The pent-up demand to travel to play golf has never been stronger. Especially the US market who have been itching to play the Scottish and Irish courses and have not been able to do so for the last couple of years due to Covid restrictions.
Connoisseur Golf has been one of the leading brands of luxury golf travel since 2006 and has grown an enviable database of clients and relationships with the very best venues around the world since its inception.
From their offices overlooking the 18th hole of the Old Course at St Andrew’s, they are perfectly placed to deliver bespoke packages to high net worth and enthusiastic golfers. They have taken the opportunity during the pandemic to look at ways in making their offering more sustainable, which you will know if you are a regular reader of my blog, is something close to my heart.
At the beginning of this year, Jim Stewart and his team Introduced ‘Gastro Golf’. The first in a series of Responsible Tourism itineraries.
Scotland can be considered to have the world’s finest larder. The restaurants, accommodations and activities on these ground-breaking trips have worked with an unwavering endeavour to champion sustainability. Golf at some of Scotland’s most beautiful courses and dining at its most celebrated restaurants awaits those lucky enough to book one of these special Connoisseur Golf trips.
Using the term ‘Mise En Place’, which in the culinary world means absolute excellence in preparation, the team have translated this ethos into providing truly exceptional golf travel. Gastro Golf is their tasting menu combining the worlds of golf and sustainable fine dining – which is captured in the short video below.
I was delighted to be offered the chance to represent Connoisseur Golf at the back end of last year with the aim of delivering truly 5-star packages in and around the London area encouraging golfers not just from America but from the UAE and the far East to enjoy the truly great heathland courses that exist in the home counties along with the great lifestyle offerings that London provides. We will embrace the ethos of the gastro golf theme albeit English fare rather than Scottish.
With there being such limited opportunities to play the great Scottish and Irish courses because of the backlog of bookings due to Covid restrictions, London provides a great alternative to golfers who love traditional golf. The courses are designed by some of the greatest architects of all time such as Colt, Fowler, Abercrombie and Willie Park Junior to name but a few.
Connoisseur Golf has a great relationship with the Fairmont brand due to their site in St Andrews, so it makes sense to use the fantastic facilities of the world-renowned Savoy Hotel and the very latest addition to the chain, the Fairmont Windsor, to provide first-class accommodation. Both venues are very aware of their environmental duties as are the golf courses that we can provide such as Sunningdale, The Berkshire, Walton Heath and the famous three W’s – Woking, West Hill and Worplesdon.
Jim has put together a great team of employees and representatives so as to produce exceptional golf travel experiences around the world. I am lucky to be joined by Nick O’Hern, the Australian PGA Tour winner and fellow left-hander who will be looking after golfers wanting to travel to some of the best courses in Australia and New Zealand. Beth Allen the former Ladies’ European Tour No1. Simon Holt who has played all the top 100 courses and Eric Drinkwater has over 25 years of luxury golf travel experience.
Anyone coming on a Connoisseur Golf tour will not only enjoy the courses and the lifestyle amenities but also feel like they are a member for the day as we have great relationships in place with the managers and professionals of the exclusive venues we visit. As hosts and representatives, we provide the background stories to the courses and the quaint charms of the club’s history and folk law.
Sustainability has never been so important within the golf world and I am so pleased Jim has embraced this topic and has truly made a real effort to introduce the very best processes and procedures to reduce the carbon footprint and use recycled products. The overall goal is to deliver first-class travel and golfing experience as outlined in the Gastro Golf series whilst making sure we look after our planet so our great-grandchildren can play and enjoy the game we love.
I look forward to playing and meeting many golfers from around the world in 2022 who love our great game, and I am sure to have my ‘Mise En Place’ ready to deliver an exceptional experience.
Until next time
COYS!!
