Gala Dinner. Old Course Hotel. St. Andrews. Society of Liverpool Golf Captains.

PRESS RELEASE - SOCIETY OF LIVERPOOL GOLF CAPTAINS CENTENARY EVENT AT THE HOME OF GOLF - ST. ANDREWS.

Press Release


During the week of 17th August, 2008, the Annual Society of Liverpool Golf Captains Event will convene in St. Andrews, Scotland as part of the centenary celebrations for one of the most prestigious golf organisations in the country. More than 300 society members are expected to attend this gala golf and entertainment event, which has been organised on an unprecedented scale by the St. Andrews based company, St. Andrews Golf Vacations.

Hundreds of red-coated captains from golf clubs across Merseyside are coming to St Andrews, the Home of Golf, where they will be photographed on the steps of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews. The Society has become very special and popular. Its membership includes the captains and past captains, more than 700 men from 27 clubs, and its status and popularity is so great that it is impossible to accept the captains from other, more recently established clubs.

Many Society members will stay in the fantastic St. Andrews University facility, the David Russell Apartments, which were opened in February 2007 by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

On Sunday 17th August, the event kicks off in grand style at the Old Course Hotel, Resort & Spa where the captains have been granted a civic reception, and will be formally welcomed by the Provost of Fife, Councillor Frances Melville.

One of Scotland’s best known entertainers, Joyce Falconer, of BBC1 Scotland River City fame, will also be on hand with her accordion to welcome the captains in traditional Scottish style. Young Falkland piper, John Heaton- Armstrong, aged 13, will play the bagpipes before and after the evening’s festivities.

Over the next three days, the captains will play three of Fife’s finest and historic golf courses – Ladybank, Crail Balcomie and The Duke’s.


Steve Cooke, Managing Director of St. Andrews Golf Vacations, helped the captains select the premier St. Andrews links venues. He suggested the The Duke’s St. Andrews (newly refurbished) as one of the three courses/ He is so impressed with this heathland championship courses that he has become corporate member there.

“Since Herb Kohler bought the Old Course Hotel, Resort & Spa, inheriting The Duke’s as part of the deal, it was obvious that he sought to deliver the same professionalism and quality that are associated with his Whistling Straits courses in Wisconsin (USA). Most of my clients who have played The Dukes are blown away by the experience. Mr. Kohler has left no stone unturned—the staff are magnificent on all levels, and the catering is second to none,” explained Mr Cooke.

Richard Pinn, VisitScotland Regional Director added: “St Andrews is renowned as the home of golf and it is therefore extremely fitting a group as prestigious as the Liverpool Society of Golf Captains should choose this location as part of the celebrations in their centenary year.

“This visit will create an ideal opportunity to showcase what Fife has to offer in terms of golf with three different courses being played; it will also highlight the breadth of accommodation, restaurants and fantastic conference facilities Fife has. Hopefully this will encourage return visits for years to come.”

The second course the captains will enjoy is a true links course, which is a “must” when visiting the area. The Crail Golfing Society - Balcomie Links, established in 1786 and the world’s 7th oldest golf course fitted the bill perfectly.

The third course, guests will play another ‘Links with History’ course, Ladybank Golf Club, established in 1879. Ladybank is used as an Open Qualifying course when the British Open comes to St. Andrews.

Once the golf is completed on Wednesday, at about 7.00pm, one of the most spectacular sights will be seen outside the Royal and Ancient. More than 300 Society members, wearing their long-tailed red jackets, will be photographed by Campbell Savage from the Royal and Ancient, which is believed to be the largest ever group photograph taken outside golf’s most famous building.

The award winning ‘Fife Constabulary Pipe Band’ will be on hand to lead the captains beside the 18th hole of the Old Course, all the way up to the Old Course Hotel, Resort and Spa, where they will be looking forward to pre-meal drinks.

The week will come to a convivial close with a centenary gala dinner, which is the largest ever society dinner ever held in the ‘Hall of Champions’ at the Old Course Hotel.

