Fairmont St. Andrews to commence a £10m refurbishment programme in January 2016

Fairmont St Andrews, the five-star, award winning hotel at the ‘Home of Golf’, will undertake a multi-million pound interior refurbishment programme over the next 18 months to further elevate its prestigious facilities.

The resort hotel, which was recently awarded ‘Winner of best large hotel with 50 rooms or more’ at the 2015 Scottish Golf Tourism Awards will see the capital investment offering guest stunning new interiors for all of the public areas as well as all bathrooms and suites. 

The Fairmont St Andrews features heavily in most if not all of the programmes of the members of the Scottish Incoming Golf Tour Operators Association and the news of the developments is good for operators offering the visitor to St Andrews an even more memorable luxury experience.

The result will see the existing atrium area transformed with new features including the installation of a stunning bespoke lighting sculpture by renowned designer George Singer. The renovation will marry modern interior design with St. Andrews’ legacy as the ‘Home of Golf’ and will draw on the skills of local artisans and workers.

Commencing in January 2016, the refurbishment programme has been planned to maximise the experience for leisure, corporate and event guests at one of Scotland’s leading hotels and will be carried out in phases so as not to interrupt normal business at the hotel. The refurbishment will begin with the re-modelling of the Kittocks Den Bar, the lobby and the atrium followed by the corridors and bathrooms.

John Keating, Fairmont St Andrews general manager said, "We are committed to ensuring the hotel remains one of the most prestigious resort properties in Europe and therefore are continuing to invest to ensure our bedrooms and facilities exceed guest expectations."

The 520-acre estate has commanding views over the Tay Estuary, the North Sea and the St Andrews medieval skyline as well as boasting two championship golf courses and impressive conference and event facilities. The hotel is a major draw for US, Chinese and European guests who consider St. Andrews one of the most significant golf locations to visit, as well as an in-demand venue for business meetings and private milestone events.

Opened in 2001, the hotel has helped greatly to boost the local economy not only providing additional high quality accommodation but also in adding 36 holes at a time when St Andrews and Fife most needed it. Since then the hotel has continued to reinvest in adapting and upgrading ensuring that the visitor experience improves year on year. The hotel being so close to the old town has become a permanent fixture on the itineraries of many returning golf trips and is widely used by SIGTOA for their clients.

You can find out more about your golf trip to St Andrews and The Fairmont on the SIGTOA website

Royal Troon Open 2016 Ticket Prices Released

The R&A have today released details on prices and ticket information for the Open 2016 to be held at Royal Troon,

As ever the members of the Scottish Incoming Golf Tour Operators' Association have a host of great packages available for the 145th Open Championship and these include accommodation, season tickets, corporate hospitality and transfers. Clients will also be able to enjoy golf over some magnificent Ayrshire links golf courses and enjoy a Taste of Ayrshire in the abundance of restaurants in the area.

We are in the process of compiling the SIGTOA Guide to Troon 2016 which will feature recommendations on where to stay, play and enjoy the 19th Hole in the historic seaside town. Keep an eye open on the website and Facebook for more information.

The announcement from The R&A highlights new ticket and pricing options including a new twilight ticket offering entry to the course from 4pm onwards on Thursday and Friday of Championship week for £25. A limited number are available and spectators are urged to purchase in advance.

Tickets for the Championship are now on sale with the price of an adult daily ticket, purchased before 31 May, changing to £60, which is £10 less than in 2015, and £80 thereafter.

Weekly tickets, valid from Sunday 10 to Sunday 17 July inclusive, are available for £230 before 31 May, a saving of £95 on the daily ticket prices for the full week and £10 less than in 2015, and £260 thereafter.

Children aged under 16, who are accompanied by an adult, receive free entry to The Open. For youths, aged 16-21, a daily ticket costs £25 before 31 May and £30 thereafter.

You can be sure of a great week in Troon next July; SIGTOA members can help you make it even more memorable.

More great news for Scotland's golfing calendar with the announcement that The Solheim Cup will be played at The Gleneagles Hotel in 2019 after the Ladies European Tour voted to stage the event in Scotland, the Home of Golf for the third time in its history.

The event is regarded as the biggest tournament in women’s golf and will pit the best female professional golfers in Europe against their United States counterparts, attracting a huge worldwide audience and media profile for the host country.

