneagles, the Dunhill Trophy, 8 Scottish Open Championships and 15 Johnnie Walker Championships all played here during the past few decades. Braid succeeded in creating his masterpiece at Gleneagles, and the course stands as fitting tribute to one of the finest leisure resorts in Europe. The sharp lines of the bunkering and a great mix of holes gives the Gleneagles resort a course with a classic look that fits today’s game perfectly.
PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles
The PGA® Centenary Course, created by Jack Nicklaus, is a modern classic. Even for a champion and acclaimed golf architect like Nicklaus, The PGA Centenary Course was a challenge. It had to be a great golf course and, set as it is in the heart of Scotland, the country that gave the world golf, Nicklaus described the course as "The finest parcel of land in the world I have ever been given to work with". It had to be unique in its challenge, a golf course in the modern design ethos that at its fullest stretch tests the greatest players, while, in the immortal phrase of Bobby Jones, "offering problems a man may attempt according to his ability... never hopeless for the lesser player nor failing to concern and interest the expert." The tees are graded at each hole in five stages, including a challenging 6,815 yards from the white markers down to 5,322 from the red. A feature of the PGA Centenary Course is the feast of views of the spectacular countryside in which Gleneagles is set. Although the PGA Centenary Course is a fairly modern course it ranks highly among the top courses in Europe. So it’s fitting arguably golf’s greatest event will be played out on a course designed by arguably the game’s greatest – 18-time major champion Jack Nicklaus. First known as the Monarch’s Course from its 1993 opening, The PGA Centenary has matured to offer a fantastic risk-reward test perfectly suited for the match-play format of The Ryder Cup. With notable recent changes overseen by Nicklaus, especially at the 9th and 18th holes, sport’s third biggest TV audience and the thousands viewing on course can expect a cup classic.
The Kittocks Course at Fairmont St. Andrews
This coastal track was originally designed by Bruce Devlin and Gene Sarazen but was redesigned by Gary Stephenson in 2008. It's unquestionably one of the most scenic courses near St. Andrews, full of sea views and holes playing along the cliffs. Both the front and back sides have stunning holes, starting with the seventh, which tumbles downhill from an elevated tee straight toward the sea. The par-4 15th hole doglegs left and tumbles down toward the sea, making for one of the most dramatic shots on property. The 17th hole is a long par 4 that plays right along the cliffs the entire way. The Kittocks course is a newer course by St Andrews standards and features some modern design characteristics such as two man-made lakes, but ultimately the layout honors the tradition of golf at St Andrews with two double greens, numerous deep pot bunkers and, of course, the most important ingredient, the feeling.
The Crail Golfing Society’s Balcomie Links Course
The old Balcomie Links in the old burgh of Crail near St Andrews is one of Scotlands finest golfing treasures. This traditional, classic links course was laid out by the old master himself, Tom Morris, and opened in 1895. Created in the days when course design was governed by the natural lie of the land and not the mechanical earth mover, Balcomie has the unusual combination of three par fives, six par threes and nine par fours, producing a tough par of 69. Extraordinary holes abound, along with those which seriously challenge and those which are more comfortable. The sum total is a layout which both enchants and delights, but which also demands and punishes, testing all the skills in a golfer’s armory – as well as his nerve. Those length seekers who believe Balcomie will be a soft touch, do so at their peril. Not content with a devilishly testing layout, Old Tom designed the course in such a way as to take maximum advantage of its exhilarating seaside location. Shots over rocky bays, long par threes with greens perched on top of vertical cliffs, shots to greens seemingly engulfed by gorse, curving par fours round sandy strands - daring the golfer to cut off too much, shots from cliff tops to greens and fairways invitingly laid out below: all these and more make up the Balcomie experience.
