Amazing Trip, free. I won it!

[vtnerf]

We passed by these two couples on the Swilken Bridge Wed morning.

[vtnerf]

Few more.

[vtnerf]

The R&A and surrounds...

[vtnerf]

The gulls are big over there, and not afraid, but the do their calisthenics in the morning by the monument, just like the other people in town.

[eagle1997]

i am speechless. amazing recap so far. love the pics and gotta say, you were playing some excellent golf. cheers!

[tsmithers]

this is awesome!!

[vtnerf]

Just tracked my clubs, and they are still near BWI, to be delivered tomorrow. Fingers crossed.

[vtnerf]

The full St Andrews Caddie experience, as bestowed upon one of my playing partners:
He had been hitting a push slice all day with his 3 wood. Finally decides to hit driver on like 13, and ropes it down the middle. We get to 15, and caddie tells him to hit the big dog. "Sure, why not. Hit 'er down there." He hits a push fade in the junk. Caddie: "Oh $#*&!!" Walk a little down the fairway..."Oh well, guess that didn't work too well now did it?!"

[vtnerf]

[vtnerf]

[eagle1997]

oh baby. just when i thought it couldn't get any better! sweet sweet sweet pants.

[cmabbott04]

[quote name='vtnerf' timestamp='1374163207' post='7482698']
Back in the winter some time, I entered the Gold digest Rounds Around the World Contest. Never thought much about it, didn't visit the site everyday to enter. Think I entered once, and maybe through the sponsors site too.

I get home from work one Friday, and find a large envelope that was hand written on a Golf Digest label. That's odd. My subscription had just run out, and I hadn't gotten around to renewing it yet. Wonder what it could be... Open it to find a letter informing me that I have won the Rounds Around World Contest for Scotland and Ireland for me and a guest. Details include 3 nights stay at the Old Course Hotel, rounds at the Jubilee, Kingsbarns, and the Old Course, then 3 nights in Adare with rounds at Ballybunion and Adare Manor. Airfare included. A meal here and there. Simply an amazing trip!!!! It was Friday night at 5:15, and I tried to call the person listed in the letter to make sure it was real. she wasn't in, and I left a voicemail. And waited....and waited...and waited...

She calls me back at lunch on Wednesday. I ask if the trip was real, and if I'm the only one; not just pre-qualified for another drawing. She said it's real and I'm the only one!!! After 4 sleepless nights, time for more getting even more excited.

Since that time, we have set up our big trip, heading over in early September. We'll be there between the Womens British Open and the Dunhill. I'm taking my wife, who doesn't play golf, but we will be able to visit Scotland and Ireland together. We have permission from all the courses except Kingsbarns that she can walk with me (with camera in hand of course) to document the experience. I didn't even consider taking anyone else over, our anniversary is St Patrick's Day so a visit to the Celtic land as our delayed honey moon was a no-brainer.

Hoping to be able to set up a blog, and be able to update this thread as time gets closer. And definitely document the experience when we get back!!!
[/quote]

This is a great story, I hope to be this lucky one day. All the best and thanks for sharing!

[vtnerf]

This was a great sunrise over the clubhouse on Wednesday morning.

[tsmithers]

Those pants are phenomenal! Looks like such a great time. More story/pics please.

[vtnerf]

[b][size=5]Kingsbarns[/size][/b]

[color=#000000][size=4]Kingsbarns is just southeast of St Andrews, and part of the Dunhill Links. Less than 15 years old, it is ranked very highly on several lists, and even in the top 55 in the world by Golf Magazine. I had a chance to talk to a few people that have played it, and they absolutely loved it. It's a simple ride in the Old Course Experience van to Kingsbarns to start the experience.[/size][/color]

[color=#000000][size=4]I got to the course about an hour and half before my 2:20 tee time. They included lunch in the deal, and I have to say it was one of the best club sandwiches around. I sat by the window overlooking the 18th green and took a few last minutes to chill before the round. Where I sat wasn't far from the temporary facility that has already been installed for the Dunhill.[/size][/color]

[color=#000000][size=4]Time to hit the range. Great target practice and free range balls for days. They even had a short game area in the corner. The weather of the day was pretty nice for the beginning of September. When we teed off, it was in the low 70's with a club wind or so. No complaints.[/size][/color]

[color=#000000][size=4]The previous starter collected tees from various courses. They said by the time he retired, he had over 9,000 tees in the starters shack. The new starter, to do something different, has started collecting poker chips. I was keen to this before heading over, and happened to take 2 different chips with me for him to display. He was more than gracious in receiving them and promptly put them up in the window. Thank you good sir![/size][/color]

