Sarah Stirk Sky Sports Golf presenter reflects on the journeys that shaped her, from discovering golf as an injured teen to playing Augusta National, travelling the world, and finding her favourite courses, cities, and unforgettable travel moments.

When did you first pick up a golf club

I was 17, a tennis player and I had a bad injury. I was studying at Millfield School in the sixth form and my housemaster, Mr Wilson, took me to the driving range one evening, we hit a few balls…I wasn’t addicted straight away, but it got me into the sport, and I started to play more and more.

Little did I know that evening would lead to presenting the biggest tournaments in the game. I currently play off a seven handicap.

What’s your favourite golf resort

There’s so many, I love Harbour Town on Hilton Head Island, playing the 18th with the famous lighthouse, is memorable, it’s also a very playable golf course off the forward tees.

Quinta do Logo is my favourite place to golf, I’ve got a place there, I’ve spent a lot of time there over the past 20 years, I love Portugal the lifestyle, the beaches, and the people.

Old Head in Ireland also needs to get a mention, you can see the sea from every hole and is an experience like no other.

Who would be your ideal holiday golf partners

Rory Mcllroy, I’ve known him for years and would be great to play with him, Taylor Swift, because she’s amazing, funny, and brilliant for what she does for women and very empowering, and finally Michael McIntyre because he would be hilarious to play with, I think the four of us together would have a good crack.

Where did you go for your most recent holiday

The Algarve, I tend to go on short haul holidays, now having a family commitment, my plan is to retire over there.

Best memory in golf

Playing Augusta National, the day after the 2023 Masters, they have the media ballot, with Sky Sports being the rights holder, we get one golden ticket a year to play the course on the Monday, my boss handed me the invitation in an envelope on the Sunday as we went into work.

It was great to play with all the scoreboards up, getting up and down from 100 yards on the 18th for a Par was the highlight of my round, it was an amazing experience and I shot and 96 which I was very happy with using borrowed clubs.

Apart from playing Augusta, other great memories include shooting a 74 at Ruddington Grange Golf Club in Nottingham.

What’s your favourite golf course in the UK

That would be the Queens Course at Gleneagles, my uncle had an apartment next to resort and while I was at university, I did a summer season there… and as a staff member we got to play the courses through twilight rounds, so the Queens Course is where I learnt to play the game and it’s one of the prettiest courses in the UK.

I have a give Sunningdale Old a mention too.

What’s the best hotel you’ve ever stayed in

The Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, I had a private butler service, sound proofed rooms, so you couldn’t hear any noise from the outside, everything about the hotel was exceptional.

It was through a work-based event working on the Gary Player invitational.

What’s your favourite city in the world

That has to be New York, I love the vibe and energy, I think it feels more intimate than London, I stayed with family and friends in Long Island and took myself off into New York for the day, that was my  first proper time travelling on my own.

I love The High Line, which is an elevated freight rail line which was transformed into a public park. I’ve been pre and post 9/11 and seen both the Twin Towers and Ground Zero. The whole city has so many cool areas.

Hosting a Nike event with Rory and Tiger was also memorable, it was at night at Liberty National GC and seeing Manhattan lit up in the distance will long live in the memory.

Most memorable meal

Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck in Bray, it was a bit out there for me but very memorable, the whole meal was pure theatre, taking the lids of the glass bowls and seeing the smoke raising and wearing headphones as you eat, you hear chatter and laughter, waves crashing and seagulls squawking while you‘re eating a seafood course.

My favourite course was the chocolate fondant, that was pure heaven. I would go back there for this dessert alone.

My top travel tip

Is travelling light, I’ve also been so bad at packing, I used to use only a third of the clothes I took on trips, I now only use the cabin suitcase, but it’s taken me years to realise this.

Remember you can also pick up shampoo and toiletries when you get to your destination.

Sarah and Anton Du Beke’s golf podcast, Putt and Strut, is about to launch its second season in 2026 and will be available to download on all major podcast platforms.

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When did you first pick up a golf club?

It was when I was about 8 or 9 in Stirling, I used to play the university golf course…don’t tell anyone but I used to sneak on late in the afternoon.

What’s your favourite golf resort?

I love Gleneagles because I got married there, it has so many things you can do on and off the golf courses. The golf courses are world class as is the all-round service.

Who would be in your ideal holiday four-ball?

