I had a meeting at the Russacks Hotel overlooking the most famous of golfing views- the R&A clubhouse and the 18th green of the Old course. After all this time it still gives me goose bumps, being there, its just so part of the town. Right there off the road and almost amongst the shops- amazing!

A great meeting with the guys at the Hotel before an 18 hole match with clients at the 7th oldest course in the world Crail. Situated some 10 miles out of town on the extreme easterly coast. A treasure of a links the Balcomie is and one that was closed for maintenance to the members. And then David the manager  stepped in and said ‘Andrew, just go and enjoy it’ ! An incredible gesture, so whilst the members played one course, my group played the older of the 2! Magic hospitality and it has to be said 5 birdies by your truly won tea and scones, in a clubhouse that overlooks this most majestic part of Fife. A fabulous day all told, then back to the Russacks ‘one under’ bar for a beer and a meal! A pretty damn good day. Unfortunately I had to leave the ‘old grey town’ yesterday at 11am , whilst it was bathed in sunshine and not a breath of wind….hey ho you can’t have it all!

West Lancs for me Monday in a pro am, then not long before we are off to Valderrama to practice, this evening though an after dinner speaking engagement at Stand GC …..now what shall I talk about, the 1989 European Open perhaps!

cheers

andrew

We have a busy planning period ahead as we strive to secure prime dates and venues for a myriad of differing clients. We have several new ventures this year including The AMG Links Trophy, a new event heading up to St Andrews and Carnoustie. This is restricted to 9 teams of 4 this year due to the start times available on the Old course, the take up was incredible and was full in 2 hrs! The Russacks Hotel are hosting us all there, for what will be a memorable trip no doubt.  Other corporate event will visit Delamare and Conwy, 2 of our most popular venues, as well as the Autumn AMG Invitational to paradise itself Turnberry in October.

I have  a personal 1st this year too with a corporate hosting job to Doral’s Blue Monster course in Miami in the spring, that promises to be a great trip.

Valderrama and Monte Rei are my next trips in February with sons Tom & Matt, now I doubt there are 2 finer courses in mainland Europe than those two- lucky boys we are!

cheers Andrew

I hope you had a good time with those closest and dearest to you. We certainly did in the murray household, Ben back from Norwich for 6 days and Tom, Matt & Hannah all around too. Peaceful and chilled- not too bad hey!

Regarding golf, well here in Cheshire it has been wet and wild, now sometimes that may be good, but not for golf!

I played with friends in  mixed event at Dunham Forest on 28th, a hole in the weather was grateful,  the 29th however for our annual ‘mates’ pre NY get together at Conwy Golf Club in North Wales was, being polite, very wild and brutal with wind speeds of 35. The links of Conwy really did show it’s teeth. Such a great place though too!

Anyhow, may I wish all our supporters, friends and clients a very healthy and happy new year!

all the very best for 2012

Andrew

On another note…

My son Tom will continue in his PGA studies and his quest to reach the European Tour, to follow his progress see www.tommurraygolf.com , 2012 will be an exciting one for him, no doubt.

On that note may we all at AMG wish everyone a very merry christmas and we look forward to greeting all guests to Cheshire’s finest course Delamere Forest in March. After that we have the Murray Norcott Golf School in Portugal, we have spots available so please call for info.

Thanks for being ‘here’, cheers for a healthy and happy new year .

Along with that are several others for the coming season , including Conway and Delamere Forest details to follow shortly. We have our pre Christmas bash at Stockport this year, a 12 hole comp around a really nicely presented course on December 8th. Talking of which, Tom and I played at Royal Liverpool on Monday in a pro am. Now there is a fantastic course and presented so well it was amazing. Neatly cut tees and greens, definition to all the fairways too, a real treat to play. And by the way the old fella beat the young one by a few and was 3 under par! That, it has to be said is rare these days but great too…for me!