The New Course at St. Andrews
The New Course is often regarded as the oldest "new" course in the world. A classic links course with undulating fairways and delightfully challenging greens, it was set out in 1895 by Old Tom Morris. Named the New to differentiate it from the original course at the Links which became the Old Course, the course remains one of the finest examples of Morris' work to be found anywhere. The construction of the New Course was paid for by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, which engaged B Hall Blyth, an Edinburgh civil engineer, to plan the New Course, and entrusted the layout to Morris and his right-hand man David Honeyman. The result is a classic links course which is a first class golfing challenge. The course has the traditional out and back layout, with the 18th green just to the right of the first tee. It also has, in the great St Andrews tradition, shared fairways and even a double green at the 3rd and 15th holes.No one can ever take away the history and tradition that is held exclusively by The Old Course at St. Andrews and neither should they. It will always bring out the deepest of emotions in every golfer, whether playing it for the first or twenty-first time. When it comes to those who seek a true links challenge however, there can be no better place than The New Course to test your abilities against Mother Nature. It also happens to be one of the best-preserved 18-hole courses that Old Tom Morris designed. And for those who accept the challenge, The New Course has its own piece of history to share. If the New was situated next to any other course in the world than the Old its star would have shone with a far greater degree of brilliance.
Kingsbarns Golf Links
According to golf historian Bobby Burnet, golf at Kingsbarns dates back to 1793. A nine-hole golf course once played over part of the current layout. The “nine-holer” was commandeered by the military at the outbreak of the Second World War because they felt that the beach at Kingsbarns was an invasion risk. The golf course disappeared until American architect Kyle Phillips came along at the close of the 20th century. Phillips studied various courses, including Royal Dornoch, to ensure that the end design would look natural. The earthmovers then rumbled in and shifted hundreds of thousands of tonnes of earth to create the moonscape that is now Kingsbarns.The course opened in July 2000 to rapturous applause. The course appears so natural that you would think that it had been there for years, an outstanding achievement.One of the many delights of Kingsbarns Golf Links is that you can see the North Sea from virtually every part of the course. What’s more, it has its own burn (the Cambo), which was uncovered during all that earth moving. The terrain is perfect for golf, rippling fairways, humps and hollows. What’s more, the course is always maintained in immaculate condition. The green fee is not insignificant, however, the goody-bag that is handed out on the first tee is a really nice touch. Situated just six miles from St Andrews, Kingsbarns is an important addition to the superb links courses in this area. It is feasible that this might be one of the last true links courses to be built along Scotland’s coastline and if so, it is just as well that this course is an absolute cracker and deserves to be ranked alongside the greatest courses in the world. Golf Magazine rated it the number 1 course in Europe in their “50 Greatest Courses Created in the Last 50 Years.”
Sightseeing and Touring
Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo (Included as part of your package)
This musical spectacular, featuring the massed pipes and drums of the Scottish regiments, is set against the magnificent backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, perched high above the ancient city and dominating the skyline. For scale, no show in Edinburgh can rival the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Literally hundreds of performers, both from Scotland and bands and organizations from abroad, gather under the dramatic backdrop of Edinburgh Castle. The series of displays, which take place on the castle esplanade (an 18th century parade ground), combine breathtaking shows of military precision, often a battle re-enactment, military bands, including the rousing mass pipes and drums. The 2013 theme celebrated the Year of Natural Scotland with performers from Europe, the Far East, Central and South America. The Homecoming theme for 2014 is "Our Home, Friends & Family". The program theme to 2015 has yet to be determined. The program always features a strong contingent of British Commonwealth country pipe bands and performers. An essential component on the night is the rousing gathering of the Massed Pipes and Drums, among them The Royal Regiment of Scotland, and the Bands of Her Majesty's Royal Marines. The Tattoo draws to a close with the traditional lone piper playing from the castle ramparts. This is a show that is not to be missed!