I should say my wife Gabby but I’m going to say Ally McCoist, as I’m a big Rangers fan, Jimmy Nesbitt, and Tour Pro Bob Macintyre.

What’s your earliest holiday memory?

It was on the Isle of Arran, an island off the west coast of Scotland. I would have been about six years old and remember swimming in a pool, years later my parents told me that I nearly drowned in that pool and had to be dragged out. We used to visit our cousins on a farm and ended up working while we were there.

What’s been your most memorable flight?

I was 19 years old when I was selected to play rugby for Scotland. We had a 24-hour British Airways flight to Australia, and I remember feeling incredibly nervous.

It was an amazing opportunity to travel with the Scotland team and experience a completely different culture.

During the flight, we were handed landing cards to fill out, but as someone with dyslexia—a condition I had kept secret from my teammates—I panicked, unsure of how to complete it. That’s when Doddie Weir leaned over and said, ‘Just copy mine.’

I did exactly that. But when I got to customs, the officer looked at my form and said, ‘You’re not Doddie Weir.’ I had copied the entire thing, including his name! I completely froze, but thankfully, they sorted it out for me.

What’s been your most recent holiday?

We’ve just come back from the Maldives. I like going to new places, very rarely do we go back to the same place.

What’s your favourite golf course?

I want to say Turnberry, but I’m going to say Loch Lomond as my favourite, from the moment your drive in through the gates and up to the clubhouse you know you’re in a special place.

What’s been your most memorable round?

On the week of my wedding I got a hole-in-one on the 5th hole at Loch Lomond, a gorgeous hole with the Loch behind the green, that was memorable but another round I had on the same course, I was standing on the 18th tee only four over par and was on for my best ever round, my caddie said take an iron off the tee and you’ll make a bogey at worst, I didn’t listen, took out my driver and pulled my shot into the water and finished with a 9.

What’s your favourite holiday hotel?

The Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita, which was nothing short of spectacular, we went with the kids when they were young, it did have a golf courses, but I didn’t manage to play around, but it didn’t matter, the food was incredible, and the children loved it.

There’s also been a few we’ve been to in Japan which were very special.

What’s your favourite city in the world?

That’s a close call between Paris and Rome, but Paris just edges it for me, I love the architecture in both cities your average looking building in both Paris and Rome are stunning and I could just walk around the back streets of both for hours.

What’s been your most memorable meal on holiday?

I once had a meal in Japan, I can’t remember the name of the restaurant, but when we arrived with the two children there were only four seats in it.

I had the most unbelievable sushi I’ve ever had in my life; I would love to go back there again one day. The culture in Japan has to be experienced.

What your top travel tip?

I always believe your holiday should start at the airport if not when you leave the house, get there early, relax, and read a book or watch something on your iPad, preferably with a glass of champagne in your hand.

Just take all the stress out of traveling, nothing worse than getting stressed.

Kenny will be playing in the 2025 Prostate Cancer UK’s Big Golf Race to sign up visit biggolfrace.prostatecanceruk.org

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When did you first pick up a golf club?

That would have been when I was at Arsenal as a 17 year old. The club had playing rights at South Herts Golf Club. it’s a very nice club and Dai Rees was the professional there.

He captained the Ryder Cup five times and played in the event nine times. Dai was a big Arsenal supporter, and we even had our pre-match meals there before we played at Highbury.

 

What’s your earliest holiday memory?

My brothers used to play football as well and played for Queens Park Rangers and Millwall.

Me and my mum and dad used to come over from Dublin and watch them play in London in August and early September – so that felt like a holiday.

What’s your favourite golf resort?

I’ve been lucky to have visited many resorts over the years, but Quinta Do Lago in the Algarve is a bit special, as is Casa De Campo in the Dominican Republic, where all courses on the resort are designed by Pete Dye.

The signature course is called ‘Teeth of the Dog’ and is voted the No.1 course in the Caribbean for a reason.

The views are stunning alongside the stretch of holes along the ocean. I’ve played their twice now and can’t wait to go back and play it again.

Who would be in your ideal holiday four-ball?

I was the youngest of the boys in our family, but If I could turn back the clock it would be with
my brothers Frank, Ray and Pat, who sadly aren’t around now.

My ideal two-ball would be with my wife Sarah – we play a lot of golf together.

What’s been your most recent golf holiday?

