Going back to Scotland!! Golf included this time.

[ForresterModern]

Just cleared it with the wife today becasue the trip overlaps with her birthday this time next year. My old boss and mentor, who now works part time for me since I am the department chief at my hospital, has been setting up an 8 day trip to Scotland for 7 days worth of golfing with a bunch of his cronies from his country club in Cincinnati. Turns out he had an extra opening and asked me if I would join them. Wife said yes, but I fear that I will pay much more than just the cost of the trip for this one. Going to get to play 5 courses in the rotation for the British Open, including Turnberry, Royal Toon, Muirfield, Carnoustie, and the Old Course at St. Andrews, as well as the St Andrews New course and Kingshorns (?sp) during our tour from
Glasgow to Edinburgh. Since golf only takes 4-5 hours to play a round there should be some time to see a few sites and walk the streets, eat some fine meals, and stay in some nice places. Should be fun getting to know some knew folks and my old boss better, and playing golf in Scotland along the way.

I will be taking kilts again this time, although I am not sure I am going to play golf kilted every day, but will at least some if not most days. We have a full year to finalize the agenda since the trip will not take place until early August next year. Will keep folks posted when I know more about when and where we will be lighting for the evening and see if we cannot meet up with some of the native kilties along our route.

If you can't tell I am very excited about getting to do this trip and go back to Scotland, as well as to play some very fine and very historic golf courses. Hope my game is up to it.

jeff :ootd:

[klingon warrior]

Hope my game is up to it.

jeff :ootd:

Well..........you have a year to practice! Enjoy.

[tyger]

You can't go and just golf. There are HUGE pike in Scotland. Pack a rod, reel, flies, Boga Grip, pliers, waders, boots.........

[GMan]

Great news.

[CoreyMacLeod]

That is awesome! Have a blast!

[piperdown]

That is great....My brothers and I toured around Scotland a few years back and we got to play the new course at St. Andrews. The whole area is steeped in tradition and memories. Standing on the bridge on the 18th and trying to get our heads around the fact that it was 400 yrs old (give or take) was a definite hilight!!
Do you remember Arnie standing on that bridge to the roars of the crowd as it was his last professional British Open.

We purposefully hit into bunkers just to see what it was like inside them and try( not very successfully)to get out. We didn't care what our scores were. We were like kids in a candy store.

One tidbit I did learn is that the old course is played backwards from its original design. That is why when you are standing on the teebox, you cannot see the dangers of the fairway bunkers that are out there and trust me, they are everywhere.
There is also no real definition of each hole. We had to follow the group of locals ahead of us, just to see where the next hole was.
It was a truly memorable and hopefully not once in a lifetime experience. I twill be the old course for me the next time though...

Cheers

[RB51]

Good on 'ya Jeff...hopefully a year's worth of anitipatory drool doesn't mess up your X-ray machines too much. Do take time if you can for some fishing...we need pictures!

Laurie

[EagleJCS]

Do you need a caddie??

Unfortunately, I'll be in Virginia about that time next year. Have a good trip, and take pictures!!

[BEEDEE]

Cool - a travel jones!

Brian

[NewPiperinNY]

Whatever you need to pay (in blood sweat and tears) is WELL worth the trip.

.. I am only going to Pennsylvania next week and I'm excited as all get out...