[color=#000000][size=4]So I made it through 17 holes the previous day at the Jubilee course without hitting a bunker. Took me the first hole to find one at Kingsbarns! Bad part was I chunked my third shot into one on the first. Then had to play out sideways because it was against the face, and it rolled back to within a foot of the original spot. Talk about a true penalty. Let's mark down a triple and move on....[/size][/color]

[color=#000000][size=4]The second hole marked the second bunker. I pushed my tee shot on the par 3 a little and found the middle bunker. Fortunately/unfortunately I had very little practice from the bunkers, and bladed it over the green into the bottom of a gorse bush. Great. The guys I'm paired with have extensive knowledge of the course, and are actually playing their second 18 of the day at Kingsbarns and I'm playing like I would be kicked out of a pitch and putt. I hope Jeff and Jim can stomach this...as they tell me it's their +/-35th time playing here. (They are from Cleveland, but travel over frequently enough to have a visitors membership at Crail, right around the corner from Kingsbarns.)[/size][/color]

[color=#000000][size=4]I finally get it together and start hitting it near where my caddie Gordon is pointing me.I can honestly say I was a little distracted by the amazing scenery around the course. It was mostly sunny with a brilliant blue sky, the kind of day you would not want to be in the office if you were in the States. But, being in Scotland with this weather was an absolute dream. I must confess, there are limited pics from the course because my camera died on me on the 6th hole, but the images are ingrained. You guys would just be jealous anyway if I had pics of this course. It truly deserves it's rankings![/size][/color]

[color=#000000][size=4]As for the 6th, it's a short hole that plays under 300...but it was straight into the wind on this day. Gordon tells me to favor the left side. I did, when the hybrid took off, right before it turned further left heading down the hill towards the 17th. I found a flat patch in the rough, but was 20 feet below the green, which also had a 20' high hill between me and the narrow putting surface. Gordon gives me a yardage (guess) to the pin, treks around, climbs the hill and gives me a best guess line to take to get to the hole. Here goes nothing! I hear "keep going, come back, great shot!" I can't see a thing, and am anxious to see where this thing ended up. Within 8 feet for one the best birdies ever. (Jeff drove the green and made birdie also, proving there's more than one way to find birds.)[/size][/color]

[color=#000000][size=4]The 12th hole is truly amazing also. Imagine Pebble's 18th with a lower cliff, and a 500 year old stone wall along the seafront. Just visually stunning. Jeff says this is his favorite golf hole in the entire world, and he birdies it today! The next hole has a 40' stone wall adjacent to the green, from which you hear frequent mooing as it's the edge of a cattle farm.[/size][/color]

[color=#000000][size=4]On 14, I take a moment to tell the group about a buddies caddie story from Augusta. He was debating about going for it from 215 on 13, and his caddie turns to him and says "It's OK, you can just go for it NEXT weekend when you're here!" Then I proceed to take driver (when hybrid could have sufficed) and hit it about 2 feet from a rabbit hole on a hill left, when right is the approach. Catch a flier with clean contact, and hit it over the green, which receives a "oh, you might not like that." Crap. Let's walk up to the green...it doesn't look THAT bad. Until you go past the hole and down the 12 feet to get to the ball! Ok, time to play an American golf shot. Hand me my 60! I caught it just right, flop it up to 8' and sink the par putt. As we all are walking across the bridge to the 15th, Gordon says "Maybe next weekend you can try playing it down the fairway!" Facepalm.[/size][/color]

[color=#000000][size=4]The 15 could be the signature hole...if it weren't for about 5 other holes. A solid par 5 that sits at an angle, so the further right requires a deeper carry to the green. I gladly take my par and move along.[/size][/color]

[color=#000000][size=4]The 18th is a true test in speed slot golf. A bender to the left, the aiming point is the corner of the clubhouse off the tee. Of course, I'm double crossing Gordon all day, so I started a little fade off the right corner. Talk about adding yards. I had to bunt it down the fairway since the ravine in front of the green is well fed from both sides and about 15' below the putting surface. Jeff knocked one down the speed slot to position A, that was only proven not be A1 when the group behind us hit a low screamer that trickled past us as we were walking forward. Not a great bogey to finish, but the ball striking was on the entire day. I'll take my 82 and get ready for the Old Course![/size][/color]