I just been to Quinta Do Lago with a few mates, we stayed in a villa and played the South and North courses, but we also teed it up at Pinheiros Altos nearby as a friend of mine is a member there.

The courses are always in great condition and the whole area has a great atmosphere.

What you most memorable round?

My best round of golf was when I shot a five-over- par 77 at the Green Monkey Course at Sandy Lane in Barbados, I was playing with a couple of Irish friends and my wife Sarah.

I’m currently playing off a 14 handicap, so I’m not sure I will be able to repeat that again anytime soon!

Favourite golf course in the UK?

I’ve a couple which I can’t separate, firstly Sunningdale Old Course in Berkshire and Turnberry Alisa Course in Scotland, I played Sunningdale in August and Turnberry in September, and both were great experiences. Both very different, but I can’t separate the two.

What’s your favourite holiday hotel?

It has to be Sandy Lane in Barbados, everything is just beautiful about it – the food, the service is on a different level, and the golf courses are all in tip top condition.

What’s your favourite city in the world?

I’m probably bias, Dublin is my home-town, but I lived in Italy for seven years whilst I played at Juventus, Inter Milan and Ascoli, so Rome takes some beating.

I haven’t been for a while but we’ve talking about it, we go to Italy quite often but haven’t visited Rome in a while.

What’s your favourite meal on holiday?

t has to be the Sunday brunch at Sandy Lane, it’s the most fantastic buffet you can ever imagine, with oysters and great seafood.

I’m also very attached to a seaside resort in Italy called Alassio, where the people of Milan and Turin go to holiday and it has so many great restaurants that you just can’t go wrong there.

What’s your top travel tip?

I always try and avoid eating while I’m flying. I try and have a nice meal before I fly or soon after I land.

I seem to have worked out jet-lag from across the pond by having a couple of hours’ sleep as soon as I get home – that seems to get me back onto a regular sleeping pattern.

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The former Tottenham and England defender and now Sky Sports football pundit reveals his favourite places to play and stay. Interview Matt Nicholson

When did you first pick up a golf club..

I must have been about eight or nine when I first had a swing. I had a club – must have been my dad’s I guess – and I took it up to the playing fields at my school with half-a-dozen balls and just hit them back and forth.

I joined my first golf club, Catterick, when I was about 12. It’s right by Catterick Garrison army camp in North Yorkshire. I used to get dropped off at the club in the summer holidays and me and three other mates would spend six weeks playing golf every day.

It’s a great way to spend four or five hours with your friends when you have all that time on your hands, as we did as kids back then.

I’m a member at Wetherby Golf Club now, so I haven’t strayed too far!

What’s your earliest holiday memory?

As a young kid growing up in Yorkshire, we usually went to a caravan site in Scarborough for our summer holidays. I think I was about 10 before I first flew abroad for a family holiday when we went to Tenerife.

What’s your favourite golf resort?

I haven’t been to a golf resort for a holiday as such, but when I was playing for England abroad we’d often be staying at a hotel which had a golf course, or one nearby, so we’d always try and get a game in after a morning’s training.

England used to stay at The Grove in Watford before home games at Wembley, so I’ve stayed and played there a lot, although I can’t say that I played very well – it’s a tough track!

Who would be in your ideal holiday four-ball?

If I could choose a professional golfer, it would have to be Rory McIlroy. I’ve followed his career since he started out and I just love the way he goes about the game.

Phenomenal swing and a phenomenal talent. He’s sure to win some more majors, but it feels like it’s more of a mental hurdle for him now, rather than anything related to his physical game.

When I was at Spurs, a group of us would often go out to play – Gareth Bale, Brad Friedel, Kyle Walker, Carlo Cudicini and Paul Gascoigne, so any combination of those guys would be a fun group, although Gareth’s a bit good now, so he’d have to give us plenty of shots!

What’s your favourite holiday hotel?

I’m a big fan of Dubai, and I love the One&Only Royal Mirage. When it was just my wife and I we’d stay at the Residence, which is one of three hotels there, but now we’ve got two kids – a nine-year- old daughter and a four-year-old son – we tend to stay at the Palace, which is more kid-friendly and there’s more for them to do.

What’s your favourite city in the world?

