Gleneagles luxury golfing weekend with your loved one. Gentlemans Butler presents the “Perfect Gleneagles Weekend” a weekend of golf, fresh air and luxury pampering at arguably the finest golf & hotel estate.
As my breakfast is brought to me, the maid opens the curtains and my PA sits in the corner circa something out of some decadent 1930’s Marilyn Monroe movie……
Yes the breakfast is good, my life is wonderful and everyone loves me….
Ah yes the world according to Gentlemans Butler…..
www.gleneagles.com
The Gleneagles® Hotel
Auchterarder
Perthshire
Scotland PH3 1NF
Well the invitation was not sent by homing pigeon or eagle, neither was it sent by telegram or by post….. Ah do you remember letters …. Memories of sitting by the fire in my Noel Coward silk dressing gown whilst Jeeves opens the letters with of course a letter opener.
The social season would not be complete without a visit to Scotland, time to get out the Grenville tartan. “Sir you have been graciously invited to Gleneagles for a touch of golf, fresh air and some lovely food and good old fashioned Scottish hospitality. Will Lady Grenville be joining you?”
The only snag is I do not play golf.
“Well Sir a little something like skill has never stopped you before”
….. The cheek of it, you just cannot get the staff anymore…..
One early morning in late Autumn my car arrived, a quick jaunt to Heathrow then a tad over an hours flight lands you at Edinburgh airport where “My Man from Gleneagles”, my next book….. picks us up and a little over an hour later we are driving up the long driveway to the entrance of The Gleneagles Hotel, where a very solid and welcoming person dressed in a green jacket greets us….
Like many such famous hotels there are multiple buildings and in many ways it’s a bit like a classy theme park for country pursuits, but seriously impressive.
Food, glorious food …. Yes, you are in Scotland, where you will be fed with real and wholesome food, with flavours from all around the world.
And if you are looking for Michelin stars, there is Scotland’s only two starred restaurant with Andrew Fairlie.
You have keep fit on the lawn,
off roading, falconry,
riding, fantastic walking, tennis, fishing… the list goes on, all in stunning countryside.
I have my eye on Scottish Dancing, something my mother was a big fan of.
If you are a family with children then not only are there millions of options but they have their own area and qualified people to look after them.
When in doubt go shopping, as a lady once said to me, well there is a wonderful internal arcade of high end boutiques should the fancy take you.
If you have had enough food, well why not try one of the more than 100 whiskies on offer…..
Oh did I mention the Spa, an award winning Espa no doubt and beauty treatments to finish off.
And did someone mention the golf ….
Ah yes Golf ….
Every time I think of golf and Scotland I think of Sean Connery, and then there was Bing Crosby and well as you can imagine a few, that being an understatement of the worlds golfing celebrities have made the pilgrimage there.
Well in a little under 48 hours I would be going from my golf experience being a little crazy golf to playing a few holes on the short course and then onto the first hole of the PGA circuit.
As the home of golf, that being Scotland and arguably the finest golf & hotel estate I could have not gone to a better place to learn.
The Gleneagles Hotel is a Five AA Red Star golf and spa resort set in 850 acres of stunning scenery in Perthshire, Scotland.
I loved the fresh air,
Learning to play golf was fantastic as it was not part of my life and I had just not been part of the golfing scene, but thoroughly enjoyed it.
Breakfast is superb and loved the Dormy Clubhouse, for its slightly more informal setting, fantastic views and great food.
The resort celebrated its 90th anniversary in June 2014. When it first opened on 07 June 1924 it was described as “a Riviera in the Highlands”.
The former Caledonian Railway Company built the resort, which has its own railway station just a couple of minutes from the resort.
It is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World.
For me I think Spring, Autumn and Christmas would probably be the best times to go.
Following our visit Gentlemans Butler has put together our
“Our perfect Gleneagles weekend” a weekend of golf, fresh air and luxury pampering
Fly up Friday evening after work.
Take a cab to Heathrow
British Airways
BA1454 leaves Heathrow at 1730, arrives Edinburgh 1855
Taxi Edinburgh 1920 – 2020
Arrive Hotel 2020- 2040 – Check-in, go to room … tip – get hotel to unpack your bags….
Or alternatively direct train access from London in a little over 5 hours
Evening meal 2040 – 2200 at Deseo
I loved the Argentinian Malbec, Goatscheese and Beetroot starter with honey and not forgetting The Catalan Brûlée
This area will be upgraded soon as though the service is excellent it does feel a bit plastic.
The Bar 2200 – 2240, enjoy a hot toddy or one of their fine whiskies. I found this a lovely place to unwind with their big leather chairs
Early evening off to bed….
Saturday morning
Breakfast – In Strathearn Restaurant. I plumped for a full English, coffee, fruit juice and toast… Absolutely divine and perfect to get you ready for a day of activity
1000 – 1300 Golf lessons. PGA Golf Professional Andrew Macrae looked after me, starting with shoes, stance, grip and introducing your golf clubs. Then you get a bin of golf balls and off you go. I was quite surprised about how quickly I was doing something.
They have a fantastic computer simulator which looks at your swing.
Like anything in life when you are learning it goes in phases.
You have beginners luck, then you lose it, and then after a bit you start to figure out what to do. He was charming, a superb teacher and really gives you confidence.
1300 – 1415 Lunch – The Dormy Clubhouse –
As I mentioned I loved this building.
Had a great fish and chips,
summer pudding and had a long chat with the Director of Golf Gary Silcock about everything from the history of the game to how you build and look after a golf course, something you can study these days.
1415 – 1630 – Afternoon – more golf lessons.
1700 – 1900 Early evening. Though I did not experience The Spa, I have experienced ESPA treatments. We suggest you go for “The holistic total body ritual with hot stones” just under two hours of unwinding and luxury pampering.
Change for Dinner.
1945/2000 Dinner: Strathearn Restaurant
For moi, it started with Champagne, well of course dear boy….
Then Melon, The Duck for my main course
and when I saw Crepe Suzette being prepared I could not resist.
I was not disappointed by any of it,
and what a setting.
Unwind in your room or head to the bar
Sunday –
Breakfast: Such a perfect start to the day
1000: On the course…
Morning – Experience the courses with a pro – short course then 1 hole on the PGA Centenary which was used for The Ryder Cup 2014
1300 – 1400: Light lunch in the Dormy Clubhouse
1400 – Be picked up in the range rover for an off road drive and a picnic tea for 4pm. Something, I did not have time for, but I know the hotel can arrange, as they organise off roading and picnics for guests. I think this would be perfect for a couple and remember picnics can be fantastic at all times of year, even in the snow. You just need to be prepared.
Back to the hotel for 1700
Tip – Get the hotel to pack your bags…..
1700 – 1820 – If you are there in the summer how about a walk around the grounds, look at the falconry and dogs and/or take in a little shopping.
1830 – Car pickup from the hotel, arriving at Edinburgh Airport for around 1930
2040 Edinburgh Flight BA1465 leaves
2155 arrives London Heathrow
Taxi from Heathrow back to your London home….
Should be home by about 2315 depending on where you live…….
Feel free to e-mail [email protected] for any advice or help on anything from booking a chauffeur to arranging your golfing retreat.
Very very impressed
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