Tullibardine Whisky Distillery (Included as part of your package)
The history of Tullibardine as a location for brewing and distilling is one of the oldest in Scotland. Located in Blackford, the gateway to the Highlands, it was here in 1488 that the young King James 4th of Scotland stopped by on his way to his coronation, to purchase beer from the local brewery. This is recorded as the first public purchase of beer. In 1503 the brewery received the first Royal Charter issued by James IV, in recognition of the fine beer produced at Tullibardine. Although the easy access from the north and the south makes this the perfect location for distilling and brewing, the most important aspect is the plentiful supply of fresh, spring water from the surrounding Ochil Hills. These hills were formed more than 400 million years ago with layers of basalt and red sandstone, and are well known for the gold that was mined from them. The water that reaches the distillery has taken 15 years to reach the Danny Burn, which is the spring where we take our water from. This is the same water bottled by the renowned mineral water company, Highland Spring. In 1947 William Delme Evans began converting the original brewery buildings that remained into a distillery, and in 1949 the first spirit was distilled at the newly named Tullibardine Distillery. The name in Gaelic means ‘lookout hill’, and was taken from the small medieval chapel built in 1446, which is close to the distillery. In 1953 the distillery was sold to Brodie Hepburn, who were themselves later sold to Invergordon Distillers. For the next few decades production continued using the original two stills and maturing the spirit in sherry casks. In 1973 the capacity was increased with the addition of two more stills.
Guided Walking Tour of St Andrews Old Course (Included as part of your Package)
Join an expert guide on a tour of the world's most famous course. Walk in the footsteps of golf's greats and experience a player's eye view of the fabled links. All tickets include a voucher for a complimentary Old Course scorecard that can be redeemed in our St Andrews Links Golf Shops. The tour lasts about three hours and will take in notorious features such as Hell Bunker and The Coffins as well as landmarks like High Hole, the most celebrated par 3 in golf. Tours begin at the shop behind the 18th Green at 10am.
St Andrews Castle
St Andrews Castle has been by turns a fortress, palace and prison. It is largely ruined, battered from 400 years of wars and sieges, but remains a fascinating visit on any trip to St Andrews. Children will love the visitor’s center, with its beautifully illustrated history of those who lived – and died – in the castle. St Andrews Castle’s infamous “bottle dungeon” and the underground mine and countermine are well-preserved evidence of the castle’s medieval past, but they may not be suitable for the faint-hearted! St Andrews Preservation Trust MuseumFor further glimpses of days gone by, don’t miss the museum operated by St Andrews Preservation Trust: housed in a charming 17th Century house on St Andrews’ North Street, it displays recreations of old St Andrews shops and buildings and also boasts a lovely sheltered garden. The museum is open from 2:00pm to 5:00pm and admission is free of charge.
St Andrews Cathedral
The remains of St Andrews Cathedral are impressive enough, but they can only hint at the vast grandeur of what was once the largest cathedral in Scotland. A ticket to the cathedral’s museum offers the chance to view a collection of medieval sculptures from the site and also includes entry to St Rule’s Tower. A climb to the top of this prominent structure rewards visitors with magnificent vistas of St Andrews and the surrounding Fife countryside. St Andrews Cathedral dominated the history of the medieval church in Scotland from its construction in the 12th century until the Protestant Reformation in 1560. Scotland’s largest and most magnificent medieval church, the cathedral was the seat of Scotland’s leading bishops (and from 1472 archbishops). It occupied a site used for worship since the 8th century AD, when the relics of St Andrew, Scotland’s patron saint, are said to have been brought here. The cathedral buildings are surrounded by a graveyard, and encircled by the most complete and imposing monastic enclosure walls in Scotland. Even in its ruinous state the cathedral remains a prominent landmark, the focus of the three medieval streets of St Andrews, and highly visible from the sea.
