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Times
7 days ago
- Times
‘My favourite round of golf of all time'
'I could take out of my life everything except my experiences at St Andrews and I would still have a rich, full life,' Bobby Jones, the legendary American golfer once said. Standing in the window of Rusacks Hotel with the 18th green and first tee of the Old Course to my right and, below, waves crashing in on West Sands beach under the spring sunshine, it's not hard to see where Jones was coming from. I'm at the home of golf, the place where it all began, on the first day of my Marine & Lawn Grand Tour — a customisable experience that allows golfers to combine fine hotels and food with the most iconic courses across Scotland and Northern Ireland. On this there's no need to consider logistics — everything is arranged, from tee times to dinner reservations and transfers to caddies. The only thing I need to worry about is getting the ball around 18 challenging holes of links golf without being distracted by the natural beauty. The company offers six hotels and resorts to choose from, including Dornoch Station, Marine North Berwick and Slieve Donard. My playing partner and I visit three: Rusacks St Andrews and Marine Troon in Scotland and the newly opened Portrush Adelphi in Northern Ireland, a short stroll away from Royal Portrush Golf Club, the venue for July's Open Championship. Having never visited the Old Course on which the sport was born more than 600 years ago, St Andrews seemed like the perfect place to start our four-night adventure. Just an hour's drive from Edinburgh airport, the little coastal town is a delightful mix of traditional windswept stone buildings and natural beauty. It's also a temple to golf, with endless parades of golf shops, statues, pubs and plaques commemorating Tom Morris, the godfather of modern golf. At the heart of the town, a few feet from the final green of the Old Course, is our first stop-off: the outstanding Rusacks. First opened in 1887, the original towering townhouse mansion has been sympathetically extended to create a luxurious yet relaxed country-style boutique hotel. Interiors are rich with wood panelling and bookshelves, framed pictures of golfing adventures, chandeliers, intricate wooden floors and heavy-piled patterned rugs. Our room, at the front of the hotel, has views over the beach on which the opening scenes of Chariots of Fire were filmed, and is a wonderful place to rest and relax after a round of golf, with a big bathtub and walk-in shower. The staff, who genuinely seem to love the town, the hotel and its history, recommend lunch at One Under Bar, which feels like a cross between a traditional brick-walled pub and smart clubhouse — and serves a delicious Scottish charcuterie board. We're keen to get playing, though, so having picked up our Titleist rental clubs (we wanted to travel light — but you can take your own) and got instructions on where to pick up our caddies, we were off in our hire car. The Grand Tour organisers have matched our golfing abilities (an 18-20ish handicap) with courses that are both challenging and enjoyable. First stop, Dumbarnie Links, about 20 minutes away — a beautifully designed modern golf course that occupies 375 pretty acres overlooking the Firth of Forth. After a wee dram on the first tee with our caddies, we enjoy a testing but exhilarating 18 holes under the spring sun: a glorious introduction to links golf (please don't ask my score). Then it's time for a delicious seafood dinner at Rusacks, with sunset views over the Old Course. The next day it's time to play the famous St Andrews links. The New Course, designed by Tom Morris in 1895, is the oldest 'new' course in the world, and runs parallel to the hallowed turf where golf began. With the wind behind me I manage a birdie on the par-five 3rd. I'm Tiger Woods, I think, or Rory McIlroy. Alas no. I finish with 91, but will never forget that birdie. Things get even better at our next stop, Room 116 at Rusacks, an intimate lounge and bar that celebrates two of Scotland's greatest gifts to the world — golf and whisky. After a tasting experience of the Glendronach Highland Single Malt amid pictures of golfing legends, and seafood and steak at 18 Rooftop Restaurant, set high up above the golf links, we drive two and a half hours to Marine Troon. The light and airy hotel on the Ayrshire coast, with views over the Isle of Arran, is just feet away from the 18th fairway of the Royal Troon Golf Club, nine-time host of the Open. The building, originally a manor house from 1894, has plenty of period charm, with rich woods and chandeliers, floral wallpapers and deep carpets — and views from every window of the coast and the course. After a delicious lunch at the Seal Bar (named after the first hole at Troon), it's time to try Dunbonald