At Close House – Colt Course. Sept 2017. A prestigious European Tour Championship hosted by Lee Westwood.
Broadcast worldwide from Royal Wellington Golf Club, NZ. October 2017. WOW!
The legacy continues.
Co-hosted at the award-winning Millbrook Resort near Queenstown, NZ. 2014 – 2023.
I’m absolutely thrilled to read that Ran Morrissett of Golf Club Atlas fame has written an article for GOLF Magazine ranking my book on the Old Course among his favourite book on golf course architecture. It’s even more of a surprise to see it positioned first on the list. For the full review and rankings, here’s a link to the article: https://golf.com/travel/12-golf-architecture-books-need-read/
The Colt Course at Close House, designed by Scott Macpherson, is due to hold the British Masters in July 2020. Hosted by Lee Westwood, this will be the second time the course has hosted the prestigious event. With all golf in the UK suspended due to Covid 19, fingers are crossed that professional golf will be able to resume in time for the tournament o take place.
I could not be more delighted that the Colt Course at Close House in Newcastle, UK will this week host its first major professional golf event with the prestigious PGA Senior Championship taking place. The team at Close House have done a spectacular job of preparing the course, and it’s in great shape for the four rounds of the Championship. Best of luck to all competitors.
On 21 January, 2015 I was delighted to receive the ‘Best Author’ Award for Golf’s Royal Clubs at the 22nd Annual International Network of Golf (ING) Media Awards. The presentation was at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, FL, USA.
Commissioned by the R&A, the book celebrating the 66 wonderful royal golf clubs that exist around the world has been recognised for it quality and detail. Thank you to everyone who has helped with the book, and to those who have purchased it.
On Wednesday 12th November it was a privilege to play golf with two-time major champion Sandy Lyle and four of the touring All Blacks who are in Edinburgh for the Autumn International against Scotland. Ahead of their match on Saturday, Richie McCaw, TJ Perenara, Israel Dagg and Beaudon Barrett utilised their day off to join me for 18 holes on Gullane number 1 – the course due to host the Scottish Open in 2015. Sandy played nine holes with all the players and was generous with his time and comments. Well done to Beaudon for being the All Black to pick up the most stableford points and winning the 2014 Masters cap signed by Sandy. Thanks to Gullane Golf Club for graciously hosting what was a very special day.
What a pleasure to attend yesterday the 4th annual Children’s Heart Unit Foundation (CHUF) charity Golf Day at Close House. Hundreds of golfers and celebrities played golf on both the SMGD designed Colt and Filly Courses, including the club’s ambassador Lee Westwood. The courses were immaculately presented by the fantastic Close House team, and I was delighted to hear so many positive comments about the courses. No hole-in-one was recorded on the Colt’s par 3 9th hole meaning the million pound challenge was unclaimed, but a lot of money was raised for CHUF. What a great day.
Click here to view the press release about the Royal Wellington Golf Club officially opening its new Championship Course.
With Peter Dawson, the Chief Executive of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, it was a thrill to launch my new book on the golf clubs that have been granted the royal title by the British Royal Family. It took place on 14 February at the Soundings Theatre in Te Papa, New Zealand’s National Museum in Wellington. Now I look forward to the book being available for release.
I have been busy visiting many royal golf course this last month from Calcutta to Colwood and Canberra to Cromer. I had not been to East Anglia before and really enjoyed my visit to the four royal courses in that neck of the woods. Equally, my return to Aberdeenshire and Banffshire in Scotland was very rewarding with good weather and very interesting golf clubs. Thanks to all those who help me as our paths cross. Regards, Scott
There are some fantastic “Royal” golf clubs in the world. I am enjoying learning more about them as we research them for the book. Just back from visits to Royal Malta, Royal Troon, and Royal Liverpool (Hoylake). Next stop Ireland and a visit to Royal Dublin before heading north to Royal Country Down, Belfast and Portrush. Thanks to all those I am meeting along the way – you are making the journey all the more enjoyable.