Leading Hotels Inaugural Golf Tour to Legendary St Andrews Old Course

The 'Signature Events' enable well-heeled golfers to play the world’s finest courses and enjoy unique experiences while staying at extraordinary, one-of-a-kind hotels.

They are being launched by Leading Golf (www.lhwgolf.com), a one-stop shop for one-of-a-kind golf vacations at the world's most prestigious courses.

The golfing calendar is launched on August 10-14 at The Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa in St. Andrews, Scotland.

Located adjacent to the legendary 17th "Road Hole," the Hotel offers classically elegant and contemporary interiors and service in the finest traditions of Scottish hospitality.

Golfers play the world famous Old Course, as well as nearby Kingsbarns, the Duke's Course and the Castle Course.

In between rounds of golf, the four-day itinerary includes wine tastings, a Champagne reception, lunches and two dinners. The package is priced at US$4,995, and US$3,295 for non-golfers, based on double occupancy.

From September 26-29, the second 'Signature Event' is at The Gleneagles Hotel, in the Perthshire countryside.

Rounds are at Gleneagles' PGA Centenary Course, which hosts the 40th Ryder Cup in 2014, as well as the King's Course and Kingsbarns, a modern interpretation of classic Scottish links golf. Tour cost for golfers is US$2,850 or US$2,150 for non-golfers.

Guests can also extend their stay to include this year's Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor in Wales.

From November 3-7, the package tour calendar switches to the premier course in the Caribbean, the Tortuga Bay enclave of the Puntacana Resort & Club in the Dominican Republic, playing the La Cana and Corales courses.

The P.B Dye-designed La Cana boasts 14 ocean-view holes, and is often compared to Pebble Beach. Corales is a new Tom Fazio design skirting the Caribbean Sea on six holes. Tortuga Bay also features an award-winning Six Senses Spa, one of the world's premier spa and wellness centres.

All tour costs are exclusive of airfare, meals and beverages other than those specified, caddie fees and gratuities.

"These 'Signature Events' offer the best of golf travel complemented by the highest standards of style and service," said Claudia Kozma Kaplan, senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications, The Leading Hotels of the World.

The new online portal Leading Golf is a comprehensive, multi-platform initiative inaugurated by the international luxury hotel brand in collaboration with leading golf travel expert PerryGolf.

Designed as a premier planning and booking service for the global luxury traveler – it incorporates 'Signature Events' with single destination 'Stay-and-Play' packages and multiple-stop Custom Touring, where players can select a destination and book tee-times in advance.

The extension of The Leading Hotels of the World website www.lhw.com enables players to browse destinations, make reservations online and even access The Golf Butler for concierge style assistance securing tee times and other arrangements.

Destinations extend from Asia/Pacific to North and South America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Caribbean.