[color=#000000][size=4]The property did have a course on it in the late 1700's-early 1800's. Then it was reverted back to farm fields, and then the shore was fortified for WWII. The course is less than 15 years old, but it feels natural. If you really study it, you can tell there was some earth moved, but the tiers for the fairways have blended to appear natural through the past decade. Truly felt like its been there for quite some time. The 12-14th holes are on the south side of the stray (creek) that is surrounded my large mature trees that several crows call home. Watching the Dunhill this year will definitely be more enjoyable after playing this course, and I have to say that it's one of my favorites of all time. If you make it to St Andrews, it's a must play! (To sweeten the deal, after you pay full rate for the first round, every round within 7 days is half price. So play it a couple of times during the week, like Jeff and Jim. BTW, Jeff shot 71, his career best at Kingsbarns. The guy has some game, he's a 3 at Firestone! Gotta give him a shout out for the superb round!!!!)[/size][/color]

[vtnerf]

a few pics

[vtnerf]

18th, from the front of the clubhouse

[eagle1997]

dear god. amazing!

i keep telling myself.. one day... one day you'll be able to do this too... *sigh*

[gken74]

I only played Kingsbarns for the first time this year and I have to say it really is an amazing course, my friend had his first hole in one on the 2nd hole the par 3.

Memories

[fore]

In case I never get to take such a trip thank you for the opportunity to at least enjoy it vicariously.

[vtnerf]

My travel bag arrived this afternoon. When I got home, it was on the steps by the back door. The zipper on the soft case was busted, but thankfully I had it locked near the top. I could reach right in and take my driver out of the bag. Then I noticed just a stick in the bag...the cap of the stiff arm had been screwed off and shoved into the bag. I had placed my shoes at the top to help pad things between the top of the stiff arm and the sides of the bag. Luckily they were still in there too....
No damage other than the travel case. My sticks made it!

[vtnerf]

[color=#000000]
[size=4]The Dunvegan is kind of a standard in St Andrews. Jack Willoughby is a good ol Texan from A&M that found a Scotish sweetheart and they now operate the Dunvegan Bar, just a nine iron away from the 18th green. There is a lot of American influence in here, with a Scotish flare. There are pics ALL OVER the place, with the majority containing Sheena hugging a celebrity or golfer. There is a girl from our home town that worked there for two summers, and several others that have spend a few pints time inside.[/size][/color]
[color=#000000]
[size=4]We were going to go here on the first night, but the jet lag and wanting, no, need to stay close to the bed meant we ended up at the Jigger Inn for a big burger and a few pints after the Jubilee. So after Kingsbarns, we headed to the Dunvegan. When we first walk in, I spot 2 open seats at the bar and make my way there. I'm getting ready to sit down next to Jeff from the round at Kingsbarns! I introduce him to my wife, we grab a pint, then decide to migrate to a table to get some food. Chicken wings it is. Then the fish and chips! Fresh as can be. And after a few more pints, Jeff tells us we HAVE to try the sticky toffee pudding. He is a frequent flyer in the Dunvegan (his picture is prominent on the sign outside, the bartender knows him, Sheena gives him a big hug and Jack is chatting with him throughout the night.) Well, I guess we HAVE to get some. Let me tell you....it was delicious. My wife now has a new thing to try to make for the cafe/bakery, so I guess that means I'm now a guinea pig. We'll just have to keep trying![/size][/color]
[color=#000000]
[size=4]If you are in St Andrews, stop in for a pint, or stay for a few and dinner. You won't regret it.[/size][/color]

[vtnerf]

a few of the old course

[vtnerf]

and a few more
the National Air show was Saturday, so they were practicing all week, right over the courses. Really cool.

[vtnerf]

our hotel views

[hebsan]

Thanks for sharing! One of these days I'll make it over there.

[vtnerf]

[size=5]The Old Course!!![/size]

