Concierge at Old Course Hotel

Hi folks!

We’ve been so busy at the resort over recent weeks, kicking off a couple weeks before Easter when we had the great pleasure of welcoming the Manchester United football team to the Hotel. The lads came to stay with us the weekend before their crunch game against Blackburn. A few of the gents even managed to get their hands on the famous Claret Jug when the squad took time out on our fourth floor … and the twittersphere went mad with snaps of the football stars in the Home of Golf!

The following weekend, Easter weekend in fact, we had a visit from some more famous faces. The world of golf got a bit of a shock when Edinburgh’s favourite residents, Tian Tian & Yang Guan, were spotted on the iconic Swilcan Bridge … not the real pandas of course, but good enough for all those around to get some great snaps. I’m pleased to say the walkabout Pandas went down a treat with our guests and St Andrews visitors, and the couple were later spotted mingling with families and getting everyone into the Easter holiday spirit. We were all bamboozled!

Away from home, we’ve been busy too. Our Marketing & PR Manager, Deborah Luna Rose, has been in Stockholm updating our friends in Sweden on the very exciting Hamilton Grand development.  Away in Korea, Mark Gardner, Hamilton Grand Sales Manager has been spreading the word there and our Golf Development Manager, Iain Marr, has been out in Korea too, meeting with tour operators from across south east Asia to spread the word on the resort.  Resort Director of Sales, Helen Parker, heads out to Dubai this with the Hamilton Grand team, phew, busy team!

If any of you managed to get to the excellent Visit Scotland Expo at the Highland Centre just outside Edinburgh, you may have come across our Head of Sales, Amanda Fleck, who was updating all on our outrageous five star experiences.

So what’s next? Don’t be fooled into thinking we’re getting a break!  Oh no, not when we’re in the midst of planning a very exciting re-launch of our famous Road Hole Restaurant … and Head Chef, Ross Marshall, has just been confirmed a judge at this year’s Scotland Food & Drink Awards, so ‘chef hats’ off to Ross – we are very proud of him. Check back soon and make sure you follow us on Twitter - @OldCourseHotel – for the very latest news from across the resort and click the links on the team to follow them on their travels!

Take care.

Ralph

Hi folks! Welcome back to the Old Course Hotel concierge blog.

I recently had the pleasure of meeting a very interesting man and his bird (literally). Wayne Poole from Fife Falconry brought his beautiful Russian Steppe Eagle Olga along to the Hotel for the morning. It really was exciting to get so close to such a stunning creature, Olga, was so graceful.

I am always looking for exciting activities that our guests might be interested in so when I met Wayne and Olga I just knew that I had to write this post to tell you.  Fife Falconry offers a number of different packages to choose from whether you are looking for a short introductory session or a display for your team of colleagues.

Wayne and his wife Roma have 35 beautiful birds of prey ranging from eagles to falcons, gorgeous owls and even a vulture named Vomit! During breading season you can meet with the fluffy chicks before they grow up to be the majestic bird of prey!

Meet the Birds is a great introductory session for groups of eight or more.  Your group have a chance to experience up to 7 birds. Wayne will tell you all you need to know about the birds: a little bit of history about each bird, their hunting patterns and their natural habitat.  All guests must participate in the Meet the Birds session before they can take part in any of the other, more advanced sessions. While these birds are very graceful and well behaved, some people can find them a little intimidating so it’s essential that you know exactly what to expect before you start to interact with the birds. Some of the more interactive sessions include – Falconry Experience Days (lasting 3+ hours), Hawk Walks and Hunting Days.

If you are planning a trip to the Hotel and these Falconry activities sound like something you would like to do then please do get in touch. Of course, if you would like any other suggestions then do let me know, I have plenty of ideas to keep your family entertained while you’re here.

Hope to see you all at the Christmas Emporium this weekend. ..I’ll be the one dressed in a red suit and white beard! I have been given the great honour of switching on the Christmas lights in St Andrews so please do join me as I start the procession from the Hotel to town at 5.00pm.

Take Care

Ralph

Hello folks, welcome back!

Well we’ve reached that time of year again…the party season! I love it!! As we have so many great things going on in the Hotel over the next few weeks that I thought I would share the list with you. A few dates into your diary!

 Tuesday 22^nd November – Thanksgiving Day in Sands Grill

Thanksgiving is a day for celebrating, relaxing with friends and above all…eating! Join us in the Sands Grill for a feast of traditional dishes including clam chowder and pumpkin pie!

Click here for more details.

