Peter Craigon from Caddie to Golf Tour Operator

Peter Craigon the owner of the long established golf tour operator Morton Golf Holidays attended the SIGTOA meeting at Gleneagles earlier this week and reflected that every time he visits the hotel and golf resort, whether to see clients, have meetings with the management team or occasionally to play, he is reminded of when he was a caddie there in the 1970s.

"That was a great time in my life and really enhanced my golfing experience" said Peter. "I was brought up in Auchterarder so could cycle the 2 miles to Gleneagles to caddie. There were a bunch of my pals who were all good golfers and we loved working at Gleneagles as caddies.  In those days most of the golfers were from the USA and they all seemed to want to take a caddie !  As well as giving yardages and reading greens when the golfers found out we were all good players we often ended up coaching them to help them get round in the lowest score possible.  The highlight of my caddying career at Gleneagles was when I caddied for the Ryder Cup player Eamon Darcy in the Double Diamond Internationals.  I was with him all week and as well as beating Bruce Devlin amongst others we played with Howard Clark and none other than Lee Trevino – I have never been so nervous on a golf course but I can remember that time as if it was yesterday !"

Now that Peter owns a successful golf tour operator business he likes nothing better than to book caddie rounds for his clients.

"Each year we book around 1200 to 1300 caddie rounds whether at St Andrews, Gleneagles, Kingsbarns or any of the other courses on our tours. We receive so much positive feedback from our golfers it is one of the most satisfying aspects of what we do.  Of course it is not obligatory for a golfer to take a caddie when playing in Scotland but as our clients tell us regularly a caddie can save them maybe 10 shots in one round – and of course a good caddie will tell a few irreverent stories along the way !!"

When you book your next trip to Scotland with Morton Golf Holidays be sure to ask Peter to request caddies for some or all of your rounds.

Contact Peter today by email or visit Morton Golf's website

Dundonald Links Clubhouse Taking Shape

After many false dawns, Dundonald Links in Ayrshire is to have its permanent clubhouse built starting in April of this year.

The course which is owned by Loch Lomond has been a tremendous boon for golfers visiting Ayrshire by being so accessible seven days a week and offering such a high quality layout. And whilst the temporary facilities were better than many permanent clubhouses there was still a sense that it was after all a series of posh portacabins.

The new facility has been designed, perhaps, with half an eye to enticing The Scottish Open to the area and there is no doubt that the design shown below in the architect's drawings is a bold statement. It is sure to delight some and perhaps not others!

Dundonald Links sits within a few miles of Royal Troon and Prestwick and less than forty minutes fro Turnberry. It shares very similar land to Western Gailes to its immedaite west, Gailes Links to the north (Glasgow) and Barassie LInks to the south.

It truly is a wodnerful plot of golfing real estate and offers some trememndous holes and perhaps the best collection of par threes anywhere in Scotland. If you'r visiting Troon for The Open in July ask your tour operator about Dundonald.

In the meantime - what do you think of the artist impressions?

Architects Cove Burgess Portfolio Page

Edinburgh Golf Breaks with Wilkinson Travel Services

Edinburgh is not perhaps the first thought you have when it comes to golfing destinations but in reality it can be a wonderfully deiffernt location from which to base yourself for a golfing trip with friends or family.

Almost equidistant to both Fife and East Lothian's courses it has the addition of world famous histroy and heritage and uear round arts, culture and entertainment.

Gary Wilkinson from Fife based golf operator Wilkinson Travel Services showcases a sample itinerary below.

City centre based golf has become more prevalent in recent years for specific types of groups. Short breaks with  a few nights offers the opportunity to combine theatre and culture visits for example with championship golf. Glasgow gives easy access to Ayrshire whilst Edinburgh offers easy access to fife, East Lothiana and even Gleneagles.

Contact Wilkinson Travel Services for more information or download the PDF.