Latest news with #TheMasters
USA Today
7 hours ago
- Business
- USA Today
Former PGA, LPGA caddie worried about rising Scottish golf prices: 'There's a real risk'
Former PGA Tour and LPGA caddie Roy Clarke worked on the bag for some influential golf stars, including Jessica Korda. Now, Clarke serves as manager of international operations at All Access. He says the business is keen to grow further by offering its North American customers a "true taste" of Scotland, but there is a risk the industry here is pricing itself out of reach. Here's an interview done with Clarke by business correspondent Kristy Dorsey for Newsquest, which is part of the USA Today/Gannett family. So how did a golf tourism company come to evolve out of an events business? Roy Clarke: It all started when Ryan took a personal golf trip to Scotland and fell in love with the links experience. He was inspired to bring that same joy to his network back in New York and along the East Coast. What began with just 20 tours per year quickly grew to over 100 annually, despite the interruption of the pandemic. It's a pure love. Because we were already organizing premier experiences to events like The Masters, Phoenix Open, Waste Management, the Players Championship, Kentucky Derby, and the Indy 500, there was a natural opportunity to cross-sell these to our golf clientele. The response was tremendous, and demand has kept growing ever since. In fact, we're constantly hiring to keep pace. Where are your clients from? RC: Our customers are all inbound tourists from the U.S., particularly the East Coast, but we're seeing growing interest from Canada, the West Coast, and now further south like Texas and Alabama. And what are they after? RC: While bucket list courses like St Andrews, Turnberry, North Berwick and Royal Dornoch are always in demand, we've built our brand around delivering more than just the classic stops. We focus on full-service, high-end experiences with attention to personal touches, whether it's custom transport, premium accommodation, or access to under-the-radar gems. What new trends have you noticed emerging? RC: The big-name courses will always have their place — who doesn't want to tick off the Old Course or Muirfield? But increasingly we're seeing golfers keen to explore more authentic and less crowded destinations. Places like Brora, Elie, Nairn and Crail have become client favorites. There's a real appetite for courses that deliver that traditional links feel without the crowds or sky-high green fees. Experiences like Kingarrock Hickory Golf, where clients play with hickory-shafted clubs, have also been a hit. So how do you respond to that? RC: We're continually refining our offerings. This season, we've added accommodations like Seaton House and No.1 Apartments in St Andrews. We're also including newer courses such as Dumbarnie, Dundonald and Old Petty near Castle Stuart in our itineraries. And beyond the classics, we're showcasing lesser-known gems that offer incredible golf and a true taste of Scotland. What led you into this line of work? RC: I spent over a decade caddying on the LPGA and PGA Tours. In 2017, while saving for my wedding, I started driving golf tours around Ireland during my off weeks. That's when I met Ryan on one of those trips and we hit it off immediately. We stayed in touch, and as he expanded into Ireland, the timing was perfect. I had three kids under the age of four and was looking for something that kept me closer to home, yet still connected to golf. Our vision going forward is simple: continue to deliver unforgettable experiences, build strong relationships with our clients, and form meaningful partnerships in the golf industry. We have a young, dynamic team balanced by experienced leadership — it's a formula that's working and one we're excited to grow. What has been the impact of the announcement that The Open will return to St. Andrews in 2027? RC: Demand is exceptionally high as always in Scotland, the home of golf. We see a spike in interest every time a venue is featured in The Open rota, and the upcoming return to St Andrews is no different. We're already running pre- and post-Open itineraries in the Highlands and Ayrshire to meet the surge in demand. That said, rising prices are a concern. Costs for hotels, courses, and transport have jumped more than 10% in a single year. If the trend continues, there's a real risk that Scotland might price itself out of reach for many travellers, especially with Ireland charging less which is becoming increasingly attractive alternative. But the excitement around The Open is always a huge boost. It energizes the industry and has a ripple effect for two to three years after each event. We're preparing for that wave with bespoke Open packages that make the most of Scotland's world-class golf and hospitality.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Michigan's best 20 public golf courses rankings: Arcadia Bluffs remains No. 1
It's our little secret: The state of Michigan continues to have some of the best public golf courses in the United States. Yes, much of the golf world is starting to recognize The Mitten state has lots to offer with a wide variety of resorts, lakeside views, isolated forests, epic rolling terrain and farmland. Advertisement Trying to narrow the more than 650 Michigan public-access golf courses into a top 20 is daunting, but that's just what Golfweek, part of the USA TODAY Network just like the Detroit Free Press, has been doing for many years. Golfweek on Monday, June 2 revealed its full state-by-state rankings for public-access golf courses, and Michigan's top courses were distilled into the 20 best. To no surprise, the top spots remain unchallenged. The original course at Arcadia Bluffs stays No. 1, and the one-of-a-kind Greywalls at Marquette Golf Club in Michigan's Upper Peninsula is firmly No. 2. Forest Dunes' two courses in Roscommon — The Loop and the original Forest Dunes — remain Nos. 3-4, with Arcadia's South Course sticking at No. 5. Advertisement One newcomer to this year's ranking is a familiar name: the Jones Masterpiece at Treetops