Austin
We first met Austin and his son in law Tom when we were paired with them on the first tee of TPC Scottsdale, Arizona. The two lived in Washington DC but we’re keen golfers. We got on famously and had lunch afterwards. They were excited when they heard we were from St Andrews and Austin said it had always been a dream of his to play there.
Fast forward 4 years and we received a message from Tom. 2023 was to see Austin’s 70th birthday. Tom together with Austin junior and Austin Seniors best friend Bob, wanted a week in St Andrews to celebrate.
The four arrived in August 2023. The plan was to base them in St Andrews and play the New Course, The Jubilee, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns. They wanted a day to see Edinburgh which was in full flow of the Edinburgh Festival with its street artists and of course the Tattoo in the Castle.
The guys had a wonderful week staying in a stylish apartment in central St Andrews. They soon found the benefits of being in the centre of town – making the short walk in the morning for coffees and fresh croissants for breakfast and ending each evening with an ice cream from the world famous Janettas which was only minutes from their apartment.
They played the best courses and ate in the best restaurants. We even took them to Edinburgh and got tickets for dinner and the world famous Edinburgh military tattoo in the Castle. They had a ball and Austin’s dream became a reality – what a wonderful way to celebrate your 70th birthday!
Words from the client
Dear Marilyn and Brian, we are so pleased to provide comments on what was, as promised, our golf trip of a lifetime.
The Links Connection website had this on the first page:
The World’s Finest Links
The World’s Finest Service
A proud statement but as we learned, absolutely true. You are the most positive and caring hosts and did everything possible to make our time in Scotland so special. Our foursome travelled to Scotland in August 2023 for an experience so wonderful that there is no way to top it . Not only did we experience the most exciting itinerary of golf and activities, we were also fortunate to have beautiful weather our entire week.
Reflecting back, our adventure began a year earlier when TLC was contacted and the planning began. From the first day, TLC was committed to making it tailored to our desires as we received periodic emails detailing options to consider (golf courses, accommodations, off time things to do in St. Andrews, restaurants and more).
The day we arrived Edinburgh Airport, we knew this was going to be special when, even before going to our accommodations, we were taken directly to the Old Course at St Andrews to walk around the clubhouse, familiarise ourselves with the grounds, and have lunch in the Old Tom Morris Pub.
From this initial stop for familiarisation, we then were delivered to our exceptional accommodations. TLC had booked our modern apartment early and provided several pictures in advance. Besides the wonderful accommodations, the convenient location presented a short walk through the grounds of the historic St Mary’s College to the main streets of St. Andrews for coffee, breakfast and wonderful meals.
When we first arrived,TLC gifted each of us a golf utility bag personalised with our names that contained several golf items. Another thoughtful gift was a crystal decanter of Johnnie Walker, Green Label, 15 year old malt and four crystal sipping glasses. Who goes out of their way to do these things; The Links Connection.
Marilyn and Brian are both playing members of local St. Andrews’s golf clubs and know all the courses well. During the planning, they provided a number of courses to consider and made some recommendations. They firmed up the courses early and were able to get the best tee times.
When we arrived in country, they gave further insight with their first hand playing knowledge of all the courses and we felt this well beyond what other drivers or tour guides would provide. And this was not a routine pick up and deliver to the course action by TLC. We were escorted to the clubhouse in time to enjoy club breakfast, practice, and stayed with us to make sure everything was set to include confirming caddies.
We could not have played these magnificent courses under better conditions. And on one day when an extra round was played, Brian walked the round of 18, essentially taking on the role of a caddie. Nobody does that on any other tour company, just The Links Connection.
Various dining options had been discussed prior to our arrival and set us up for spectacular dining experiences. Marilyn always made reservations at several different local restaurants and being a local herself, she knew the owners personally. Each place selected offered a different venue, each providing outstanding service and fabulous food. Many were very popular and it was essential to book in advance (Little Italy and the elegant The Seafood Ristorante were highlights). Who has such access? The Links Connection.
And TLC proposed a wide assortment of fun activities for down time after golf ranging from a distillery tour, the golf museum, spending time around the Old Course and more. These were fluid and they were very flexible as TLC responded daily to our thoughts.
One outing was truly memorable when Marilyn reserved the incredible Scotch Whisky Experience Dinner which was a package for the world famous Edinburgh Royal Military Tattoo. We believe this special activity was an example of how much they wanted us to have an opportunity like no other. This was a long day for TLC that involved driving to Edinburgh (3 hr Round Trip), connecting the Tram to City Centre, escorting us to the castle and after the performance, finding us in a crowd of thousands leaving the show for our return to St. Andrews. Who makes such special effort? The Links Connection
Finally, every item we requested was provided. But there was one not asked for but so deeply appreciated and involved Austin. “When I came down with a bad cough and chest cold, Marilyn showed up the next morning with pills and cough medicine for me to take to help me make it through the next golfing day. I tried to pay for the medications and of course, she turned that down. She even checked with the Scotland Health Ministry in the event I needed to be admitted to a local hospital. You are kind and caring people. Thank you.
“
What we experienced was a golf trip like no other that will truly be our trip of a lifetime. We hit the lottery and will be forever grateful for the many personal services and the dedicated attention you gave us throughout our golf trip of a lifetime. Marilyn and Brian, we wish you the very best of health and happiness. We will never forget our trip and friendship. Happy Holidays!!
Austin
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