NEWS FROM THE PERRYGOLF WORLD

SCOTLAND -- The big news at the St. Andrews Golf Hotel is the renovation of the third floor and the creation of the 'PerryGolf Penthouse.' The hotel is undertaking a renovation of the third floor which currently consists of 4 twin rooms that will be completely refurbished. A living area, exclusively for guests of the entire floor will also be created. It is perfect for groups of eight, especially combined with use of the VIP Coach, who will enjoy added amenities similar to those currently found at the 'PerryGolf Lodges at Turnberry.'...St. Andrews Bay Resort opened in June, just south of St. Andrews. The luxury resort and conference center will have its Grand Opening the weekend of October 12th, before it plays host hotel to Dunhill, sponsors of the new Dunhill Links Challenge, October 15 -19, 2001. In addition to the well-appointed rooms and suites with magnificent views of the Bay, St. Andrews and the two championship golf courses, there are currently two Manor Houses (more are planned) that accommodate up to eight people....The Marine Hotel, North Berwick will be undergoing a $10 million refurbishment starting this fall. It will be a complete top to bottom redo of all the 83 bedrooms and public areas, and additions to the number of accommodations and services. The first phase will consist of the bedroom redecorating, refurbishment of the public areas and restaurant and there will also be a spa addition. The hotel will close Jan. 2 and reopen in time to be the host hotel for the 130st Open at Muirfield. The second phase will begin after the 2002 season with the addition of 17 rooms that are scheduled to be ready for the 2003 season.....MacDonald Hotels, the new parent company of Heritage Hotels (Rusacks, Marine Hotel, North Berwick, etc.) has announced they will be developing interests in golf courses and hotels. They have a brand new championship course, Cardrona, in the Borders near Peebles, by renown architect Dave Thomas, of Belfry fame. The course which enjoys a stunning bucolic setting, is a welcome addition to the area. Future plans are to have an adjoining 100-room hotel by the 2003 season...Changes are being made to the Jubilee Course after an decision by the Links Management Committee. Recognized by most golf enthusiasts as the most difficult of all the St. Andrews courses, the first and second holes will be altered for the 2002 season. The first hole, will be shortened by almost 80 yards, to 375 yards from the medal tee. This is due to the fact that the current green position lies behind the Greenkeeping Center which blocks the sun in the winter and causes numerous frost delays. The new green will also be positioned to the left, allowing the untidy protective nets to be removed from the Greenkeeping Center. It will also make for a more accommodating start to your round. The second hole will be lengthened 30 yards and moved to the right from the men's and medal tees. The overall result will be to shorten the course by some 50 yards to 6,755 yards....The Gleneagles Hotel has a new restaurant, Andrew Fairlie, named for the famed Scottish chef whose previous tenure was at One Devonshire Gardens, featuring two tempting menus....The Golf View Hotel, Nairn has finished the 1st phase of their bedroom refurbishment to rave reviews. Future plans include refurbishing the public areas of the old part of the building, including knocking through the old reception to the lounge. Plans are also under review for updates to the conservatory area.

IRELAND -- With the opening of Doonbeg, more visitors to the Western coast of Ireland will discover the joys of the intimate Moy House, only 25 minutes away. Originally built in the mid-18th Century for Sir Augustine Fitzgerald, the beautifully restored country house sits on 15 pristine acres of woodlands and river, as it overlooks the breathtaking Lahinch Bay. The property features luxurious fabrics and fine antiques in a perfect marriage of past and present luxuries...The Druids Glen Marriott Hotel & Country Club, located within the Druids Glen Golf Resort is scheduled in the Spring of 2002. The 148-room, five star hotel will be the first Marriott international hotel in Ireland. The hotel will be complemented with a second championship 18-hole course which is underway and scheduled for completion in the fall of 2003... The K Club continues to make big improvements to their facilities in preparation for the 2005 Ryder Cup. The $17 million investment has effectively doubled the capacity of the hotel. They have added 34 new bedrooms, a number of new dining areas and the second championship course will be available for play in 2003....One of the most hauntingly beautiful areas anywhere is the northern coast of Ireland. New service for 2002, just announced by Foyle Ferry, will travel from Greencastle Co Donegal to Magilligan Point in Co Derry. This will cut the travel time from Bushmills to Ballyliffen to just under an hour. Now five quality links courses -- Royal Portrush, Portstewart, Castlerock and the two courses at Ballyliffin will all be within an easy drive of each other.