Summer golfing events

Whether watching in person or on a TV set, golf fans across the world have several treats in store this summer with several key events in the golfing calendar scheduled to take place at some of Scotland's most famous beauty spots.

The first of these is these will be the Barclays Scottish Open which is taking place at Loch Lomond Golf Club between 7th-10th July, and the event is open to the public from the 6th.

The course is renowned for its spectacular Loch Lomond setting with the hills on one side and the loch bordering it on the other, and former Open champion Tom Weiskopf was so moved when he first saw the land where he was getting the chance to design the course that he said it ?just blew me away?.

The next event in the calendar is the British Open 2005 which is taking place at St. Andrews Old Course, from 14th- 17th July. The Old Course is the most frequently used course for the competition and today?s competitors will be following in the footsteps of the first golfers who are thought to have played here at St Andrews 100 years before Columbus reached America.

The Old Course also made history in 2000, the last time the Open was staged here, when Tiger Woods won by eight strokes making him the youngest golfer to win all four majors - the Masters, the US Open, the USPGA and the Open Championship.

Next on the agenda is the Diageo Championship which will be taking place at Gleneagles from 4th-7th August against a backdrop of the Perthshire straths, the rugged Grampians, Ben Vorlich and the mountains above the Trossachs.

Once again it will be played over the PGA Centenary Course, venue for the 2014 Ryder Cup matches, and deemed a modern classic after being designed by Jack Nicklaus, who describes it as ?the finest parcel of land in the world I have ever been given to work with?.

In the latter stages of summer, attention will turn to the Dunhill Links Championship from 29th September-2nd October. This celebration of links golf was introduced in 1985, when the Alfred Dunhill Cup immediately established itself as the world professional team championship, and is played over three of the world's most spectacular links courses: the Old Course at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns.

The championship has featured some of the best golfers in the world including Ernie Els, Colin Montgomerie, and Vijay Singh, and has also played host to several showbiz faces, including Sir Steve Redgrave, Michael Douglas, Kevin Costner, and Hugh Grant.

The following holiday cottages relevant to this article are currently available for these events:

Saturday 2nd - 9th July 2005 - Barclays Scottish Open

The Smiddy - £335 - sleeps 2
Carlton Town House - £450 - sleeps 6
Giffin Castle Apt - £335 sleeps 2 (4)
Turnberry Apt - £495 - sleeps 4
Woodside Terrace - £625 - sleeps 4
Ardnahein Farmhouse - £355 - sleeps 4
Creagan Cottage - £410 - sleeps 4 (5)
Rhugrabh - £555 - sleeps 4 (5)
Island Farm - £650 - sleeps 7

Saturday 9th - 16th July - British Open 7 days

Belford Mews - £495 - sleeps 2
Silvermills - £555 - sleeps 5

Saturday 9th - 18th July 2005 - British Open 9days

Schoolhouse Cottage - £1285 - sleeps 2
Prospect House - £4500 - sleeps 6
Seaspray - £1500 - sleeps 4 (5)
Trossachs Gate - £765 - sleeps 4

Saturday 24th September - 1st October 2005 - Dunhill Links
Seabreeze - £285 - sleeps 2 (4)
Old Bank House - £285 - sleeps 3
Old Coach House - £300 - sleeps 4
West Shore - £395 - sleeps 6
East Green - £450 - sleeps 8

~~ Summer golfing events ~~

Summer golfing events