And now, just five years on from hosting what was dubbed the “best-ever” Ryder Cup in September 2014, The PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles will be the venue for the biggest event in women’s golf following Scotland’s successful bid.

Commenting on the news that the Ladies European Tour’s Board voted in favour of Scotland, The Right Honourable Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland MSP, said: “This is tremendous news, not only for golf tourism and events in Scotland but for Scotland as a whole. As a nation we take a huge amount of pride in welcoming major events to our country and in women’s golf they don’t come any bigger than The Solheim Cup.

“The outstanding success of 2014 still looms large in the memory and I am delighted that Gleneagles and Scotland will once again play host to a major international team golf event. It will help cement Scotland’s reputation as the Home of Golf and the perfect stage for major golf events and help inspire a new generation of children to take up the game invented in their home country.”

Ronnie Pook from Scotland's Incoming Golf Tour Operators added, "The hosting of events such as The Solheim Cup certainly help us in promoting Scotland as a premier golf destination and the Solheim reinforces that Scotland is the very best destination for golfer of both sexes. SIGTOA members look forward to not only inviting visitors to watch the event but also to continue to build the number of femalse golfers visiting and playing golf in Scotland"

Scotland’s bid, which was led by the EventScotland team within VisitScotland’s Events Directorate and backed by The Scottish Government, was submitted in August and received huge support from stars across the golfing, sporting and media spectrum.

Following the initial submission, a delegation from the Ladies European Tour visited Gleneagles as part of an official site inspection, where they met key partners who will be involved in the staging of the event including VisitScotland, The Scottish Government, Gleneagles, Perth & Kinross Council, Transport Scotland and Police Scotland. To show the nation’s support for the bid, they were also welcomed at The Scottish Parliament by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Minister for Sport, Health Improvement and Mental Health Jamie Hepburn.

Bernard Murphy, Managing Director of The Gleneagles Hotel, said: “We are extremely proud to be chosen as the host venue for The 2019 Solheim Cup. Gleneagles has a great history of holding major international events and we are delighted to be able to add The Solheim Cup to that list. We look forward to welcoming the teams and spectators from both sides in 2019 to take part in what we are sure will be yet another memorable event.”

The Solheim Cup has grown in stature since it was last held in Scotland at Loch Lomond in 2000. The event at Gleneagles is expected to attract more than 100,000 spectators as well as being screened to hundreds of millions of homes across the globe.

Much like The Ryder Cup in 2014, Scotland will look to capitalise on the legacy associated with hosting such a major international sporting event. A key focus will be looking to drive participation in the game, with a particular emphasis on junior and family participation.

The event will also add to Scotland’s already impressive portfolio of world-class golf events lined up in future years, which includes The Open Championship in 2016 and 2018, the Senior Open Championship in 2016 and the Ricoh Women’s British Open in 2017 in addition to the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open and Ladies Scottish Open on an annual basis.

It will also take place just a year after the recently-announced inaugural European Golf Team Championships at Gleneagles in 2018, which will see professional men and women golfers compete for the first time in the same competition.

Mike Cantlay, Chairman of VisitScotland, added: “Hosting major international sporting events is a key strand in our National Events Strategy, The Perfect Stage, and the fact that we can now add The 2019 Solheim Cup to an already envied list is fantastic news for Scotland.

“Golf is one of our key drivers for inbound tourism and hosting The Solheim Cup in 2019 will ensure that we continue to play on the world stage when it comes to major golf events. We are looking forward to once again welcoming spectators from Europe and the US and showing the world how Scotland embraces major events.”

Solheim Cup Returns to Scotland

More good news for Scotland - The Home of Golf with the announcement today that The Solheim Cup will be played at The Gleneagles Hotel in 2019 after the Ladies European Tour voted to stage the event in Scotland for the third time in its history.

The event is regarded as the biggest tournament in women’s golf and will pit the best female professional golfers in Europe against their United States counterparts, attracting a huge worldwide audience and media profile for the host country.

And now, just five years on from hosting what was dubbed the “best-ever” Ryder Cup in September 2014, The PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles will be the venue for the biggest event in women’s golf following Scotland’s successful bid.

