Scotland is blessed with some of the greatest golf courses in the world - and from Spring 2007 there'll be another couple to add to the list. The Carrick - on the edge of Loch Lomond near Glasgow - is the latest development to be located in a beautiful part of the country. The Carrick is designed in a traditional Scottish Heathland style incorporating many naturalised areas of gorse and tall fescue grasses. These areas will provide beautiful contrasting colours and textures against the immaculate fairways, while reducing the requirements for vast areas of maintained turf. Challenge, variety and playability are important design elements that have been carefully integrated into the design to ensure an exciting and enjoyable golf experience for golfers of all abilities. Multiple tee placements on each hole provide a tremendous choice in yardage ranging from 5,200 yards from the forward tees to more than 7,000 yards from the championship tees. The currently unnamed 7th course in St Andrews is also expected to be open for demonstration play in 2007. Work throughout the 220-acre site is progressing well. Plans are being developed for a circular clubhouse beside the double 9th and 18th green, which will offer spectacular views out to sea. A great deal of care has been taken to ensure that the routing of the course makes the most of its spectacular cliff top location and will enable golfers to enjoy wonderful golf holes framed by breathtaking views. The course is set out in two loops of nine holes and most of the holes run on an east to west axis with six of them running along the cliff's edge. One of the course's most striking holes will be the 17th. This testing par three will present golfers with a dramatic challenge as it invites them to take on the rocky chasm below to fly the ball to a green sitting atop a rocky outcrop. Despite presenting a stiff test of golf, Course No 7 will be set up to cater for all abilities of golfer. Each hole will feature five tees and the course will play anything from 5,600 to 7,200 yards. More information about the 7th course can be found at www.standrews.org.uk Of course, many North East golfers visit Scotland every year - and it's becoming easier and easier to plan a trip north of the Border. The tourism authority, VisitScotland, has developed a Welcome scheme to promote the special efforts made by accommodation providers to cater for the needs of visiting golfers and help them choose accommodation that best meets their individual needs. Following an extensive pilot in Dumfries and Galloway from 2004, the scheme is now being made available to accommodation providers throughout Scotland. A similar scheme - the Visiting Golfers Welcome scheme - has also been launched to offer special recognition for golf clubs. So what can a golfer coming to Scotland expect from this new scheme Golf clubs in the scheme provide: changing facilities and lockable storage for golf clubs and equipment; good signposting around the course; all facilities in good order; catering on-site or information on the nearest eating places; a commitment to training caddies (where the service is offered); a warm welcome from both golf club members and staff. The golfers' Welcome scheme sets down strict criteria for the accommodation providers, including: a secure storage space for clubs; separate space for drying outdoor clothing and facilities for laundry; a late evening meal or snack and an early breakfast; detailed information on local courses; detailed information on practise ranges, golf shops, driving ranges and golf club hire. Details about accommodation providers and clubs involved in the Welcome scheme can be found by logging on to: www.visitscotland.com/golf | 
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