I’m going to have to say Dubai. I’ve been going there for 15 years, and I know it’s not for everyone, but I’m a sun seeker, and you can pretty much always guarantee that it’s going to be sunny in Dubai, which is my top priority when I’m on holiday. I probably had too many rainy holidays in Yorkshire as a child!

What’s your favourite type of a meal on holiday?

I’m a big fan of Japanese food now, although it took me a long time to be converted, so I’ll always seek out a decent Japanese restaurant when I’m in London or when we’re on holiday.

Sadly, my kids aren’t really into it, so it’s more likely to be the hotel buffet now!

What’s your top travel tip?

Always be on time, and by that I mean always be ahead of schedule. I don’t like being in a rush at airports, so I always plan to get there early. It also applies to all facets of life – I don’t like to keep people waiting.

Other than that, it’s just a pair of shorts, flip flops, sunglasses and a passport, and you’re good to go!

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How old were you when you first picked up a golf club?
I must have been around seven, so 1965. My dad took us down to Llanymynech Golf Club, which is famous for having 15 holes in Wales and three holes in England. On the fourth hole, you tee off in Wales, putt in England and return to Wales three holes later.

My dad, Harold, used to play local club football when he was younger, but when he got to 35, he and his football mates gradually took up golf instead, and then we all got introduced to the game soon after that as a family.

What is your first holiday memory?
My dad always used to take us on holiday to Butlins in Pwllheli in South Wales. Funnily enough, we went there for the boxing.

My dad was a keen amateur boxer and he got us into it as well. It was the early ‘70s and Butlins used to run these boxing competitions for the kids – hard to believe now – and if you won your final bout your family got a free holiday. My dad loved a free holiday, so we kept going back there year after year!

What’s your favourite golf resort?
I stayed at some fantastic golf resorts all over the world, during my career, so I’ve been very lucky, but I guess it’s only as I’ve got older that I’ve really been able to appreciate what they have to offer in terms of a holiday as opposed to how they stack up as tournament venues.

Apes Hill Resort in Barbados, of which I am ambassador, is obviously a very exciting proposition, and is on its way to becoming one of the world’s great resorts, although it’s doing it on a very low-key level, being careful to make sure it is developed in harmony with the local area.

The course is magnificent, with incredible views too, while the facilities around it, from the academy and the restaurants, and the properties that surround the course, are all top class.

Who would be in your ideal holiday fourball?
That’s a tough one, as I’ve always loved playing with the mates I’ve made on tour, but If I could only pick three I‘d go for DJ Russell, Peter Baker and Sandy Lyle. They’d be lots of laughs and a few side bets.

And what’s been your most memorable round?
I once shot 57 at Oswestry Golf Club in the middle of winter, and that included missing a two-footer and three 10-foot birdie putts on the last three holes. That was something else, but you I’ve shot some incredible rounds in all sorts of different places.

I think I shot a 60 in Monte Carlo – but I’m not really one for dwelling on specific rounds, as I was always more concerned about winning. It’s all about the destination and not the journey when it comes to tournament golf!

What’s your favourite course in the UK?
It used to be the West Course at Wentworth when it was set up the old way, but obviously I’ve not played it so much following its redesign.

I used to loved how it demanded that you could hit every club in the bag, not just half a dozen or so, and you can’t say that about a lot of courses these days.

What’s the best hotel you’ve ever stayed in?
You can’t go too wrong with The Lost City Hotel in Sun City, South Africa. Having all the elephants and giraffes and wildlife on your doorstep was incredible. I’ve got great memories of staying there when I won the Million Dollar Challenge in 1987.

What’s your favourite city in the world?
Dublin. It’s as much about the people as it is the place, and everywhere you go in Dublin you’re always made to feel welcome. One of the best times I had there was in 1978 when a few lads went over there for a couple of days for the craic and ended up staying there two weeks!

Obviously I’m Welsh, but part of me feels a bit Irish, especially after winning the Ryder Cup at the K Club in 2004.

What’s been your most memorable meal on holiday?
There have been quite a few, but a steak I had at a restaurant in Madrid called Caso Paco was hard to beat. The beef comes straight out of the bull ring apparently, and they cook it over a charcoal grill and bring it out on a hotplate so it carries on cooking at the table.

Served medium rare with some fresh chips and a bit of salad – lovely! I’m going there again in a few weeks’ time.

What’s your top travel tip?
Have a friend with a private plane! Travelling – or rather flying – used to fun when I was first competing on the European Tour. You just jumped on a plane and got where you wanted to go.

