Opening pages: the new Clubhouse offers fantastic views. Opposite page: Skibo’s brand new Shop. This page, from top: the Clubhouse bar; a golfer enjoys the links course – 41 – T H E C A R N E G I E C L U B S K I B O ’ S S O C I A L G O L F I N G C A L E N DA R I S T H E P E R F EC T WAY FO R P L AY E R S O F A L L A B I L I T I E S TO G E T I N VO LV E D Wolsey. ‘We only stock products of the very highest quality,’ Mackenzie-Smith explains. ‘Recently, we became one of the first stockists in Britain for KJUS’s golf range. It’s a family-run Swiss brand with a heritage in snowsports – we stock their full golf range of waterproofs, golf wear and lifestyle clothing. From September 2018 we’ll also be stocking their ski wear.’ The Carnegie Club continues to evolve its golfing calendar, with the emphasis usually on the social side. It’s the perfect way for golfers of all abilities to get fully involved, with nothing being taken too seriously – other than perhaps the annual Club Championship, which falls in Skibo Golf Week, from 3-8 July in 2018. Even then, the format is the more forgiving Stableford. The biggest event is always The Carnegie Club Pro-Am, a three-day event, which takes place from 10-12 September this year, with competitors teeing up alongside pros from the PGA Tartan Tour. ‘Members and guests arrive for a practice round and on the first night there’s a dinner at the castle with a fun Calcutta auction,’ Mackenzie-Smith explains. ‘There’s a “best two from four” Stableford, plus an individual pros event, and on the final night we have a one-club challenge over the last three holes for the pros.’ So successful and popular is the Pro-Am that in 2018 there will be a new Mini Pro-Am earlier in the year, from 21-24 May, serving up the same mix of friendly competition and fun on a slightly smaller scale. Two other popular club events take place in June – the Three Course Challenge from 18-20, and the Longest Day event, which runs late into the evening on 21 June. The Three Course Challenge will see competitors tee up at The Carnegie Links, then Brora, and finally at The Machrie on Islay, via helicopter. A real love for the game is more important than golfing ability, with the lowest handicapper around 15 last time. ‘This event really caught the imagination last year,’ says Gruber. ‘Members who had never played Main image: Matthew Harris /Golf Picture Library. Chris Tubbs; Ewen Weatherspoon; John Van Helvert – 40 – G O L F brasserie-style dishes out on the terrace during the summer months, so there’s a lot of activity. That means the Shop can remain open for longer too.’ Relocating the Skibo Shop from the basement of the castle to a prime position overlooking the links was one of the biggest elements of the Clubhouse upgrade project. The expansive space is flooded with light from its floor-to-ceiling windows, creating an airy environment complete with armchairs from which to admire the view. It all makes for a very relaxing shopping experience, and provides a tempting distraction for those who have not been enticed out onto the course. The Shop sells everything from whiskies to high-end fashion, jewellery, watches, silverware, local produce and, of course, many of golf’s premier brands. There’s more choice, with lifestyle brands such as Hawico – a Scottish cashmere company that has created a golfwear blend just for Skibo. On the golf side, head professional Richard Mackenzie- Smith is always on the look-out for new brands to complement popular classics such as Titleist, Srixon, Galvin Green, Under Armour, Peter Millar, Dunhill, Dunning and