[size=4][color=#000000]The Old Course. The Big Show. The Grand Daddy. The Birthplace. The R&A. The Mecca. The Old Course. What can I say. I will start by saying that standing around the first tee at the old course is very interesting. There are people milling around the starters shack, some golfers, some onlookers. Caddies are 20 yards away telling stories, doing what caddies do. There are players walking to the clubhouse along the first. There are construction workers building the tents and mini village between the first the Sea. If you sit, you are adjacent to the R&A building, looming over you in all its stone glory.[/color][/size]
[color=#000000]
[size=4]The neat thing about the round is they allowed my wife to walk with me. Awesome. We get to experience the Old Course together. Further, as part of the trip, they booked the tee time for two. As it happened, a friend of mine from home was in Carnoustie for the Tassie Amateur tournament. Do to an unfortunate situation after his round on the Championship course in qualifying (always sign your card!!) he didn't make the match play. He would have with the 73 in the first round, but it worked out that he was free for Thursday. He met us for the round, which made it even more special getting to play with someone that I knew, and that was a good golfer also. We get ready, and step up to the starter shack and meet our caddie, Mitch. He's a Kiwi, and his buddy is carrying one of the bags for the couple we are playing with. Hamish Ireland, from New Zealand, caddying in Scotland. Cheers![/size][/color]
[color=#000000]
[size=4]Once you get to the tee, a camera man takes a group shot and then snaps away as you tee off. Quite honestly, I'm not sure I noticed him while hitting the shot. I was too worried about finding the fairway. Yes, it's a 100 yard wide fairway, but its the first tee shot on the Old Course! With probably 50-60 people watching you. I've had some interesting and nervous shots, but this one is up there. The best part that makes the shot a little easier is the fact that they mow the 1st and 18th in different directions, so they are different colors. There's a straight line stripe right down the middle to aim for. I managed a 3 wood 15 yards left of center, safe off the first![/size][/color]
[color=#000000]
[size=4]The next shot didn't go quite as well. I was actually not far from the Swilken Bridge. I had 115 to the pin, but chunked a wedged, just bad enough to stay short of the burn. A chip up to 25 feet and two putts later, I walk off with an opening bogey. A flared approach on the second short right led to a second bogey. Come on, get it together![/size][/color]
[color=#000000]
[size=4]The first handful or so of holes were playing into a club wind from the north west; nearly straight into it on 2-6. I managed a pair of pars on 3 and 4, with about 40 feet of putts made between them. I noticed that the greens had some subtle slopes to them, but it was more about the speed than anything else. When I took a peak at the lines, Mitch was giving me a line within half a ball of where I was thinking. That is a tremendous confidence boost standing over a putt hitting it where you believe it should be instead of just where you are told. Knowing that the flat stick was warm for the round also gave me the interior green light. [/size][/color]
[color=#000000]
[size=4]During the opening holes, I started to feel a twinge in my lower back on the right side. If I pulled the club back on the correct path there wasn't much pain. If I took it outside, it was a shooting pain right at the bottom of the ribs. I shortened my swing a little, and with the wind, hit little jab shots...a shot that I'm familiar with in the wind.[/size][/color]
[color=#000000]
[size=4]The 5th is the only par 5 on the front. After a drive up the left side of the fairway, I hit a 6 iron just past the spectacles short right. A little pitch up to 15 feet and a drained putt later, I have my birdie on the Old Course!!! One over! Parred the 6th, 3-putted the 7th for bogey, and made pars on 8 and 9. 38 on the front.[/size][/color]
[color=#000000]
[size=4]10 heads in a similar direction as 2-6. However, by this point, the wind had turned nearly 180 on us, so it was playing nearly directly downwind. At 340, it can be reached if you catch the driver, and my buddy made it up there, all be it 40 yards right of the pin. I finished just 10 yards short of the putting surface, with the pin tucked all the way on the left side. My birdie lipped out, so it's on to 11. The shell bunker on 11 is HUGE. Also in play on 7, it sticks out because of the enormity of it. Despite the visual noise, I made it over and slid the birdie just a few inches past the left edge. Another par. 1 over thru 11.[/size][/color]
[color=#000000]
[size=4]On 12 I manged to find my worst lie on the Old Course. Nestled on the right side between two mounds, the ball settled to the bottom of 12" wispy grass. Take your medicine and chunk a wedge back to the fairway. My wedge to the green was not my best effort...the back was signing to me after the chunk from the rough, and two putts later I'm back to 2 over.[/size][/color]
[color=#000000]
[size=4]After par save on 13 with a 20 footer (after avoiding the coffins,) it's off to 14, the only par 5 on the back. From the edge of the Elysian Fields, I had 3 wood in my hands. Here it goes! And I straight topped it. Please stay out of Hell bunker!! Please. Mitch is yelling sit. I'm yelling get right. It dives over the hill in the tall stuff...time to chase and find out. I manage to just miss Hell Bunker, leaving me approximately 90 yards to the pin. I hit the false front short left, got up and down for a solid par, and keep rolling along. A routine par on 15 sends me to 16 at 3 over for the round.[/size][/color]
[color=#000000]
[size=4]The 16th is lined along the right with a stone wall. There is no reason to be near it. And, honestly, I wasn't...I was WAY over it. Tee up another to hit this one solidly down the fairway. While walking down the fairway, Hamish asked me about the first ball, and I told him "it's in the next toon doon!" Both he and Mitch cracked up, at least easing the pain of hitting one OB a little bit. Well, a wee bit... Mark me down for a double, heading to the Road Hole.[/size][/color]
[color=#000000]
[size=4]to be continued![/size][/color]

