There’s no more Scottish an image than that of a castle
surrounded by swirling mist. Most of Scotland’s castles
ooze a colourful and turbulent history… the stuff of
swashbucklers, legends and ghost stories. All the classic
imagery can be found in abundance: secret passageways,
spiral staircases, dungeons, haunted rooms, four-poster
beds, old oil paintings, chandeliers, suites of armour, stuffed
game and roaring log fires…
The good news is that you can spend the night at many
castles and several have top drawer golf courses right on their
doorstep or a short drive away. Here are six of the best castle
and golf course combinations in different regions of Scotland:
AYRSHIRE
STAY: Culzean Castle. There’s a sense of anticipation as you
drive the twisting wooded laneway towards the front door of
this storybook castle. In a truly spectacular setting, Culzean
stands dramatically on a rocky promontory on the Ayrshire
coast commanding views across the sea to the mountains of
Arran and the Mull of Kintyre. Designed by noted Scottish
architect, Robert Adam, Culzean is considered one of the
finest examples of a Georgian castle in the country, the Oval
Staircase and Circular Saloon being standout features of his
work.
The castle has strong connections with the USA, and the
Scottish people donated the top floor to General Dwight D.
Eisenhower after World War II, as a token of their appreciation
for his role in the victory. Besides Eisenhower memorabilia and
fine 18th century furniture, there’s an extensive collection of
armour and weapons dating from the 17th century.
The luxury Eisenhower apartment has six double/
twin bedrooms that are available as either individual
accommodation or for groups of up to twelve. Fine Scottish
cuisine is served in the dining room and guests can relax in the
drawing room offering dramatic sea views. Culzean is a unique
choice for the discerning golfer. www.culzeanexperience.org
PLAY: Turnberry. A few miles down the coast awaits the
world-class links of Turnberry, venue for the British Open
Championship 2009. The Ailsa course came to international
prominence with the infamous ‘Duel in the Sun’ between Tom
Watson (champion) and Jack Nicklaus over four sweltering
days during July 77. Since then, Greg Norman (86), Nick Price
(94) and most recently Stewart Cink (09) (when Tom Watson
narrowly missed out to become the oldest winner in history)
Volume 3 • Issue 25
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