These days, flying abroad is such a hassle with all the security, the queues, the delays, losing your luggage. It’s no fun anymore for, but it’s obviously part of the job.

My other top tip is to take Imodium tablets and mosquito repellent. Both can be life savers!

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 I first picked up a club…when I was at school at Barnard Castle in County Durham. We lived in Malaysia when I was growing up and I was sent to school in the UK. We used to swing a few clubs on the playing fields and then when we kind of knew what we were doing we were allowed to play at Barnard Castle Golf Club.
I didn’t play a lot of golf during my rugby playing days, but have always kept my hand in. I’ve recently joined England Golf’s iGolf scheme, which is designed to provide a handicap for golfers who aren’t members of a club. Although I generally just play with my mates for fun I do play in a few corporate days and charity events, and I was playing off a 13 handicap from when I was a member at Belton Woods in Lincolnshire. My current handicap through iGolf is 19, which is definitely more reflective of my ability.

My favourite golf resort is… La Manga in Spain. I was invited to play in the Henry Cooper Classic there many years ago and brought my wife Wendy and our two girls along with me for a holiday. We had a great time, and I really enjoyed the golf courses and the other facilities. Shortly after, they got in touch and asked if I would like to become an ambassador for the resort, which I did, and we were lucky enough to be get free holidays there for a few years as part of the deal. The courses are great holiday tracks, as you can get into trouble off the tee, but often still have a route to the green – unless you’re stuck behind a palm tree – so it’s pretty forgiving, which is what you want on holiday.

My ideal holiday fourball would include…. no-one famous. I’d just prefer to play with two or three of my best mates. It’s all about the banter, on and off the golf course, and you only really get that when you’re playing with good friends.

My earliest holiday memory… We grew up in Malaysia and lived in Kuala Lumpur, so going there was like a holiday for me and my siblings when we were coming back from school in the UK. But mum and dad would also like to get away, so they’d book us all a holiday to stay in a villa up in Port Dickson on the Malacca Straits, where it was much cooler in the summer. We used to muck around on the beach and swim every day – just very simple, fun, family times.

My most recent holiday was to…. Corfu. We had a family holiday there last year, and stayed on the southwest side of the island, away from the more touristy areas. I had never been before and didn’t know much about it, but I wasn’t prepared for the state of the roads around where we were. We rented a villa, which was fabulous, but it was quite an adventure every time we had to go out in the car! We went at the end of September, and I remember as soon it got to October virtually all the restaurants closed down for the season, so our timing wasn’t great.

My most memorable round was… at Mount Juliet in Ireland. It wasn’t long after taken up the game more seriously and I had only really ever played at your regular golf clubs in the UK, and then I turned up at Mount Juliet for a Terry Wogan charity event and the place was like a computer simulator of a golf course. There wasn’t a blade of grass out of place and the tees were like greens. I don’t remember playing very well, but I’ll never forget being blown away by the presentation of the course. It was another level to anything I’d ever experienced before.

We used to play a few nice courses when we were touring with England or the Lions in Australia or South Africa, but I never really paid much attention to their names, so that part of my golfing life remains something of a hazy memory. It was just something to do to get away from rugby for a few hours.
My other golfing highlight would have been when I played in the Dunhill Links Pro-Am a few times. One year I was paired with Simon Yates, Scottish pro, and I remember we played alongside Colin Montgomerie and Chris Evans, and Simon and I ended up qualifying for the final round at St Andrews. I’ve never been so nervous in my life on that first tee. I carved one off to the right and only just managed to keep it play, but thankfully it got better from there and we went on to finish seventh. Seeing my name up on the leaderboard as we walked down the 18^th fairway is something I’ll never forget. Dunhill very kindly gave me a framed map of the course with my shots plotted by GPS that day, which is something I treasure.

My favourite course in the UK is… ooh, that’s a tough one. I’ve been lucky enough to play a few fabulous courses. Loch Lomond, Ganton, Sunningdale, Wentworth, St Andrews are all right up there, but I’d be hard pressed to pick a favourite – for me, it’s more often about who you’re playing with than the course itself.

The best hotel I’ve stayed in…. is the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island. We went there for my wife’s 50^th about 10 years ago and stayed in this amazing villa on stilts on the water. You could get up and just jump straight into the sea from our room. It was a very relaxing family holiday – snorkelling, swimming, eating and sleeping!

