Don’t miss: a city tour

Before heading to the course and the tournament, let’s take a moment to explore Edinburgh („Dùn Èideann“ in Scottish Gaelic). A variety of tours help you discover the city’s many sights, whether it’s the Castle Tour, the Harry Potter Tour, the Firth of Forth Tour, or the Royal Mile.

One of the most popular and fascinating ways to experience Edinburgh is a „walking tour“ – ideally with a guide. Edinburgh is a city best appreciated on foot, where its charm truly comes to life with every step.

What a train station can become

In the heart of the Old Town, not far from Edinburgh Castle, you’ll find The Caledonian, the Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – a 5-star hotel that leaves nothing to be desired. Nothing hints at its past as a station concourse with a ticket counter.

From a fine English breakfast to afternoon tea and post-dinner drinks, the hotel offers elegant spaces and a perfect location for every occasion. And then, of course, there are the various restaurants. The rooms? There’s no need to mention how exceptional they are.

Naturally, a fitness center, indoor and outdoor pools, and a spa with a steam bath are all part of the standard offering here.

A tournament in a class of its own

With such a high density of top golfers, a world-class tournament was expected – and it certainly delivered. Xander Schauffele’s victory remained undecided until the final holes. Starting the final round with a two-stroke lead, the American temporarily lost his lead but ultimately clinched the win by one stroke ahead of Kurt Kitayama (USA), celebrating his first victory in a Rolex Series tournament.

The excitement was heightened by the 120-hectare course in North Berwick, East Lothian. (Incidentally, St. Andrews, the venue of the 150th Open, lies across the Firth of Forth). While the course is a par-71 for average golfers, the elite players had to tackle it as a par-70. A „short“ par 5 (just over 500 meters) was played as a par 4, adding an extra layer of challenge to the competition.

One hit – two cars

It’s almost standard for professional golfers to receive a car as a gift for a hole-in-one. At the Genesis Scottish Open, it was American Jordan Smith who achieved this lucky shot, earning himself a Genesis GV70 as a reward. His first question: „How do I bring this car to the USA now?“ Fortunately, Genesis can easily solve that problem with its large factory in the States.

Surprisingly, not only did the player receive a car, but his caddy was also gifted a vehicle – a GV60, the first all-electric model from Genesis. A hole-in-one prize for a caddy is something the authors had never seen before.

Sam Matton’s excitement was palpable: „I’ve recently been looking for a new car. With my birthday at the end of the month, the timing couldn’t be better – an early birthday present! I actually stopped caddying for Steven Brown at the end of last year and took some time off. Then I got the call from Jordan … and you know the rest of the story.“

Pampered through and through

Anyone who was a guest of the main sponsor Genesis at this tournament was pampered from A to Z, even off the course. „All our customers are guests whose well-being is important to us.“ Genesis follows this philosophy both as a company and in its exclusive lounge overlooking the 18th green.

Two top chefs from very different cultures were primarily responsible for ensuring the culinary experience matched the high standards of the event.

Top chefs in a double pack

Scotsman Tom Kitchin and South Korean Mun Kim treated the lounge guests to an exceptional culinary experience. Mun Kim, a former banker, now runs an Asian restaurant in Munich. His diverse background, having lived and cooked in Hawaii, Los Angeles, and Argentina, is reflected in his fusion cuisine, blending flavors from around the world.

Tom Kitchin, meanwhile, is the chef at the Michelin-starred restaurant „The Kitchin“ in Edinburgh, where he serves modern English dishes with a French twist, always emphasizing the use of the finest regional produce. For some, the food in the lounge was so tempting that it made leaving for the sport outside a challenge.

Genesis guests, who were thoroughly spoiled and still didn’t feel like playing golf, had the opportunity to test drive some of Genesis’s latest models or showcase their golfing skills at the AmAm on the challenging course on Monday.