Saturday 26^th November – Our magical Christmas Emporium

On Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th of November the Hotel will be transformed into a sparkling winter wonderland with a multitude of festivities on offer including Christmas cake decorating, Christmas dinner demonstrations, spa makeovers and Christmas gift ideas provided by The Duke’s, Mapping & Webb, Golfino and members of the Fife Craft Association. Oh and keep an eye out for Santa Claus…he may look familiar!

 Please visit our website for full details of all the events over the weekend.

1^st December to 23^rd December – Pre Christmas Lunches and Dinners

 If you are planning a catch up with friends and family before Christmas or if your work is looking for an alternative to a Christmas Party Night then why not come along to the Sands Grill for a deliciously festive three course meal and a glass of bubbly.

 Please click here for more information.

Christmas Party Nights

Friday 9^th & 16^th December – The Oscars Night

Saturday 10^th & 17^th December – Masquerade Ball

The legendary Christmas Party Nights at the Old Course Hotel combine sophisticated glamour with festive fun, while the delicious cuisine, delectable wine and world-class entertainment ensure a Christmas night out to remember.

Choose from two themes – The Oscars Night or the Masquerade Ball. Both include a glass of fizz on arrival, three course meal and a half bottle of wine per person then dance the night away!

 Please click here for more information.

If you would like to know more details on any of the events listed above then please do get in touch. I do hope to see you all at the Hotel at some point over the coming months. If you can make it along then don’t forget to come over to say hello!

 Take care

 Ralph

 Last year the Hotel asked my colleagues and I to vote for the one charity that we wanted to sponsor by focusing all our fundraising efforts on. It was a unanimous decision, CHAS – Children’s Hospice Association Scotland- was to be our charity. Since then we have held a number of events to raise money for such a worthy cause including a number of golf events at The Duke’s and we donated the proceeds from our annual associates’ ball.

 A couple of weeks ago myself and a team of associates had the real honour of visiting Rachel House in Kinross. Rachel House was Scotland’s first children’s hospice when it opened in March 1996. As a purpose-built hospice the team provide ongoing support for up to 200 families across Scotland each year. In their own words CHAS “offers a professional care, practical help and emotional support to the whole family usually from the day of acceptance, to the death of their child and beyond.”

 For one family CHAS created a pretend beach so that their very ill baby, who had never experienced the seaside, could feel what it was like to play in the sand. This is just one example of the many amazing things that CHAS can do to help support a family through a very difficult time.

It is very difficult to put into words what visiting Rachel House was like however it is evident that all the money that we raise is going to a great charity and it is very much appreciated by all the care workers and volunteers involved with CHAS. All the staff we met on the day were very passionate and enthusiastic about all the work they do. Some of the numbers that were mentioned were truly staggering! For example, £10,000 will pay for one of the special bath units and in total a figure of £6 million is needed to run CHAS every year.

 Our visit to Rachel House really did inspire us. We came away with so many ideas of how we can help the charity. Have a look at their website http://www.chas.org.uk/ or sign up to their Facebook and Twitter pages, there are many tips on how you can help raise money. Whether you buy a pack of their Christmas cards or hold a pub quiz at your local, I promise you the money you give will go toward a truly deserving cause.

Our Visit to Rachel House, Kinross. From left - Jenna McCarroll, Alan Martin, Me, Emma Ruth Liston

With warm regards

Ralph

Hello everyone, Ralph here

 Here at the Hotel the gents and I in the Concierge team are happy to book a range of activities for our guests. Salmon fishing is a very popular activity, from groups of Swedish golfers on a boys getaway to rock stars looking to experience a bit of Scotland.

 In just over 30 minutes from the Hotel we will transport you to the beautiful Perthshire countryside where the Tay Salmon Fisheries Company will take you out on the River Tay. The stretch of river situated in the town of Cargill is one of the most productive and best known beats for salmon fishing on the River Tay. The beat is divided into two double bank beats, upper and lower Cargill which are fished on alternate days. Your trip on the Tay will be accompanied by a Ghillie, with expert knowledge of the stretch of water the Ghillie will guide you to the best spots. If you’re new to the sport then your Ghillie will show you the ropes…or rods should I say!

Fishing may be an activity to enjoy with friends or a chance to escape but of course the real goal is to catch a salmon. In the 2010 season Cargill produced 419 Salmon with 60 over 20lbs and the largest Salmon for the year a cracking 34lb! So I’d say you’ve got a good chance!

If you are planning a trip to the Hotel and would like to enquire about adding salmon fishing to your trip then please do let me know.

 Best wishes…or as the Ghillies might say…Tight Lines!