My favourite city in the world is… Melbourne. I’m not really a city person, but Melbourne kind of took me by surprise as it doesn’t have that big city feel and doesn’t overwhelm you like some cities can. It’s got a bit old world charm about it, while also being very modern.

My most memorable meal on holiday… is anything that involves Malaysian food – satay, fried noodles. Whenever I go back to Malaysia I always head straight for the local markets and the street food stalls, as that’s where you find the best food – and also the food that my relations cook!

My top travel tip…. is to take a phone charger with a universal adaptor and a good supply of diarrhoea tablets. You can never be too prepared!

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The former Olympic 50m swimmer, who plays off a 10 handicap, never leaves home without his clubs in tow

My first ever golf holiday was to… La Cala in Spain. Eight of us go away every year and we do a North v South Ryder Cup competition, although most of them are from the North, so I’m not sure how that works out! But we have a lot of fun and play some competitive, if not always great, golf. We went to La Quinta last year, and La Cala before that. I’m not sure where we’re going this year – we might try Portugal.

My most recent golf holiday was to… Almenara in southern Spain. We played Finca Cortesin, Valderrama and a few others. It was a really top notch, although the courses were extremely tough.

My favourite golf course abroad is… Finca Cortesin. There’s not a weak hole, and the views are spectacular, as is the service off the golf course.

The favourite course in the UK is… The Grove in Hertfordshire. It’s a championship course which can be set up to let amateurs get around without embarrassing themselves too much, and the condition of the whole course is tour standard.

My best ever golf trip was to… Pebble Beach in California. Myself and seven friends went there for my 50th birthday in 2020. We stayed there for a week and played the Golf Links, Spanish Bay, Cypress Point, Poppy Hills and Spyglass Hill. It was amazing.

My ideal holiday fourball would include… Martin O’Neill, Bradley Walsh and Brendan O’Carroll, from Mrs Brown’s Boys. That was the funniest four-ball I’ve ever played in. I’ve also got three good mates who I enjoy playing with, but that’s more of a grudge match.

I always travel with… my golf clubs! Back when I was swimming competitively I’d always take my own my pillow. I needed to have a good night’s sleep the night before a race and some hotels have terribly uncomfortable pillows.

The best hotel I’ve ever stayed in was… Hope Springs Resort in Palm Springs, California. It’s a minimalist motel in the San Jacinto mountains that has its own spring-fed geo-thermal pools. It’s the perfect retreat from the stresses of the world.

My favourite holiday destination is… Santa Monica, California. I also love a city break and am a big fan of Barcelona and Rome, because there is so much to see, so much history, and great food to eat.

My most memorable holiday meal was at… The Good Earth, a Chinese restaurant in Chelsea which serves the best crispy duck pancakes.

My worst holiday experience was… at a hotel that will remain nameless in Lanzarote, where my room was full of cockroaches.

My top travel tip is… if you are going somewhere hot, make sure you take a sunblock with a high factor.

Mark Foster is an ambassador for the Legends Tour’s wapp Celebrity Pro-Am Series, with the next event taking place ahead of the Staysure Senior PGA Championship at Trump Links in Scotland from August 23-27. To find out more, visit www.legendstour.com/celebrity-pro-am

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My earliest travel memory… is my mum taking me and my younger brothers to Berwick-upon-Tweed to stay with our grandparents. I remember spending most of the car journey fighting with my brother, and my mum having to keep one hand on the wheel and the other hitting us to behave.
My first holiday overseas was to Tenerife when I was 18 with some friends. I was a typical rookie Scot, lying in the sun without bothering to bring suntan lotion. I got horrendously burnt and blistered and the front of my feet were so painful I couldn’t wear shoes. These days I take a cap and factor 50.
After my boys were born, our first big trip abroad was a car-ferry camping holiday in France. In my early days of coaching and when I was managing the boys, all we saw was the airport, hotel and tennis centre – we travelled so much but saw so little, so I’m making up for lost time now.