Commenting on the news that the Ladies European Tour’s Board voted in favour of Scotland, The Right Honourable Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland MSP, said: “This is tremendous news, not only for golf tourism and events in Scotland but for Scotland as a whole. As a nation we take a huge amount of pride in welcoming major events to our country and in women’s golf they don’t come any bigger than The Solheim Cup.

“The outstanding success of 2014 still looms large in the memory and I am delighted that Gleneagles and Scotland will once again play host to a major international team golf event. It will help cement Scotland’s reputation as the Home of Golf and the perfect stage for major golf events and help inspire a new generation of children to take up the game invented in their home country.”

Scotland’s bid, which was led by the EventScotland team within VisitScotland’s Events Directorate and backed by The Scottish Government, was submitted in August and received huge support from stars across the golfing, sporting and media spectrum.

Following the initial submission, a delegation from the Ladies European Tour visited Gleneagles as part of an official site inspection, where they met key partners who will be involved in the staging of the event including VisitScotland, The Scottish Government, Gleneagles, Perth & Kinross Council, Transport Scotland and Police Scotland. To show the nation’s support for the bid, they were also welcomed at The Scottish Parliament by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Minister for Sport, Health Improvement and Mental Health Jamie Hepburn.

Ronnie Pook, Chair of the Scottish Incoming Golf Tour Operators' Association, said: 

It's great new that another major event of this calibre is coming to Scotland. All the coverage that goes with hosting tournaments like this one, The Ryder Cup, Scottish Open and of course The Open itself all add to the mystique of Scotland as a must place to visit. As Tour Operators we are all very aware of the increased number of women golfers playing in Scotland whether with partners and family, in mixed groups or all female parties. It is great that the Ladies game is going to take centre stage in Scotland.

The Solheim Cup has grown in stature since it was last held in Scotland at Loch Lomond in 2000. The event at Gleneagles is expected to attract more than 100,000 spectators as well as being screened to hundreds of millions of homes across the globe.

Much like The Ryder Cup in 2014, Scotland will look to capitalise on the legacy associated with hosting such a major international sporting event. A key focus will be looking to drive participation in the game, with a particular emphasis on junior and family participation.

The event will also add to Scotland’s already impressive portfolio of world-class golf events lined up in future years, which includes The Open Championship in 2016 and 2018, the Senior Open Championship in 2016 and the Ricoh Women’s British Open in 2017 in addition to the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open and Ladies Scottish Open on an annual basis.

It will also take place just a year after the recently-announced inaugural European Golf Team Championships at Gleneagles in 2018, which will see professional men and women golfers compete for the first time in the same competition.

Mike Cantlay, Chairman of VisitScotland, added: “Hosting major international sporting events is a key strand in our National Events Strategy, The Perfect Stage, and the fact that we can now add The 2019 Solheim Cup to an already envied list is fantastic news for Scotland.

“Golf is one of our key drivers for inbound tourism and hosting The Solheim Cup in 2019 will ensure that we continue to play on the world stage when it comes to major golf events. We are looking forward to once again welcoming spectators from Europe and the US and showing the world how Scotland embraces major events.”

Visit the Open Championship with Best of Scotland Holidays

Fife based SIGTOA members Best of Scotland Holidays have shared this 2016 Royal Troon Open Championship package with us. 

• Royal Troon Golf Club, Troon, Ayrshire  
• 14th-17th July 2016
• 5 nights Accom; Full Breakfasts;
• 3 Dinners; 4 Packed Lunches; All
• Travel from Glasgow to Troon;
• Open Golf Season Ticket & VAT

Price: £1399 per person

The Open will return to the Ayrshire coast in 2016 when the 145th Championship is played at Royal Troon and it will be the ninth time that the Championship has been held over the famous links, most recently in 2004 when veteran American Todd Hamilton overcame three-time major champion Ernie Els in a play-off.

For the first sixty years of The Open’s history, the Championship’s visits to south west Scotland were confined to Prestwick, Troon’s next-door neighbour. In 1923, all that changed: The Open came to Troon for the first time, and since then it has become a regular venue having hosted the Championship on eight occasions - 1923, 1950, 1962, 1973, 1982, 1989, 1997 and 2004.

Best of Scotland Holiday's package is based in Glasgow, not far from Royal Troon, and you will travel by Golflink train to Troon. Your hotel stay will be in the Glasgow Jury’s Inn Hotel, a few minutes’ walk from Central Station.