The golf season is limping along in our weather, but the pro circuits around the world keep on going.  The Far East for the World Cup, South Africa for their Open in the Serengeti and Mauritius for the Senior Tour Championship. An event I have played a few times but sadly have not qualified for this year….. now there’s a place to visit. So many places and not enough time or funds……..never mind hey!

all the best

andrew

Turnberry seems so long ago now, but lots has happened here at AMG in leafy Lymm. An event that we created after an idea from one of our clients has ‘taken off’, beyond our expectations. The event was to play the The Bay at St Andrews, Carnoustie and then close on the Old course itself. A mega corporate tournament in which we had reserved 36 spots, all of which have been taken up before Sandra had chance to e mail the database! Amazingly, the jungle drums of  Lymm went around and bingo..all places sold out! We are sorry for the guys that would have wished to play , and perhaps this response will create another follow up tournament. The problem is that start times on the ‘Old Course’ are only bookable from Nov-March.

We have had a record year here, and most of that is due to ‘team murray’, headed by Sandra of course, David ,John & Tom too of course. But thanks all!

This time of the year is very much a planning operation for 2012 golf days for clients. It’s amazing how small the diary is when the school hols and fridays are not available. We have to fit several events in for VWCV, Toyota,Lexus, ING, TP,  Burnt Tree just to name a few of the multiple days, and other single ones  too for our ever growing customer base. A tricky balancing act of diary dates & family time as you can imagine! Best be busy though I reckon.

There are several events being sent out to our website soon , including our pre xmas event hosted at Stockport GC 8th Dec, the golf school in Portugal Mar 5-9th and the corporate club favs at Conway and Delamere Forest in March and April.

Son Tom has had a good solid 2nd  year as a pro, a steady year that has seen him progress well with his game, he is now a terrific player and thinker around the course. A powerful combination indeed, his head is very good under the cosh, and his attitude to being ‘commercial’ around the course is brilliant. His 2012 share scheme will be announced soon so please keep in touch with me if you require info on supporting a young player with huge potential….well I would say that ! www.tommurraygolf.com

cheers A

Kevin  & Gus floundered on the tough back nine and were pipped in the end by Ken & Andrea, whose 42 points for consecutive days sealed a popular and deserved victory. As per usual the hotel excelled in quality and attention to detail in every way, it really is a paradise to me, at least. The staff all looked after us so well , and the scenery and courses are just a delight.

We will be back this time next year I am sure, as all our guests are demanding it!!

Thanks to everyone there, and thanks and congrats to all the guys that supported it and went on to win a prize too!

Now its planning time for the ‘Murray Links Trophy’ , an event to follow the Dunhill courses on the east coast and the ‘home of golf’.

cheers A

Previous to that, was our own AMG event at Dunham Forest GC, in Cheshire. A splendid day on a marvelous course alongside great hospitality from Ian , Mike and co there. We will be back guys don’t worry about that. The Lloyds TSB Autolease team won by a shot from Incentivise Travel, scoring was reflective of the superb greens with 43 points leading the way.

After a round trip to see no1 son Ben today in Norwich, I am off to Turnberry with the rest of Team AMG to host our annual Invitational Tournament. This year however we have the most guests ever, 60 players in a better ball format over the two majestic courses Ailsa & Kintyre. Pray for the weather to be kind as this is the best place I have ever played , let alone the best hotel!

cheers

Andrew

I am so chuffed and my parents would be so proud I’m sure. Thank you all ever so much, and especially to the outgoing Lady Captain Brenda and my best pal Paul for proposing me. The pro Peter Barber has been a mate for more than 30 years, we have traveled the world playing the game we love. He has been such a great support to me there over many years too- thank you Budge!

cheers Andrew

Tomorrow , I am off to Barcelona for the annual Ibstock Brick golf seminar. A business seminar for the clients, with a tad of golf thrown in! PGA Catalunya, El Prat and Sant Cugat will host the 40 guests, lets just hope the weather is as good as it is here in the UK just now.

Next week is another busy one, starting with a ladies short game masterclass at Vale Royal Abbey in Cheshire, then onto Royal Liverpool for Lexus/Toyota and Lymm for Xentum to finish the week off.

Oh, and by the way for those that witnessed the Solheim Cup in Ireland last week end, just how good was that! The most compelling, riveting  sport you can see! The only down side for me was my friend Karen Stupples was left without a game on Sunday and was bereft at not being part of it, despite her opo Ms Kerr for-fitting a point due to injury! And then, later that night the $11m win by Bill Haas having played the shot of his life out of the water in the play-off. Even I was gripped by US golf on TV , and that is rare!

all the best with your games, cheers andrew