My most recent golf holiday was to… Vidago Palace in the Douro Valley near Porto in early May. I’m quite new to golf, so this my overseas golf holiday. There’s an 18-hole course in the hotel grounds which is reckoned to be the best course in north Portugal. It also had a driving range and practice area and stunning views over the local area. The sun shone, there was a spa on site and outdoor pool, so my first experience of a golfing holiday was bliss, and I’ve already booked to go back in October.
I bought a two-night stay at Carnoustie Golf Hotel in a charity auction and went there a few weeks ago. Carnoustie is obviously steeped in Scottish golf history. It has the Championship course, and two other 18-hole courses, all of which offer wonderful views out over the North Sea. There’s also a starter course for beginners with six very short and varied holes and an 18-hole public putting green, which I loved.

My ideal holiday four-ball would include… Anton du Beke, Robbie Keane and Catriona Matthew.

My most memorable ever round was… when I played in the pro-am at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth last September. I had only been playing for six months and was in a team with Oliver Wilson, who had just won the Made in Himmerland tournament in Denmark on the DP World Tour, Peter Jones from

Dragons’ Den, and Irish businessman JP McManus. It was daunting in many ways as a newbie in front of big crowds, but an incredible experience. I learned loads from observing Oli at close range and he shared a lot of great tips, especially on getting out of bunkers! Normally I need a spade!

My favourite golf resort is… Gleneagles. This is where I learned to play. I live close by and it’s the perfect place to start because it has wonderful teaching pros, a driving range with TopTracer – which has been so useful in trying to understand which clubs to use for different distances – short game practice areas, pitch and putt course, 9-hole par 3 course and, of course, the three Championship courses, all set in beautiful Perthshire countryside. I often meet deer, rabbits, pheasants and swans on the fairways!

I always travel with… notes from my lessons with my Gleneagles pro Matthew Reid.

My favourite hotel in the UK is …. the Isle of Eriska Hotel, just outside of Oban in Scotland. It’s on a tiny peninsula where the road gets cut off by the tide at certain times and there’s no phone reception, making it even more magical. There’s a spa, golf course, wonderful food and gorgeous rooms with four-poster beds. I go there when I just want to switch off from the world.

My favourite city in the world is…Rome.

My memorable meal while on holiday was… when renowned Turkish chef Nusret Gökçe [nicknamed Salt Bae] cooked in front of myself and Andy at one of the restaurants in The Crown Towers in Melbourne during the Australian Open. What a treat!

My holiday reading/playlist would include… the latest book from Lisa Jewell or Val McDermid, and a playlist from the 80s that would include Blondie, Queen, Meat Loaf and Elton John.

My worst holiday experience was… a four-day trip to Milan several years ago where my luggage got lost and turned up just before I flew home!

I’m planning a golf trip to… Provence. I went to Aix recently to watch Andy playing a final and met a gang of guys at Marseille airport who had been on a lads’ golf trip. They sold it to me and it’s a great chance to brush up on my French. I have a degree in French but if you don’t use it, you lose it.

My top travel tip is… travel light, but always leave room in your bag for shopping! And pack clothes pegs to clip the curtains together in the hotel room to ensure sunlight doesn’t wake you too early. That’s one of my jet-lag-busting tips!

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The 58-year-old BBC sports presenter returns to her Scottish roots for golf and pleasure, and never leaves home without her trusty travel steamer

My first holiday was… around Scotland with my mum, dad and brother. We were very much an outdoors family and loved camping, caravanning and hill walking. I remember some great times and great places all over the West Coast of Scotland and, yes, I remember a lot of sunshine, as well as rain too!

My most recent holiday was to…New Zealand to reaquaint our daughter with the rellies Down Under.

My favourite golf course in the world is… Well, obviously, it has to be my home course, Cardross Golf Club, which about 20 miles north-west of Glasgow. Running it close would be the New Course at St Andrews, and the Queens Course at Gleneagles. I was born in St Andrews, and lived in Fife until I was five, so golf has been in my DNA from the start.

I first started playing when I was seven, when my dad gave me a cut-down 7-iron to hit about when he was playing at Cardross. I was hooked from the start and my summer holidays basically consisted of playing two rounds a day – every day.

I came back to St Andrews as a student and played for the University team, and spent most of time outside of lectures playing golf. My halls of residence was at Hamilton Hall, overlooking the 18th hole of the Old Course. You’d pay alot for that room now! I’m lucky enough to be a member of the R&A, so I get back to play the Old Course as often as I can.

 

My ideal holiday fourball would include…My husband, my dad and Nancy Lopez to even up the numbers!