Links, which has hosted the Scottish Women's Open and the final qualifying for the Open Championship. Here we are kept on our toes by water, cauldron bunkers and some spectacularly undulating greens, then soothed by Marine Troon's comfortable and relaxed restaurant, the Rabbit, where we feast on delicious fresh trout and pork belly. Sadly there's little time to visit the hotel's large pool and spa, because the next morning we have a half-hour flight to take from Glasgow to Belfast and an hour's road trip to the charming seaside town of Portrush. As we drive past Royal Portrush Golf Course, the stands have already been put up for this summer's Open Championships and the area is buzzing with activity. Our hotel, the Adelphi, converted from a grand townhouse, is a block away from the beach and, like the others, has dark polished woods and leather furniture to sink into and a plethora of golfing and nautical touches to remind you where you are. Although the room is spacious and comfortable, the sunshine and nearby seashore lure us out — as does more golf. Our final 18 holes are 15 minutes' away, along the coast road, at Portstewart Golf Club, host of the Irish Open and rated one of the top 100 golf courses by Golf Digest. We've been told the views are impressive, but nothing can prepare us for the majesty of the opening nine holes. Framed by the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean, the moody sky, rolling dunes and tricky manicured greens, this is a course that assaults the senses (in a very good way). It is also extremely challenging. Without our incredibly patient caddies, we might still be on the course. But after Guinness on tap at the halfway house, and a back nine offering us a few more chances for par, we make the final hole before dark. Afterwards, on the clubhouse balcony overlooking the beach, we agree: this is our favourite round of golf — not just on the tour, but of all time. Hosted by the Adelphi's friendly, chatty staff, we celebrate with more excellent seafood (ranging from cured sea bass and crab linguine to risotto di mare) and a cocktail in the bar. I did get around Portstewart in double digits — and that has to be worth celebrating. As we drive back to Belfast the following morning, I reflect on the lessons I've learnt. I probably need to have some golf lessons in a bunker. Apparently it's not always 25C and sunny on these links courses. But, most of all, the Grand Tour is most worthy of its name. A four-night golf trip with Marine & Lawn costs from £5,000 per person, including accommodation, golf and transfers (but not flights and food),
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
AJ Capital acquires 2 North Carolina golf hotels
This story was originally published on Hotel Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Hotel Dive newsletter. AJ Capital Partners acquired the Mid Pines Inn and Pine Needles Lodge in Southern Pines, North Carolina, according to an announcement Thursday. The Nashville, Tennessee-based real estate and hospitality firm plans to renovate and convert the properties under its golf-focused Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts brand. The 1920s-era sister properties sit beside championship golf courses Mid Pines and Pine Needles. AJ Capital plans to restore and renovate both hotels, as well as add new dining concepts. The acquisitions are part of a broader expansion of the U.K.-based Marine & Lawn brand, which is also growing its footprint in Scotland. Mid Pines Inn and Pine Needles Lodge are Marine & Lawn's first properties in the U.S. Marine & Lawn 'takes a refined approach to hospitality, design, world-renowned dining, and prime access to some of the world's most prestigious golf courses,' according to AJ Capital. With the recent additions — which include the acquisition of the historic Greywalls Hotel in Scotland — Marine & Lawn will boast eight properties across the U.K. and the U.S. AJ Capital CEO and founder Ben Weprin said the acquisitions represent 'a pivotal milestone for Marine & Lawn.' 'Since launching the brand in 2019, our ambition has always been to honor golf's most legendary locales with world-class hospitality,' Weprin said in a statement, noting that the addition of these properties allows the firm 'to bring that vision to life on both sides of the Atlantic.' AJ Capital Partners developed and launched the Graduate Hotels brand, which Hilton acquired last year. AJ Capital continues to own real estate assets belonging to its Graduate Hotels brand, which Hilton is now expanding. Hilton named former Graduate Hotels President Kevin Osterhaus its president of global lifestyle brands last year. Elsewhere in the U.S., Dream Golf is developing a 2,400-acre golf-focused resort in East Texas. Sports-related travel is on the rise, hospitality pros told Hotel Dive earlier this year.