[vtnerf]

[u][i][b][size=5]17 & 18[/size][/b][/i][/u]
[color=#000000]
[size=4]The Road Hole may be one of the most famous holes in golf. Funny thing is, you can't see it. Honestly, your aiming for a letter on a wall. That's it. Well, I managed to clear "the line" within a few feet, and got a "great shot" from Mitch and Hamish. Sweet! One of the most nerve racking shots out of the way with approval from my caddie. As I said, the wind was nearly in our face, blowing 20ish at this point. As you have seen from the pics before, the pin on 17 was tucked behind the road hole bunker, closer the 18th tee marker than the bunker. The bunker was reconstructed over the winter to make it slightly bigger, but to blend the surrounding areas to funnel more shots from further away into the bunker. Having walked by this pin position, there is NO WAY possible to get anywhere near this pin. I was 192 to the front, into at least a club wind. We decided to play it 210 just off the bunker, trying to catch a piece of the green. Talk about an intimidating shot. It looks like your trying to land on a piece of toast, trying to stop it before the walking path/road/stone wall. I just couldn't commit 100% to it, and pushed a hybrid slightly right. I ended up in the rough, but was past the bunker with a straight shot to the hole. Mitch gives me the line...the tee marker for the 18th and I step in to chunk it along the entire length of the green with a wedge. Turns out, the ball was sitting a bit off the ground, and I catch it a few grooves high on the face. I end up 20 feet just under the hole. I burned the right lip, but walk off the 17th with a solid 5. And no bunker![/size][/color]
[color=#000000]
[size=4]When we reach the 18th tee, it's nearly 4pm. At this time of day, there are people everywhere both on and around the course. We waited for the group in front to clear, then had to wait for a truck to cross, then a group of 5 people walking across the course on the road. With the wind blowing 20 in your face, the shot gets a little tougher knowing you can't just swing away and let it bound its way up the fairway. The line is just left of the monument in town, not quite to the first tee, but favoring the left side. I caught one of the best drives of the day for me that bounded along and scooted across the road, just left of the color change in the fairway. Getting to the ball presented another wait for the green to clear as well as for the players on the first tee to clear. Luckily, you are looking right at what's coming at you, so you can can see when a low screamer scatters the group, and splits you and your caddie with 5' to spare on either side. Time to take a breath and hit an approach to the 18th. I was coming in directly over the Valley of Sin, so full concentration was needed. I caught it fairly cleanly, and dropped it 25' from the pin.[/size][/color]
[color=#000000]
[size=4]When you get to the green on the 18th, there are even more people milling around in the general vicinity. Some are watching, some are betting on you, some are rooting for you, some couldn't care less that you have on loudmouth pants and are 6 over on your first time around the Old Course. However, they may be impressed that you managed to miss EVERY SINGLE bunker during the round. That's right! No sand for me!!! That is a proud moment. I get over the putt, and Mitch and I agree that it's a ball out right. I charged it a little, just running it by 3' on the high side. A knee knocker for par gets me off the Old in 78! My round is complete. [/size][/color]
[color=#000000]
[size=4]Now, anyone who tells you that have to play the Old because of the history, but it really is just a ho hum track either struggled or didn't take a good caddie. The place is amazing. Little nuances on the layout make it interesting at every turn. The routing and weather add to the fun. The mix of short and long add to the interest throughout. The big Big BIG greens mean potentially 100-150' putts, if you don't listen to your caddie or get a bad bounce. Maybe it's the 78 with no bunkers talking, but I loved it. Beyond the mystique of the course, it was a great test with the club wind and fast greens. To add to the ambiance of the day, there were jets practicing for the air show two days later. That was a treat having them fly directly overhead while playing on the oldest course in golf. [/size][/color]

[vtnerf]

pics of 17 & 18

[gken74]

Great write up!

I sometimes for get just how lucky I am to be a member of the New Club of St Andrews and get to play the Old Course a lot throughout the season.

Your write up took me back to the first time I played the Old Course and how special it is.

People will say it's an easy course or a pitch and putt course but that's just silly, I'm sure if they've had to play off the White tees when it's pissing down with rain and a 3-4 club wind it's not such a push over. It rewards good sensible golf with a score like all courses should, a couple of loose drives into the gorse or a fairway bunker and you'll soon run up some high numbers.

I can't wait to get up to St Andrews tomorrow for the Town vs R&A match, we're on the New Course at 6.54 so it'll be an early start but well worth it!

I'm so pleased you had a blast playing TOC and your time in St Andrews.