-Ends –

Notes to Editors

PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES:

• Scottish Celebrity Joyce Falconer will be available to photograph at the Old Course Hotel after 7.00pm
• The largest ever organized photograph outside the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, St. Andrews, will take place on 20th August at 7.00pm
  

For more information, please contact Steve Cooke on golfgroups@aol.com, +44 1337 858888 or +44 7968034414.

The recent weather in St. Andrews. Fife Scotland

Back in 2006, we had the summer to dream of, continuous lovely, hot, sunny weather! Why do the hoards have to go abroad when we can enjoy such climates here. Its this global warming you hear so much about many were saying, but the downside was that it burnt up a lot of golf courses and damaged many greens


In 2007 in the early season, I was looking into getting a sprinkler system sponsored to Falkland Golf club, to save potential damage to the greens. April 2007 was glorious, and in May the heavens opened, and they pretty much have been open ever since, with the odd splidging of good weather in between

Now with the Captains event less than a week away, I am into the lap of the gods as to if 2 years of work pays off and the Captains get a bit of calm, nice and dry, sunny weather

Here is the 10 day weather forecast from weather.com . Leuchars is the RAF base just across the water from St Andrews


Over the weekend we have had what only can be described as a monsoon. The local paper, the Courier describes it quite nicely here

fingers crossed that carts are allowed onto the fairways at the Dukes, or we are going to have fun and games.....

yikes!

Kind Regards

Steve Cooke

MD St Andrews Golf Vacations
134 South Street.
St Andrews.
Fife
Scotland
Telephone +44 1337 858888

90th US PGA Championship - Congratulations to Padraig Harrington

Well done to Padraig Harrington, what a grand fete, eyes popping out like a man possessed, celebrations reminiscent of Seve all those years ago when he slotted one home on the 18th at St. Andrews and pumped his fist in a sheer explosion of relief and adrenaline pumping out of his ears! How it must feel, us average golfers can only imagine and dream!


Myself and Robbie were fortunate enough to meet the great man after his Open Victory at Carnoustie last year. We have a friend who manages the Titleist wagon at Pga European Tour events and had invited us to take a look at during last years Annual Dunhill Cup at St. Andrews, Kingbarns and Carnoustie

We had a coffee, and it was like a who's who, of the golf and entertainment world from each passing minute, discussing Arsenal with Ian Poulter, and Hugh Grant cracking a joke the next.
Padraig entered the vehicle and we got talking about our beloved Leeds United. I had heard he was a Leeds fan like the best of us, however my heart sank as he told how he used to be a big Leeds fan, but the Bowyer and Woodgate scandal had tainted his support and he had changed allegiances! The man has no shame!

Having dealt with Colin Montgomerie in the past, I asked him also about his love for Chelsea, and where this left Leeds, and told me not to worry, he still supported Leeds, and only had a soft spot for Chelsea as he used to live near the ground, and they also gifted him a shirt with Monty on it!
The man has no shame part 2!

Kind Regards

Steve Cooke

MD St Andrews Golf Vacations
134 South Street.
St Andrews.
Fife
Scotland
Telephone +44 1337 858888

www.golfgroups.org

People to thank for their help in making this event come together

Its only a few days left till the big Captains event kicks off....

It all started about 2 years ago when I received a call to see if I could cater for 350 or so golfers!

I've said it before, and no doubt I will say it again....

This has been all about teamwork

I'll start off with my mates Robbie Harrison and John Lambton spending hours putting golf courses into our database to boost our rankings in Google (shameless!) but that's whats allowed us to cut back on costs, we didn't have the budget some of these 'super golf tour ops' seem to have, more than likely because they like to charge ridiculous amount of money.... if people want to throw away silly amounts of money to see a plastic version of Scotland, then feel free! For those that want value for money then contact us at golfgroups@aol.com

Robbie has become the Sales and Marketing Manager and is enjoying learning the industry with each passing week, a more honest guy you are not likely to meet