Forbes
10-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Big Travel News For Golfers At Some Of The World's Best Golf Courses
Royal County Down Golf Club is Number One on Golf Digest's 100 Greatest Courses in the World, and ... More one of the places Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts has made golf travel even better. In recent years, a new hospitality brand called Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts has quietly been making big waves in high-end golf travel. They have made visits to some of the world's greatest destinations and most highly ranked courses easier, better and more luxurious. But they just took the biggest single step in the company's history, announced yesterday. Making Golf Travel Better Marine & Lawn's strategy has been novel yet elegantly simple. They acquire existing hotels—often the best hotel—in iconic pilgrimage golf destinations, then pump vast amounts of capital into renovations. Many of these would be better characterized as overhauls, reopening with far more luxurious lodging, dining, drinking and everything else you want in a luxury golf vacation. They started in the birthplace of the game, and golf's most 'Bucket List' destination, Scotland, before moving on to Northern Ireland, and now, the United States. When I say the top destinations in golf, that is no exaggeration. While Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts has just seven hotels in the British Isles, those all sit immediately at, or extremely close to, a Who's Who of the world's greatest courses. Close as in walking distance to the first tee close. As prolific golf journalist Shaun Tolson wrote in MasterCard Luxury Magazine, 'proximity to world-class golf is at the nucleus of every Marine & Lawn hotel.' On the current 2024-2025 Golf Digest World's 100 Greatest Golf Courses list, they have the top four spots, five of the top six, and six of top nine. That is no small thing. If you like stumbling from your bed to the first tee, no location at the fabled St. Andrews Old ... More Course can beat Rusacks Hotel. For example, one of Marine & Lawn's properties is Rusacks Hotel in St. Andrews, which literally abuts the oldest and most famous golf layout on earth, the Old Course, the first choice of just about everyone who plays if they could play one spot. I've been to St. Andrews several times, and while Rusacks has been there for more than 200 years and has always had an unbeatable location, it's fair to say it has never been as good as it is now, taking its place among Scotland's top golf course hotels. On Rusacks, Tolson noted that, 'A through renovation put a modern spin on the property's traditional Scottish style and was desperately needed.' Lodgings are more sumptuous than ever, the food is great, the below ground classic bar is fantastic, and they added a rooftop restaurant and bar, all the craze around the globe but even better when overlooking golf's most hallowed ground. Greatly improved food and beverage has been a Marine & Lawn hallmark since day one. This year's 2025 Open Championship returns to Northern Ireland's Royal Portrush, the only place the British Open has ever been played outside Great Britain. When the dust settles from the event and traveling leisure golfers return, they will want to stay at Marine & Lawn's Portrush Adelphi, a massively upgraded seaside property that instantly became the top choice in a golf mad destination that also includes nearby 36-hole Ballyliffin, with two stunning links layouts on the coast, the northernmost in Ireland. The British Open and its Claret Jug are returning to Royal Portrush, one of the world's best golf ... More courses Their portfolio also includes the venerable Slieve Donard, long the must-stay spot for golfers visiting Northern Ireland's Royal County Down, by many estimates, the world's greatest golf course period. It is Number One on Golf Digest's list and having played it a couple of times, I understand why. On the other hand, many pundits would give that best-on-earth title to Muirfield, a sixteen-time host of the Open Championship and likely the only tee-time in Scotland harder to get than the Old Course. The classic spot to stay while playing Muirfield has always been Greywalls, an Edwardian estate overlooking the 10th tee, and yesterday Marine & Lawn announced the acquisition of that gem. Designed by renowned architect Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1901, it was privately owned by the Weaver family since 1926, and now Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts. Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts just acquired Greywalls, a legendary golf hotel next to the 10th tee ... More at Scotland's Muirfield. Through a close and longstanding relationship with The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, the club that calls Muirfield home, Greywalls has always had the rare luxury of securing a handful of allocated tee times so it can offer stay and play packages on this incredibly hard to access course. The announcement is so new that Marine & Lawn has not decided what if any renovations are needed beyond upgrading the culinary offerings, nor what changes will be made to its packages, but it is a good guess that their hotel will continue to have the distinction of being the place to stay for such special access to tee times. Besides Rusacks and now Greywalls, they also have the Marine Hotel in Troon, a longtime classic and the place to stay when visiting British Open venue Royal Troon or nearby Prestwick, birthplace of the British Open Championship, one of the world's most fun courses, and a personal favorite of mine. In 2022 when the hotel reopened, the London Times wrote: 'Maximalist design and MasterChef-style food are on the menu at this revamped golf course hotel.' Then there's the Marine North Berwick, Scotland, surrounded by arguably the densest concentration of standout courses on earth, including two in the World Top 10. Further north, Dornoch Station is the top choice for those making the golf pilgrimage to remote Royal Dornoch—ranked Number Two in the World by Golf Digest. Unlike U.S. golf resorts, at most of the top spots in the British Isles the courses are private clubs, even when open to the public, and the lodging is unaffiliated, so simply having a hotel next to a great course does not mean guests can get on it. However, in most of these cases, Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts has a very close working relationship with its neighbors, and while they typically do not guarantee tee times or offer the kind of turnkey golf and accommodations packages many U.S. resorts do, they can try, have an inside track, and are often your best bet. Massively renovated guest rooms are coming to Mid-Pines and Pine Needles, as shown in this rendering ... More of the new design. The situation is a little bit different here at the company's first domestic acquisition, and probably its most newsworthy. Along with Greywalls, Marine & Lawn just announced the purchase of twin resorts Pine Needles Lodge and Mid-Pines Inn in Southern Pines, NC, just outside Pinehurst, the 'Home of Golf in America.' These twin resorts were built in the 1920 and sit directly across the road from each other and have long been owned by the same family and operated as two sides of the same property, with guests sharing access to food, drink and the three golf courses. I visited recently, and the golf is simply exceptional, with three original Donald Ross gems that have been painstakingly restored in recent years, and all three are ranked in the Top 40 in the U.S. by Golf Magazine—something not even Pebble Beach can claim. The recently renovated Southern Pines Country Club was private for most of the past century, but since being upgraded and added to the resort portfolio, it has exploded onto the scene and is the only course in the region that stands toe to toe with legendary Number Two at Pinehurst, the area's other 'must play.' The other two are excellent as well, and Pine Needles hosted the 2022 U.S. Women's Open. A new Clubhouse is also in the plans for Southern Pines. Pine Needles and Mid-Pines have always had a cult following and serious players know how good the courses are. In addition, the resorts have a standout golf academy with a large, dedicated teaching facility. But the weak link has always been the average accommodations and limited cuisine, while sitting in the shadow of the massive Pinehurst Resort, the nation's largest, which has received decades of continuous reinvestment, has tons of dining and myriad lodging options, and is by any standard, one of the world's greatest golf destinations. But if anyone is going to give them a run for their money, it is Marine & Lawn, which has already announced plans for a much-needed comprehensive restoration led by parent company AJ Capital's design team, featuring fully renovated guestrooms, new dining concepts, and refreshed public spaces. The resorts should remain open with renovations on a rolling basis, beginning this year with hopes for completion in 2026. The family owner of Pine Needles and Mid-Pines did an excellent job with golf, and they are keeping that part of the operation, with Marine & Lawn buying the hotels, not the courses. Nonetheless, the close relationship will almost certainly continue in the form of easily booked preferential tee times for guests and stay and play packages, as has been the case until now. Both partners are very good at what they do, and my informed guess is that few guests will notice any separation and by all appearances, Mid-Pines and Pine Needles will continue to be one of the top golf resorts in the country, only better. All of this is big travel news for golfers at some of the world's best golf courses, here and in Europe. Or as Ben Weprin, founder of Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts and CEO of AJ Capital Partners put it in his announcement, 'These acquisitions represent a pivotal milestone for Marine & Lawn. Since launching the brand in 2019, our ambition has always been to honor golf's most legendary locales with world-class hospitality. The addition of these iconic properties—each with deep roots in golf's history—allows us to bring that vision to life on both sides of the Atlantic.'
