Meetings & Conventions July 2007
© Dale Leatherman 2007
Though many Americans have had the privilege of a golf outing “across the Pond,” the prospect still causes grown men and women to go all mushy. People who complain about the assault of the elements on their dash from the taxi to the office door wax poetic about the joys of walking eighteen holes in wind gusting off the ocean and the occasional rain shower. Though accustomed to ballroom-smooth fairways at their country club courses, they don’t bat an eye at rugged links tracks where the grass has no pedigree; it’s simply whatever manages to grow there.
The reason for this dichotomy is that there is an immutable magic to playing in the British Isles, the cradle of the game. It is perpetuated by taciturn caddies who accurately assess your game before you reach the second tee, and ruddy-cheeked club members who invite you to “have a pint” afterwards next to the clubhouse fireplace. The aura is simple and unmistakable. It’s an infectious zest for the game.
Here’s a sampler of British country-style hotels and golf resorts with well-appointed meeting venues, plus character and atmosphere to spare. Some have home courses and all are close to tracks that have made the region a legendary destination. . . .
Contact me to read the rest of the article or discuss second rights or a rewrite. daleatherman@cs.com