Without the help of David Morris from the Society of Liverpool Golf Captains, and his team including Eddy Hampson, Dennis Boardman and Derek, with some cameo players in between, this would have been a very difficult job to organise, they have been a pleasure to work with, although at the beginning, we realised it was going to be quite a task organising something as massive as this event

I'm going to mention this here, David Morris has been to St. Andrews about 10 times in the past 2 years, working directly with me, sometimes he's travelled from Liverpool and not even brought his clubs to the home of golf!
He stayed in the Russell Hotel several times, and did a couple of trial stays in the David Russell Apartments! Basically, David has spent a small fortune as have others making this happen for over 300 Captains and Past Captains, if David ever walks into one of the 26 other clubs in the Society, I'd suggest they have a beer waiting for him, or I'll stand the drop of York!!

Another strange twist of fate has come in the form of Mr Campbell Savage, who I kind of met all at once in several ways!

He is the Junior Convener at Ladybank, and is doing a terrific job, always with a smile, and always got time for the kids, the next generation of the game, something myself and Lorna Henry hoped to achieve at Falkland Golf Club during my eventful reign as Captain last year, alas. due to draconian attitudes by a select few on the Committee, this will see the Club eventually fold, as the next generation of golfers get restricted beyond belief and got a bit annoyed with the whole state of affairs, its a vicious circle that needs repairing before the disease becomes terminal
Well done Ladybank, take heed Falkland Golf Club! Its not rocket science and everyone is allowed to have an idea and move with the times, its not something exclusive for other people!

Campbell also happened to be a very good friend of David Morris's, when this is all over, I'm hoping that the 3 of us and Robbie can have an evening in Campbell's back garden, chimenea going strong, and the odd mixture with Pimms! Not an occasion for the faint hearted
Campbell is also in charge of taking the photograph outside the Royal and Ancient on the Weds evening, still trying to find him a megaphone, as the police don't have one, I'm sure the Society must have some former Generals who could do the job without the use of a megaphone

My good mate Bill Murray from Mac Mur Tours must also get a mention, not only a professional, but a damned good bloke, who leaves his mark on all those people he meets, and are fortunate enough to meet him, he knows me well enough to know that this is sincere. hey Bill look what I managed to get for you thanks to my friend Alan Pryke


Alan Pryke, well actually, Alan's going to get a whole page of his own sometime soon! The words Thank You don't do this gentleman and multi talented man any justice!

A few thank you's to:

The staff at the University have been excellent, the Golf Courses and their staff have been accommodating and polite, special mention to Sandy Smith Golf Professional at Ladybank
There have been so many people we have dealt with over the duration of the build up to this event, Scotia Carts, the catering staff at each club, stagecoach, Margaret Mackie at the St. Andrews Citizen, Levenmouth Printers, Kate Hughes from Fife Council, Provost of Fife, Cllr Frances Melville and her staff. My staff at the Barber's Pole, Jo, Marie, Christina and Allison.
Tracy Logan from Visit Scotland, Iain and John from Blue Crags

The staff at the Old Course Hotel, Resort & Spa and the Dukes deserve mention. Jason Schelenberg helped me with the BIG bits of the event right at the start, and it was quite good fun negotiating the contract. I've pretty much dealt with Phyllis Wilkie hands on since the contract was signed and understood, again its been an excellent learning curve for all concerned! Lisa Parker, Clare Cochran, and Richard Ellison have been introduced to us over time as we are putting the garnish on the event. Ron the Professional at the Dukes and his staff who are always helpful. Martin in the kitchen at the Dukes, Alan McColm always helpful

Last but not least, my wife who has put up with me and been very supportive over the years I've been looking forward to getting involved with something as grand as this

I'm chuffed to bits chuck, as Cilla would say.... to be sitting on the top table with some very accomplished people is the icing on the cake for me

one last thing.... please please please rain gods, no crappy weather between 17th and 20th August!

Steve Cooke. MD
St. Andrews Golf Vacations
134 South Street.
St. Andrews.
KY16 9EQ
Scotland. UK

W : http://www.golfgroups.org

E : golfgroups@aol.com
T : +44 1337 858888
M : +44 7968034414