The British Golf Museum (Included as part of your Package)
The British Golf Museum is a great place for young people to learn about the history of golf. Discover fascinating histories, incredible facts and take part in fun hands-on activities. Their collection tells the fascinating story of British golf, through material dating from the 17th century to the present day. It is the most comprehensive golf collection in Britain, and one of the finest worldwide, celebrating golf from grass roots to international level. Over 16,000 items cover equipment (clubs, balls, manufacturing and clothing), prizes (trophies and medals), decorative art (artworks, ceramics, silverware and ephemera), film, photographs and archives (books, periodicals, programs and patents). The displays and archives are enhanced by unique loan collections from The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and The Women Golfers’ Museum.The entire collection is a Recognized Collection of National Significance, formally acknowledged as being of great importance to the life and culture of Scotland, and internationally significant. The Recognition scheme, run by Museums Galleries Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government, promotes and supports these collections.
The Museum of the University of St Andrews
The Museum of the University of St Andrews (MUSA) is the newest museum on the St Andrews scene. It offers four alleries about the long history of the University of St Andrews, notable alumni, the university’s contributions to art and science, and a glimpse into the everyday life of University of St Andrews’ students during various eras. A trip upstairs to enjoy panoramic views of the West Sands is also well worthwhile. The museum is open from 10:00am to 5:00pm and admission is free of charge. St Andrews MuseumSt Andrews Museum is situated in a beautiful Victorian mansion within the grounds of Kinburn Park. Within the shop there is space for displaying a range of arts and crafts which we are happy to sell, on a commission basis, on behalf of the artist - please ask the staff for further information.The museum is home to the 'Cafe in the Park' selling homemade food during Museum opening hours. The long term display, St Andrews A-Z, is housed in the downstairs gallery. This tells the story of the history of St Andrews through star objects and images from the Museum's collections. The upstairs Kinburn Gallery features a program of changing temporary exhibitions on a wide variety of topics. There is a program of events and activities throughout the year. The museum is open from 10:00am to 5:00pm and admission is free of charge.
Edinburgh Castle (Included as part of your Package)
Edinburgh Castle dominates Scotland's capital city from its great rock. Its story has helped shape the nation's story. Battles and sieges were fought over it, royalty lived and died within its walls, and countless generations have been and inspired by it. Fierce Iron Age warriors defended a hill fort here, and the nation's oldest poetry tells of a war band feasting here for a year before riding to their deaths in battle. The Scots and English struggled for control of the castle during the Wars of Independence. In 1314 it was recaptured from the English in a daring night raid led by Thomas Randolph, nephew of King Robert the Bruce. The castle has sheltered many Scottish monarchs. They include Queen Margaret (later St Margaret), who died here in 1093, and Mary Queen of Scots, who gave birth to James VI in the Royal Palace in 1566. Her great-great-great grandson Charles Edward Stuart - Bonnie Prince Charlie - captured Edinburgh but was unable to take the castle during the 1745-6 Jacobite Rising. In 1996, the Stone of Destiny, on which kings were enthroned for centuries, was returned to Scotland. It is now displayed in the Crown Room. In the 1600s, the castle became a military base. Some buildings were rebuilt and new ones were raised to house a huge garrison - and provide a secure jail for prisoners of war. The military presence remains, but over the last 200 years the castle has become a national icon. It is now Scotland's leading tourist attraction, and a key element of the Edinburgh World Heritage Site.
The Royal Yacht Britannia (Included as part of your Package)
Britannia was launched from the John Brown & Company shipyard in Clydebank on 16 April, 1953. For over 44 years she served the Royal Family, travelling over one million miles to become the most famous ship in the world. To Her Majesty The Queen, Britannia proved to be the perfect royal residence for glittering state visits, official receptions, royal honeymoons and relaxing family holidays. For Great Britain, she was a majestic symbol of the Commonwealth and a proud ambassador. For the Royal Family and dedicated crew of Royal Yachtsmen, she was home.Britannia was the only ship in the world whose Captain traditionally was an Admiral. Nowhere on her side will you see her name, yet she is recognized around the world. She was built for the dual role of becoming a hospital ship if needed. Discover what a typical day aboard the Royal Yacht was like for The Queen. With Britannia playing such a major role in The Queen's life, it is clear why the Royal Yacht's decommissioning was so sad for her. The Royal Yacht Britannia, berthed at Leith, Edinburgh is now a five-star visitor attraction and an exclusive evening events venue.