My most memorable ever round was at… Pebble Beach, where we could only get a late-afternoon tee time, practically ran round it whilst soaking in the views, hit at least two balls over the cliffs, but still managed to finish the 18th by playing a luminous ball in the semi-darkness. Magic!

My favourite golf resort is… Gleneagles. Tranquility, peace, and golfing gorgiousness.

The best hotel I’ve ever stayed at was…not really a hotel, but a wilderness camp in the Namibian desert.

My favourite city in the world is… Hong Kong. I love its energy and excitement. I’m not sure I could live there though, as it would burn me out pretty quickly!

The thing I hate about travel is… security checks, but I’m also glad they’re there.

I always travel with… photographs of my family, my laptop and a travel steamer. I hate ironing! I also always pack a pair of thermal socks. My feet are the first part of my body to get cold, and I have to do an awful lot of standing around waiting to do interviews. Once they get cold, it’s very difficult to warm them up again.

The worst holiday I’ve ever had was… whilst hiking in the Alps. Got food poisoning half-way along the route. Very dodgy! always take a cache of Dioralyte powders in your wash bag. See above.

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My first overseas trip… was actually my first cricket tour to Australia and New Zealand in 1980. That highlighted how vast this world is and gave me a taste to explore it, which I haven’t lost to this day.

My most recent holiday was to… the Caribbean with Black Opal Travel for England’s tour of the West Indies, where I enjoyed hosting over 100 clients at test matches in Antigua, Barbados and Grenada. I also managed to fit in a bit of golf, so it was a win-win!

My favourite golf course is…  Sunningdale Old Course. It just pip Kingsbarns, Woburn’s Marquess course, Loch Lomond, Royal Westmoreland in Barbados, and Wentworth West Course. I’m lucky to have played so many great courses, and they all hold special memories.

My ideal holiday fourball would include… Lee Trevino, as he’s so in love with the game. He seems so willing to share tips on his revered ball-striking skills, and is such a great storyteller; Nicolai Hojgaard, to see how far he can hit his drives pass mine; and my girlfriend Theresa, if she promises not to beat me! She plays off 13, so she often does.

My best ever round was at … Loch Lomond, where I shot 76. Don’t ask me how!

My favourite golf resort is … PGA Catalunya in Spain. It has two wonderful courses, with the Stadium course the stand out – it recently hosted a DP World Tour event – and with nearby Girona’s gastronomic delights coupled with fabulous Barcelona an hour away, it’s the perfect holiday destination.

I always travel with … an open mind to embrace the place, people and culture of wherever I am visiting.

The best hotel I’ve ever stayed in was… the Amangalla Hotel in Galle, Sri Lanka. It’s a wonderful hotel located inside the ramparts of the 17^th century Galle Fort. Just outside the fort is Le Grand Galle which is a modern hotel with spacious, luxurious rooms.

My favourite city in the world is … Cape Town. The breathtaking Table Mountain backdrop makes it really special, allied to a very vibrant entertainment scene with many wonderful restaurants – also there are many superb golf courses scattered around the Cape, all offering spectacular mountain views, while the Winelands are also very accessible.

My most memorable holiday meal was at… Sea Shed in Barbados, a sensational beach bar/restaurant. We recently had a long lunch there where the food was plentiful and delicious, the alcohol flowed non-stop, and there was a brilliant atmosphere  which had our guests dancing on the beach in the setting sun.

My worst holiday experience was in … Miami, Florida. It was a big disappointment. I didn’t see what the fuss was about at South Beach and the golf courses were a big letdown, particularly Trump Doral.

The golf course I’d most like to play is… Augusta National. It’s on every golfer’s bucket list and often remains there. I have never been, but I can picture every hole from my annual Masters television viewing, and I marvel at how the world’s best golfers try to cope with the challenges the course continually throws at them.

I’m planning a golf trip to … the Algarve in Portugal. I’ve been there many times, and have a few friends who live out there, so it’s always a fun social time mixed in with some great golf on courses such as San Lorenzo, Quinta do Lago South, Monte Rei and Palmares.

 My top travel tip is … relax, chill out and enjoy!

Gladstone is an ambassador for specialist sports and golf holiday operator Black Opal Travel. To find out more about their range holidays, including Masters and Ryder Cup packages, visit www.blackopal.uk.com or call 0330 0414888.

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