In 2018 we, Fiona and Keith McColl, departed our beloved Scotland, and our home in St Andrews, for a brand-new life in The Sunshine State of Florida. Our decision to do so was almost entirely based on a desire to be closer to our US based family, Son Bobby, Daughter in law, Rebecca and our three very special grandkids, Callum who’s now 4 and twin 6-year-olds Penelope and Eloise.
The decision to do so was a huge one, in fact the biggest of them all for two, 55+ born and bred Scots but, almost 5 years on, it was most definitely the right one for us to take as the joy of being close to your grandkids and watching them grow is a joy only grandparents will understand!
On our arrival in 2018 we already had a vision of what we would be doing from our new base in Florida. You see that image below? That iconic image of St Andrews with The Swilcan Bridge in prominent view and in the background the historic R&A Golf Headquarters. Well, THAT was way more than just an image to us both, in reality that was our everyday office as both of us, over many years, lived the golfers dream existence of not only living in St Andrews but working there too!
We are happy to say we played our part and welcomed many thousands of visitors to The Home of Golf. We undertook various roles and duties through countless British Opens and Professional and Amateur Championships. We lived and breathed all aspects of our great game daily and it all happened THERE, in the one place golfers around the globe consider to be The Holy Grail of golf, The birthplace of the game, St Andrews!
So what was our vision?
Well, it’s one that took a little longer to make a reality than we expected, and for that you can blame a variety of things including several house moves and of course, a global pandemic! Now however we can finally reveal that we have been busy creating our very own, very personal and unique, golf vacations to The Home of Golf in Scotland! Working in partnership with, St Andrews based, Scotland for Golf. Owned and run by PGA Professionals they are, in our view and based on our own extensive experience, THE most knowledgeable and respected International Golf Tour Operator of them all and we, at Claret Golf Tours could not be happier to be working with them to bring you these first two, expertly crafted and unique, Golf Vacations.
To visit and golf in St Andrews is an extraordinary and special experience! For some it will be the realization of a dream finally coming true, for others it may be the first visit of many! One thing is for sure, visit just once and you will hold St Andrews, its golf courses, its people and that historic “Old Grey Toun” in your heart forever…just as we do!
So now you know it’s a special place you can click on the link below and go and read all about it! Just before you do though ask yourself this question, what could possibly make such a special pilgrimage even MORE special?
The answer to that is simple, each of these trips will be accompanied and hosted by us both! Our logo above says it already, our golf vacations are “crafted by experts” using our vast knowledge and expertise of Scotland’s golf industry, our birthplace and our former hometown of St Andrews. For these trips we have taken things to another level as we will be with you from start to finish, to ensure that whatever your expectations are, we meet and exceed them like no other tour operator can!
So that’s the background story, there’s lots more great stories to tell but those will have to wait until we are all together, perhaps on the first tee of one of the great courses we will play or maybe in one of the many bustling little pubs or “hidden gem” restaurants that only we locals can show you? Join us and this WILL be, The Claret Golf Trip of a Lifetime!
Click to view HERE – The Claret Golf Trip of a Lifetime 2023