Concierge at Old Course Hotel

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