Tower
have made up the quartet of golfers to lift the Claret Jug, and
polls now regularly acknowledge the Ailsa as one of Britain’s
top three courses with regular rankings within the world’s top
20.
The ninth (Bruce’s Castle) is a contender for Turnberry’s
trademark hole. Adjacent to the famous lighthouse and the
remains of Robert the Bruce’s Castle (Scottish King from 13061329), this 452-yard par-4 has no bunkers, yet is a daunting par-4
especially from the Championship tee which is perched on
a rocky premonitory on the edge of the sea. www.turnberry.
co.uk
Other golf courses: Royal Troon, Prestwick, Western Gailes.
FIFE
STAY: Fernie Castle. This 450-year old castle situated in 17 acres
of woodlands with its own loch and 20 en-suite rooms is first
glimpsed through the wooded drive as you approach, and once
inside, you will be greeted with a cheery open fire and a warm
welcome from the owners Neil and Mary Blackburn. After
settling in, perhaps enjoy a drink in the stone-vaulted Keep Bar
dating from 1530, before enjoying dinner in the beautiful Auld
Alliance Room, with it’s massive Georgian chandelier, fresh
flowers and candles, all reflected in a huge mirror. The Wallace
Lounge with its turret snuggery is perfect for a quiet drink or
coffee after dinner.
Set in a quiet glade 500 yards from the castle you will find a
five-star hotel suite with a difference. Fernie Castle Treehouse
perched in six lofty sycamores, is first glimpsed through
the pines, rowans and elderberries, the sun glinting on its
copper roof tiles. It appears to grow out of the trees with
the sycamores bursting right through the floor and up out of
the roof. The entry is via a flight of stairs to a balcony where
double doors with striking stained glass lead you into the
bedroom. The bedroom has a huge elm kingsized bed and
other specially designed furniture all hand made with total
comfort in mind including flat screen TV, DVD, CD player and
coffee maker, plus a fridge full of champagne, chocolates and
other goodies. It’s the perfect getaway for romantic golfing
couples.
Within a 45-minute radius of Fernie Castle there are 59 golf
courses and only a 13-mile drive away is the collection of
top-drawer golf courses in the St Andrews’ area including:
Kingsbarns, the Old Course, New Course, Jubilee, Eden,
Fairmont, Duke’s, Kittock’s and the new Castle course. But
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