Resort in Gaylord. How do the rankings come to pass? Golfweek uses hundreds of course raters to analyze 10 different criteria on a scale of 1-10 at each place to produce an average course rating. Those categories include routing, conditioning, greens, and memorability and variety of golf holes. Raters also file a single, overall rating on each course, which are averaged to produce all of Golfweek's Best course rankings. To qualify, a course must allow public play in some fashion. "If there's a will, there's a tee time — no membership required," Golfweek's creative director and travel editor Jason Lusk writes. Here is Golfweek's top 20 ranking for Michigan golf courses as of 2025: Advertisement GET OUT: 5 public golf courses in Michigan I can't wait to play for first time Michigan best public golf course rankings for 2025 by Golfweek *Indicates location in Michigan's Upper Peninsula 1. Arcadia Bluffs (Bluffs Course), Arcadia (last year's rank: 1) 2. *Marquette Golf Club (Greywalls), Marquette (2) WORTH THE HYPE: Greywalls feels like a time warp back to Jurassic era OLD SCHOOL GEM: This might be Michigan's most underrated golf course THE BEST: No. 1 public golf course in metro Detroit brings some of The Masters to Michigan Dropped: Diamond Springs, Hamilton (19) Find the rest of Golfweek's state-by-state rankings, and check back for more rankings in June. Marlowe Alter is an assistant sports editor at the Detroit Free Press and spraying golf aficionado. You can reach him by email: malter@ Advertisement Stay connected and stay informed. Become a Detroit Free Press subscriber. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Best Michigan public golf course rankings for 2025: Top 20
The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Golf tourism in Scotland faces 'real risk' of overpricing
So how did a golf tourism company come to evolve out of an events business? It all started when Ryan took a personal golf trip to Scotland and fell in love with the links experience. He was inspired to bring that same joy to his network back in New York and along the East Coast. What began with just 20 tours per year quickly grew to over 100 annually, despite the interruption of the pandemic. It's a pure love. Because we were already organizing premier experiences to events like The Masters, Phoenix Open, Waste Management, the Players Championship, Kentucky Derby, and the Indy 500, there was a natural opportunity to cross-sell these to our golf clientele. The response was tremendous, and demand has kept growing ever since. In fact, we're constantly hiring to keep pace. Where are your clients from? Our customers are all inbound tourists from the US, particularly the East Coast, but we're seeing growing interest from Canada, the West Coast, and now further south like Texas and Alabama. And what are they after? While bucket list courses like St Andrews, Turnberry, North Berwick and Royal Dornoch are always in demand, we've built our brand around delivering more than just the classic stops. We focus on full-service, high-end experiences with attention to personal touches, whether it's custom transport, premium accommodation, or access to under-the-radar gems. The All Access team on a familiarisation trip earlier this year (Image: All Access GTE) What new trends have you noticed emerging? The big-name courses will always have their place — who doesn't want to tick off the Old Course or Muirfield? But increasingly we're seeing golfers keen to explore more authentic and less crowded destinations. Places like Brora, Elie, Nairn and Crail have become client favourites. There's a real appetite for courses that deliver that traditional links feel without the crowds or sky-high green fees. Experiences like Kingarrock Hickory Golf, where clients play with hickory-shafted clubs, have also been a hit. So how do you respond to that? We're continually refining our offerings. This season, we've added accommodations like Seaton House and No.1 Apartments in St Andrews. We're also including newer courses such as Dumbarnie, Dundonald and Old Petty near Castle Stuart in our itineraries. And beyond the classics, we're showcasing lesser-known gems that offer incredible golf and a true taste of Scotland. What led you into this line of work? I spent over a decade caddying on the LPGA and PGA Tours. In 2017, while saving for my wedding, I started driving golf tours around Ireland during my off weeks. That's when I met Ryan on one of those trips and we hit it off immediately. We stayed in touch, and as he expanded into Ireland, the timing was perfect. I had three kids under the age of four and was looking for something that kept me closer to home, yet still connected to golf. Our vision going forward is simple: continue to deliver unforgettable experiences, build strong relationships with our clients, and form meaningful partnerships in the golf industry. We have a young, dynamic team balanced by experienced leadership — it's a formula that's working and one we're excited to grow. The team in St Andrews (Image: All Access GTE) What has been the impact of the announcement that The Open will return to St Andrews in 2027? Demand is exceptionally high as always in Scotland, the Home of Golf. We see a spike in interest every time a venue is featured in The Open rota, and the upcoming return to St Andrews is no different. We're already running pre- and post-Open itineraries in the Highlands and Ayrshire to meet the surge in demand. That said, rising prices are a concern. Costs for hotels, courses, and transport have jumped more than 10% in a single year. If the trend continues, there's a real risk that Scotland might price itself out of reach for many travellers, especially with Ireland charging less which is becoming increasingly attractive alternative. But the excitement around The Open is always a huge boost. It energizes the industry and has a ripple effect for two to three years after each event. We're preparing for that wave with bespoke Open packages that make the most of Scotland's world-class golf and hospitality. Access the entire series of Around the Greens here.