The Palace of Holyroodhouse (Included as part of your Package)
Founded as a monastery in 1128, the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh is The Queen's official residence in Scotland. Situated at the end of the Royal Mile, the Palace of Holyroodhouse is closely associated with Scotland's turbulent past, including Mary, Queen of Scots, who lived here between 1561 and 1567. Successive kings and queens have made the Palace of Holyroodhouse the premier royal residence in Scotland. Today, the Palace is the setting for State ceremonies and official entertaining. During The Queen's Holyrood week, which usually runs from the end of June to the beginning of July, Her Majesty carries out a wide range of official engagements in Scotland. The Investiture held in the Great Gallery is for Scottish residents whose achievements have been recognized in the twice-yearly Honors List which appears at New Year and on The Queen's Official Birthday in June. King George V and Queen Mary held the first garden party in the grounds of Holyroodhouse and the tradition has been maintained to the present day. Each year, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh entertain around 8,000 guests from all walks of Scottish life during Holyrood week.
EDINBURGH BUS TOUR INFORMATION: VALID FOR 48 HOURS FROM FIRST USE (Included as part of your Package)
One unique ticket is all you need to get the most out of your visit to Edinburgh by exploring the splendors of Scotland's capital city and experiencing its magnificent royal attractions. The Royal Edinburgh Ticket is The only ticket which includes: A fantastic all inclusive ticket with entry to Edinburgh Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse and the Royal Yacht Britannia as well as 48 hours on all 5 city tours. Includes 2 for 1 entry to The Glasshouses at the Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh. The tours are all hop-on hop-off tours so you can jump on and off as you like.
Package Prices
Please Call or E-mail for Package Prices (904) 823 - 3083 / info@sunandfungolfassociation.com
Tentative Itinerary
F, 8/21
Arrive Edinburgh, transfer to hotel & you’ll have free time explore Royal Mile. The Carlton Hotel – Edinburgh
S, 8/22
City tour of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Castle, Royal Britannia Yacht, Holyroodhouse Palace & Royal Edinburgh Tattoo in the evening. The Carlton Hotel – Edinburgh
S, 8/23
Transfer to Gleneagles for an opening round of golf on the historic Kings Course, designed by 5 time Open winner James Braid in 1919. Gleneagles Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort – Perthshire
M, 8/24
Play the PGA Cententary Course at Gleneagles– It is a magnificent Jack Nicklaus design that is host course of the 2014 Ryder Cup. (Cart is Included). Gleneagles Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort – Perthshire
T, 8/25
Transfer to Carnoustie and then on to St. Andrews. You’ll visit where golf history has been made. Play the Kittocks Course at Fairmont St. Andrews featuring stunning views of the Firth of Tay and some of the most beautiful holes in Scottish golf. Old Course Hotel – St. Andrews
W, 8/26
Tour day, starts at St. Andrews Cathedral & continues to the coastal villages of Crail and Anstruther, we’ll also visit the Fisheries Museum & the Secret Bunker. Old Course Hotel – St. Andrews
T, 8/27
Play the New Course, the oldest ‘new’ course in the world. The second course at the Home of Golf was built by the Keeper of the Green Tom Morris in 1895. Old Course Hotel – St. Andrews
F, 8/28
Play Balcomie Links – A combination of stunning coastal views, centuries of history and hugely enjoyable golf makes this one of Scotland’s golfing gems. Old Course Hotel – St. Andrews
S, 8/29
Explore the British Golf Museum then enjoy a Walking Tour of the Old Course. Old Course Hotel – St. Andrews
S, 8/30
AM transfer to and play Kingsbarns Golf Links – Ranked 5th in “World Top 100 Course You Must Play” After golf transfer to Edinburgh for one last night. The Carlton Hotel – Edinburgh
M, 8/31
Depart from Edinburgh Airport
Ocean Ridge
August 21-31, 2015
Scottish Adventure II