The four star Glasgow hotel is also a stone’s throw away from a plethora of restaurants and bars, a three minute walk from St Enoch shopping centre and just around the corner from The Arches, a unique bar, club and arts venue located beneath Glasgow’s Central Station.

All of the 321 rooms are en-suite and come with complimentary toiletries, a flat screen TV, free Wi-Fi, air conditioning and room service available 24 hours. To ensure a comfortable night’s sleep, the rooms are equipped with large soft beds, with extra pillows and linen available on request.

Enjoy the best of both worlds - staying in Scotland's vibrant city of Glasgow and experiencing the greatest golf spectacle in the world, The Open at Royal Troon!

Included in your package price is:

• 5 nights’ accommodation sharing a twin/double room in the 4 star Jury’s Inn Hotel, Glasgow (13th - 17th July)
• Full Scottish Breakfast daily
• 3 dinners in your hotel (simply advise the hotel which nights you would like to dine)
• Packed lunches for the four championship days (14th - 17th July)
• Return standard class rail tickets (Glasgow Central station to Troon, approx. 55mins on the four championship days (14th - 17th July)
• Season ticket for the 2016 Open Championship (14th - 17th July)
• VAT @ 20%

Best of Scotland Holidays cane can change any of the above, except the dates/hotel, and custom build a package to suit your needs. Why not play on some of the great golf courses in the west of Scotland while you are there? We will book your tee-times for you. Prefer to have a rental car instead of the train? No bother, we will organise this for you.

Find out more about Best of Scotland Holidays

2016 Troon Open Packages from Morton Golf

With the majority of the golf season now over for most Scottish visitors it might be time to take a look at what's going on in 2016.

The Open Championship return to Scotland again, this time to the Ayrshire coast and the wonderful Royal Troon Golf Club.

Most if not all of the members of the Scottish Incoming Golf Tour Operators will be offering packages and bespoke solutions to the Open Championship. Here's a sample of what's available from Morton Golf

British Open at Royal Troon / 2016

Four night package includes:

• 4 x nights' accommodation in a 4* Glasgow hotel 
• Full Scottish breakfast
• Official tickets for 4 championship days of the British Open 
• Transport by private coach to and from the British Open ( Thursday to Sunday ) 
• Trip Information summary including sightseeing guide to Glasgow 
• All bookings subject to availability
• Deposits required to confirm bookings
• We recommend all clients take Travel Insurance

Seven night package includes :

• 7 x nights' accommodation in a 4* Glasgow hotel 
• Full Scottish breakfast
• Official tickets for 2 championship days of the British Open 
• 3 x rounds of golf ( courses may be selected from Prestwick, Dundonald Links, Kilmarnock Barassie, Western Gailes ) 
• Transport by private coach to and from the British Open ( Thursday to Sunday ) - airport transfers not included
• Trip Information summary including sightseeing guide to Glasgow
• All bookings subject to availability
• Deposits required to confirm bookings
• We recommend all clients take Travel Insurance

Find out more about Morton Golf Holidays 

Tributes Paid to Martin Roy

Members of the Scottish Incoming Golf Tour Operators Association, like the rest of the Scottish golfing world in Tayside, have been expressing their condolences following the death last week of Carnoustie’s award-winning caddie master Martin Roy.

Martin Roy was a fixture beside the first tee of the championship course for more than quarter of a century and in that time carried a bag for many a famous face and helped thousands of SIGTOA clients get the most from their round at the Championship Links.

Born in Glasgow, Mr Roy was brought up in Carnoustie and played golf from a young age before starting work at Carnoustie Golf Links in 1984

He was awarded the Caddie Master of the Year title from Golf Tourism Scotland in 2008 and 2011 (picture)  and he was inducted into the Professional Caddie Association of America’s Hall of Fame, becoming the first non-American caddie master to be bestowed the honour.

Martin devoted his life to Carnoustie and was known to go that extra mile to ensure a visiting golfer had the very best experience during their visit with up to 9000 caddie requests fulfilled every year.

Gary Wilkinson representing SIGTOA said,

“Martin Roy will be much missed by tour operators and their clients alike and the members of SIGTOA extend their sympathy to his family at such a difficult time. He was not only a work partner but a friend to so many of us and he will be greatly missed”