Extra.ie
6 days ago
- Sport
- Extra.ie
WATCH: 'Fairytale ending' for JJ Spaun as ludicrous putt wins US Open
American pro golfer JJ Spaun had a 'fairytale ending' after an insane putt secured victory at Oakmont on Sunday. The 34-year-old denied Robert MacIntyre the opportunity to become Scotland's first major champion since 1999 after he burst into contention following an excellent two-under-par 68. That made him the clubhouse leader at one over and the Scot looked set for at least a play-off against Spaun, who had two holes to play. American pro golfer JJ Spaun had a 'fairytale ending' after stealing Scotmsman Robert MacIntyre's US Open dream in victorious scenes at Oakmont on Sunday. Pic:But the American first sent a stunning 309-yard drive onto the green at the short par-four 17th and two-putted for a birdie before sinking a mammoth 64-foot putt on the 18th green to seal glory. Speaking following the victory, Spaun said: 'It's definitely like a storybook, fairytale ending. Kind of underdog fighting back, not giving up, never quitting. 'With the rain and everything and then the putt, you couldn't write a better story. I'm just so fortunate to be on the receiving end of that.' this angle of the 64-foot putt to win the US Open is — Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) June 16, 2025 He added that his 'own moment' would be unforgettable for the rest of his life. A 96-minute delay was forced on golfers on Sunday when a thunderstorm broke out at around 4pm local time. The break seemed to do Spaun well who found his best game and birdies at the 12th, 14th, 17th and 18th took him to glory. MacIntyre was denied the opportunity to become Scotland's first major champion since 1999 after he burst into contention following an excellent two-under-par 68. Pic:'I felt like I had a chance, a really good chance to win the US Open at the start of the day,' he admitted, 'It just unraveled very fast but the break was actually the key for me to winning this tournament. 'The tee shot on nine, like my first shot back. That was the hole we got stopped on. I just flushed one, like a nice little cut up the left side.' Entering the last day of the tournament, Sam Burns and Adam Scott were leading with Burns' hopes quashed at the restart. Having completed a career Grand Slam earlier in the year when he won The Masters in Augusta, Rory has admitted struggles in getting the motivation back following the lifetime achievement. Pic:The American Ryder Cup player blamed water on the 15th fairway for his blunder, saying: 'When I walked into it, clearly you could see water coming up. Took practice swings and it's just water splashing every single time.' He added that he had called a rules official over who disagreed. Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy finished tied for 19th following a gruelling weekend for the Down man. Having completed a career Grand Slam earlier in the year when he won The Masters in Augusta, Rory has admitted to struggles in getting the motivation back following the lifetime achievement.
Scotsman
6 days ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Rory McIlroy hopes to 'climb another mountain' in 153rd Open at Royal Portrush
Masters champion signs off on a high in US Open and is ready to get back to Europe Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Rory McIlroy reckons next month's 153rd Open at Royal Portrush will be exactly the motivation he needs after two flat performances in majors since becoming just the sixth player to complete a career grand slam. It was more like it from The Masters champion as he signed off in the 125th US Open with a three-under-par 67 at Oakmont Country Club, having never been in the title hunt after opening rounds of 74-72-74. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He'll now turn his attention to a home appearance in Northern Ireland after playing in this week's Travelers Championship in Connecticut on the PGA Tour. Rory McIlroy pictured during the final round of the 125th US Open at Oakmont Country Club |'I think so,' said McIlroy in reply to being asked if an Open on home soil is what he probably needs at the moment to get some fire back in his belly after winning The Masters to join Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as the only players to have won all four majors. 'Look, I climbed my Everest in April, and I think after you do something like that, you've got to make your way back down, and you've got to look for another mountain to climb. An Open at Portrush is certainly one of those.' On the event's eagerly-awaited return to the County Antrim venue in 2019, McIlroy missed the cut after starting with an 8 and coming up agonisingly short in his bid to repair that damage over the next 35 holes. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I didn't realise how emotional I was going to be at Portrush,' he admitted. 'I think that was a thing I was unprepared for more than anything else. I remember I hit a shot into 12 or 13 Friday night obviously trying to make the cut. 'I remember the roar I got when the ball hit the green, and I felt like I was about to burst into tears. Just that support and that love from your own people. So I was unprepared for that. I need to just get myself in the right frame of mind to feel those feelings again. 'Hopefully I can celebrate with them (the fans) on Sunday night with the Claret Jug and the Green Jacket. Look, it will be amazing to go home and play in that atmosphere and see a lot of people that I still haven't seen yet. 'I'm really looking forward to it. It was nice to end this week with a bit of a positive note with the way I played today, and yeah, I'll just be looking forward to and trying to get myself prepared for Portrush.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad McIlroy, the 2023 winner, will tee up in the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club and is hoping a return to Europe will help him get the competitive juices flowing again. 'Look, if I can't get motivated to get up for an Open Championship at home, then I don't know what can motivate me,' he declared. 'I just need to get myself in the right frame of mind. I probably haven't been there the last few weeks.