 Ralph

Hi folks, Ralph here again. I am very much looking forward to another great event in Fife, the RAF Leuchars Air Show on Saturday 10th September 2011. It’s fantastic to watch all the air display, my personal highlight this year will be the Vulcan display, it really is very impressive to watch. Watching the air show takes me back to when I was a wee laddie and I used to dream of flying a fighter plane!

This year The Duke’s Clubhouse at Craigtoun will host a family BBQ offering scrumptious BBQ food and spectacular views of the air show with the added bonus of missing the heavy traffic on the A91. The Duke’s will lay on a real five–star feast for guests including a succulent spit roasted piglet with apple sauce, sensational sausages, homemade burgers and organic salmon and trout. And for those with a sweet tooth, there will be an array of summer deserts including lemon tart with Fife raspberries and Scottish Berries with clotted cream. Just typing it is making my mouth water!

View from The Duke's Clubhouse

From its location high above St Andrews The Duke’s Clubhouse offers the perfect view point for the air show. The floor to ceiling windows and balcony expose the breath-taking views of the town of St Andrews over to Dundee and across the North Sea. There’s no need to worry if it rains as there is plenty of space indoors and we have the perfect sheltered spot for the BBQ. All in all it promises to be a wonderful family day out.

Tickets for the event cost just £25.00 per person -half–price for children – and are on sale from events@oldcoursehotel.co.uk or by calling 01334 474371.

If you do head along to The Duke’s for the Air Show then please do take some photos and post them on our Facebook page. As always I love to hear your comments and suggestions.

Take care

Ralph

P.S. I couldn’t resist posting this picture of a Vulcan Bomber….

On behalf of everyone here at the Hotel I would like to say thank you to all those who participated in the Duck Hunt this summer! It has been brilliant looking at all the smashing pictures of Robbie on his holidays.

Robbie certainly has been a very lucky duck, visiting so many places and with so many great families. He has been all over Europe visiting Pompeii, sunny Palma, and the romantic city of Paris. Robbie has proved to be a bit of an adventurer canoeing in Ardovie, sea kayaking in Puerto Pollensa and he even visited Mount Vesuvius. We’ve also seen pictures of Robbie enjoying the beautiful Scottish scenery in Fife, Angus, Perthshire, the Kyles of Bute and the beautiful islands of Orkney. Of course Robbie couldn’t stay away from his beloved golf as he visited the Open Championship at Royal St George, Turnberry, Celtic Manor, Montrose Golf Club and a spot of putting on Himalayas in St Andrews. Phew…Robbie has had a very busy holiday!

Choosing our winners certainly was a very difficult task, we would have love to have awarded all the families for posting such imaginative and beautiful pictures. Our winners have had the choice of one of a selection of fantastic prizes including one night at the Old Course Hotel for all the family, a helicopter ride over St Andrews, a family membership to the National Trust, lunch in the Jigger Inn, family golf lessons at The Duke’s and family afternoon tea. We hope you will agree that our winners have posted some cracking pictures.

Take care

Ralph

The winning picture from June Kerr - Robbie at the Roman Forum

Our runner up Senga Thorpe - Robbie with his new girlfriend Carrie

Our runner up Kate Andrerson- Robbie with the Lords and Ladies

Runner up Jamie Cameron - Joining in on the fun on La Ramblas, Barcelona

Runner up Amanda Parker - Sailing around Bute and Argyll

Runner Up John Gribben - Under a vintage Beatle at the Riverside Museum in Glasgow

Runner Up Jan Constable- Robbie makes friends at Butterfly World

Good afternoon welcome back to the Concierge blog.

This weekend sees the return of one of my favourite events, the Pittenweem Arts Festival. From Saturday 6^th to Sunday 14^th August the small East Neuk village opens its doors to artists and designers from around the UK. Paintings, sculptures and craft work will be displayed in nearly 100 venues around the village including houses, garages, galleries, gardens and even the harbourmaster’s office!

On Saturday 6^th the festival will kick off to the sound of the Latin jazz band Havana Swing in the Church Hall from 7.30pm. From fine art displayed in a living room, modern jewellery in a garage or poetry readings on the beach, there is so much to see and a brilliant buzzy atmosphere is guaranteed.

There are lots of great activities for kids including a creative writing course and the cartoon drawing course is bound the capture their imagination

To help you to make the most of your visit I’ve put together my top 5 Pittenweem Arts Festival tips-

1. Allow yourself plenty of time to wander round. You will find art hidden in every nook and crannie.

2. Remember to take cash. There are no cash machines in Pittenweem and while many of the stall holders will have a card machine it’s not guaranteed.

