Detailed Itinerary
Arrive Manchester Airport. Met on arrival where you will be transferred to relax at your hotel, The Vincent.
Southport is a bustling seaside town on the Irish Sea to the North West of Liverpool. Development in the Victorian era has left the town with a glorious legacy including beautiful parks and gardens along with wide tree-lined streets. Lord Street, one of Britain's finest boulevards, is the main shopping thoroughfare, extending for almost a mile. Along one side are shops with Victorian glass topped canopies and on the opposite sides are gardens, fountains and classical buildings. The seafront also boasts the second longest pier in the UK at an impressive 3,650 feet. Ideal for a walk in the seaside air. With a great choice of restaurants, theatres, a museum and art gallery there is plenty to keep you entertained, not to mention the many fantastic golf courses on your doorstep including three regular host venues for the Open.
This evening Welcome Cocktails & Dinner.
OVERNIGHT: Vincent, Southport – V Studio Room
GOLF: Today play Royal Birkdale. A course which provides a formidable test of links golf with each hole running in valleys between towering sand hills. Royal Birkdale hosted The 137th Open in 2008 when Padraig Harrington lifted the Claret Jug to complete back to back wins and it was of course, the site of Arnold Palmer's Open win in 1961. The club hosted The 146th Open in 2017 won by Jordan Spieth over Matt Kuchar with a sensational finish.
SIGHTSEEING: Non-Golfers enjoy a visit to the ancient city of Chester, one of the finest heritage cities in the world, with the most complete city walls and largest Roman Amphitheatre in Britain as well as thousand year old cathedral. Explore the exciting history of Chester walking through the unique half-timbered galleried streets and enjoy the splendour of the black and white buildings.
OVERNIGHT: Vincent, Southport – V Studio Room
GOLF: Today play Royal Liverpool. Despite its flat and somewhat benign appearance, Royal Liverpool is among the toughest and most demanding of the great seaside championship links of Britain. Hoylake, as it is more commonly known, lies at the very heart of the history and development of golf in Britain. Built in 1869, on what was then the racecourse of the Liverpool Hunt Club, Hoylake is one of the oldest English seaside courses. A regular host venue for The Open, most recently in 2014 when Rory McIlroy won the title, the event is set to return in 2022.
SIGHTSEEING: Non-Golfers enjoy a visit to the lively and cosmopolitan city of Liverpool. Visit the Albert Dock, Britain's most popular heritage attraction, which has something for everyone, interesting shops and gift carts, together with top class attractions such as the Beatles Story, Merseyside Maritime Museum and the Tate Gallery. The city also boasts some amazing architecture from the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral to the Liver Building and Liverpool Cathedral. The World Museum also has thousands of exhibits with one of the finest collections of ancient Egyptian artefacts.
OVERNIGHT: Vincent, Southport – V Studio Room
This morning make the journey from Southport to Turnberry (4hrs 45 mins) by luxury motor coach. We travel north skirting the Lake District National Park with a stop for lunch along the way.
Afternoon arrival at Turnberry where you have the remainder of the day to relax and enjoy the resort’s many impressive facilities.
This evening enjoy a dinner at Turnberry (included).
OVERNIGHT: Turnberry, A Luxury Collection Resort – Deluxe Non-Ocean View Room
GOLF: Today play Royal Troon. Nine time venue of The Open, the course most recently hosted the championship in 2016. It is consistently praised for its testing but fair set up. A long and demanding links, Troon boasts both the longest and the shortest holes in Open golf; the 6th named “Turnberry” at 577 yards and No. 8, the “Postage Stamp” 8 at only 126 yards.
SIGHTSEEING: Non-Golfers enjoy a morning visit to Dumfries House, one of Britain’s most beautiful stately homes and best kept heritage secrets. Saved by the intervention of HRH the Prince of Wales in 2007, Dumfries House combines the architecture of Robert Adam with the furniture of Thomas Chippendale and leading 18th century Scottish cabinet makers. On the return journey we will take in the scenic beauty of the Heads of Ayr and the ruins of 13th century Dunure Castle built for John de Kennedy.
OVERNIGHT: Turnberry, A Luxury Collection Resort – Deluxe Non-Ocean View Room
GOLF: Today play the Ailsa Course at Trump Turnberry. The course has undergone a redevelopment and reopened with a stunning new layout in June 2016. Lying on a spectacular curve of rockbound coast in the southern reaches of Ayrshire. The course now makes the most of the coastal scenery especially from the 4th through the 11th passing the famous landmark lighthouse at the turn, which is now a stunning halfway house. This is a demanding links course, and an ever-present wind will make for a tough examination of your golfing skills. In 2009 the Ailsa Course hosted The 138th Open for the 4th time when golfing legend Tom Watson lost out to Stewart Cink in a playoff for the Claret Jug.
SIGHTSEEING: Non-Golfers will enjoy a visit to Culzean Castle & Country Park. Converted by Robert Adam to include a ‘Roman’ viaduct and Ruined Arch to add drama to this Italianate castle in its spectacular cliff top setting. It contains a fine collection of paintings and furniture, and a display of weapons in the Armoury. The Circular Saloon has a superb panoramic view over the Firth of Clyde and the beautiful Oval Staircase is Robert Adam’s final masterpiece of interior design. In 1945 the top floor was given to General Eisenhower as a token of Scotland’s recognition of his role during World War II.
This afternoon journey to Scotland capital city of Edinburgh (2hrs 30 mins) by luxury motor coach.
OVERNIGHT: The Caledonian Waldorf Astoria – Premium Room
Today travel by motor coach from Edinburgh to St Andrews (1hr 40mins) to attend the third round of The 150th Open at St Andrews. The Old Course remains essentially unchanged from the days of Old Tom Morris in the mid-to-late 19th century. The double fairways, double greens and natural bunkering combine to produce a set of strategic demands on the golfer which are unmatched and completely unique. In the course of its 29 Opens, St Andrews has had a habit of throwing up winners who are the best of their generation. Tiger Woods, Nick Faldo, Seve Ballesteros, Jack Nicklaus, Peter Thomson and Bobby Locke. Bobby Jones created such an impression on St Andrews during his 1927 win that it proved to be the beginning of a lifelong connection with the town.
OVERNIGHT: The Caledonian Waldorf Astoria – Premium Room
Today travel by motor coach from Edinburgh to St Andrews (1hr 40mins) to attend the final round of The 150th Open at St Andrews.
This evening enjoy Farewell drinks and dinner (included).
OVERNIGHT: The Caledonian Waldorf Astoria – Premium Room
After breakfast transfer to Edinburgh Airport for homeward flights.