3. Look out for the AA road signs. The signs will be displayed on your way into the village pointing out the best places to park; a shuttle bus will run from the car parks down to the harbour every 20minutes. The added bonus is that both the parking and the shuttle bus are free!

4. Don’t forget to stop in on the many wonderful shops along the high street. I love the hand made chocolates from the Cocoa Tree!

4. Pick up a bag of fish and chips. One of my all time favourite fish and chip shops lives in Pittenweem; I just couldn’t visit the village without stopping in.

You can find out more information about all the events and exhibitors on the Pittenweem Arts Festival website- www.pittenweemartsfestival.co.uk

If you do go along then please do let me know, I would love to hear your highlights and recommendations.

Take care

Ralph

Hi folks, good to speak to you again.

I’m always asked what to do in St Andrew and we’re very luck here – There are so many things to see around St Andrews.  You can visit historical landmarks such as St Andrews Cathedral, meander down the many ancient closes (side streets for our friends across the pond!),take the kids to St Andrews Aquarium or go for a brisk stroll along the Harbour – to name but a few!

If you are planning a trip to St Andrews this summer then thanks for stopping in on my blog – you’ve come to the right place! I really do advise planning your trip in advance to make sure you don’t miss out on the many wonderful spots around town.

One of the best ways to get around town is to take a tour. If you’re staying at the resort then my colleagues and I would be delighted to arrange a bespoke tour for you. We’re a friendly bunch and would be absolutely delighted to take you around town to share our wealth of local knowledge. Alternatively the open top bus tour is fantastic.  The hour long journey takes you around the main attractions including the Botanic Garden, the British Golf Museum and St Salvator’s Chapel. You can pick up the bus just outside the hotel or from its starting point at St Andrews bus station, just a short walk from the hotel.

A cracking tour for kids is the Medieval Murder Mystery Tour available to purchase in Waterstone’s Book Shop and the Visitor Information Centre both on Market Street.  It is a self guided tour that leads you around town providing some fascinating historical facts, fun puzzles and riddles along the way.  This tour is fantastic even for local folks;  it’s great fun and you may even learn something new about the Auld Grey Toon!

Now I’m not all that high-tech…I’ve only just the hang of blogging…however one of the younger team members did show me a fantastic Visit St Andrews walking tour Iphone app.  You can download the app to your Iphone by searching for St Andrews, Scotland in the Iphone App Store. The app, which costs just £1.99, offers you four different tours and the option to create your own tour by selecting your desired locations. The latest tour to be added to the app is the ‘In the Footsteps of Royalty’ –  For those of you who can’t get enough of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the tour takes you around the town stopping at ten of the couples favourite student haunts.

There are many more tours on offer, both myself and my team would be delighted to help you choose the right one for your trip. If you would like any more information on your next trip to St Andrews then please do send me a message.

Warmest wishes

Ralph

Hello everyone, good to speak to you all again!

We’ve been very busy here at the Hotel today getting ready for the Duck Hunt tomorrow. It will be fantastic welcoming you all into the Hotel tomorrow and I can’t wait to see the photos of Robbie on his holidays with you!

Craigtoun Country Park sits right next door to our beautiful heathland golf course The Duke’s just two miles out of St Andrews. So I was thrilled when I heard about the reopening of the miniature railway at Craigtoun Country Park and I just had to share it with you.

 Peter Bryant of MRW Railways has been working with Fife Council to introduce a replacement Denver & Rio Grande steam outline locomotive as well as upgrading the track throughout the park. With the introduction of the new railway system, beautiful flower gardens, picnic areas and adventure play area Craigtoun Country Park looks set to be a cracking family day out!

Entry to Craigtoun Country Park is free however there is a small fee for the train ride; £1.50 per adult and £1.00 per child or a multi ride ticket costing £8.00 for 10 rides. For more information have a look at their website http://www.craigtounparkrailway.co.uk/

If you do make it along to the park then please do post your pictures on our Facebook page, in fact if you have any pictures of fun family days out around St Andrews then why not share them with us!

 If you’re not in St Andrews then remember to check out our Facebook page for all the Duck Hunt clues, you never know there might be one near you! Everyone who finds a duck whether it’s here in our pond or in one of our 25 locations, can take him away on your holiday and post a picture on our Facebook page! All those who post their holiday snap on our Facebook page will be in with a chance of winning an amazing prize…two nights accommodation at the Hotel for your family, a helicopter ride over St Andrews, family golf lesson AND a family membership to National Trust for a whole year!

I look forward to seeing you all tomorrow!

Warm wishes

Ralph