In 2000, “Dal Riadans” made their first trip to the golfing Mecca of St Andrews. After an ignominious arrival in Edinburgh finding that our clubs had not traveled with us from Gatwick Airport, we settled in for a several days stay in a small hotel in St Andrews. It was here that we discovered just how much smaller showers are constructed in the United Kingdom. At breakfast, after our first night’s rest, one of our larger members related his dismay with the shower facilities. “We couldn’t figure out how to turn on the shower. We turned the handles but nothing happened. Finally we discovered there was an electrical switch on the wall that activated the shower. Then when I got in the shower and got lathered up, I dropped the soap. The shower stall was so small I had to open the door and get out of the shower to pick up the soap that I had dropped”!
After an unsuccessful attempt to access our group onto the “Old Course” by way of the ballot, we were able to play the “Jubilee Course” another one of St Andrew’s courses which few would play if the course were not located in St Andrews. By this time some of the group had become disgruntled and were becoming a little mutinous. We had played Carnoustie in rented shoes and with rented clubs, with some choosing not to play at all under these conditions. We had missed the ballot for the “Old Course” and because of a trip rule of picking up one’s ball when it was no longer a possibility of scoring Stableford points, one member declared, “I haven’t gotten to putt yet”! The next day we played Crail Golf Club’s great little seaside course down the road from St Andrews. Here everyone got to play, but we all got soaked in a downpour on the front nine. Since we finished early in the afternoon some of us were able to get on Kingsbarns, the then new links course located close by Crail. The balance of the group chose to return to our hotel in St Andrews to dry out and savor the majestic atmosphere of St Andrews. It was later that that we would have related to us the following story.
One of our larger and less nimble members decided that since he had not been able to play the Old Course he would at least go down to this famous place and get some pictures of its celebrated landmarks. He first got shots of the most photographed bridge in the world, the Swilcan Bridge that leads one from the 17th green to the 18th tee at the Old Course. Then he wanted some shots of the famous “Road Hole” 17th green. It was here that the fateful event took place. Since the Old Course is in constant play, and since on this day some local Scotsmen were engaged in a competition, getting shots were a matter of sneaking in between the golfing groups reaching this famous green. From having witnessed John Daly’s famous escape from this deep bunker on his way to winning the 1997 British Open, most golfers can appreciate just how deeply this bunker has been dug.
After accessing this bunker, probably from a sitting position, our beloved member was able to get his shots. As he turned and looked down the fairway he could see golfers approaching their balls for their shots into the green. Alas, escape from the bunker must be made quickly! But try as he may, either from a rear or forward facing position, our dear member just could not get out of the confines of this deep sand pit. Frantically, no doubt, his travail continued until at last a Scottish golfer approached him and rather angrily declared, “Sir, can’t you see, we are trying to have a competition here!” Dismayed, but undeterred our illustrious member decided on a course of action. Perhaps leaning on some military memories of the past, this befuddled but proud golfer assumed a stately upright position and stood at “attention” as the Scots finished putting out on the green. Afterwards other members of our group who had been standing in the background watching this hilarious event unfold came and extricated our humble golfer from his imprisonment. This member’s name was Wat Jones, perhaps the most colorful Dariadan of us all. So colorful, in fact, that there are more stories that we will save for another day.
Keep em straight!
The Secretary
Showing posts with label Carnoustie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Carnoustie. Show all posts
Friday, August 8, 2008
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
The Barhopping Vestryman of St Andrews
In 2005 during a five night stay in St Andrews, our group anxiously awaited our next day’s round on the Old Course. Going against past vows, we had succumbed to purchasing a five night, four course package from Golf Scotland, a golf travel company based in Dundee, Scotland. This company, among others, buys tee times that are allotted to small lodging venues in the town of St Andrews. St Andrews Trust, the entity that runs the much sought after St Andrews golf facility, grants a small number of tee times to these local lodging venues. To maximize the effect of these allotments, these facilities exchange their tee times for five night bookings with golf travel companies, assuring these small companies of filling their rooms during the summer golfing season. Golf Scotland sold us the package at a greatly inflated price which at the time cost our group around $2,300. For this we received access to tee times on the “Old Course”, Carnoustie, Kingsbarns, and the St Andrews Jubilee course and five nights lodging. The rooms were adequate, but when priced separately along with the golf green fees the total cost would have been less than half what we paid.
After dinner on Saturday night our group gathered at a local bar located on the corner just a few steps from our bed and breakfast rooms. This is where we met John. If I ever heard John’s last name, it has now escaped me. John was a local avid golfer who talked endlessly about the Old Course. It seems that the locals are granted membership in the St Andrews Trust courses. Locals are allowed reserved tee times which are plentiful and cost a mere fraction of what visitors pay for green fees. Bill, the proprietor of one of our two B&B’s, played the Old Course everyday we were in St Andrews. I had a lot of questions for John. I had heard that in prior years that The British Open was held at St Andrews that visitors who played the course for two to three weeks prior to the tournament were required to carry a plastic mat around the course with them. Each shot was to be hit from off the mat rather than from the ground where the ball had come to rest. John allayed my fears, declared that this was no longer a requirement, that he had played the course that very afternoon from the turf and we were not to worry. Being a links golf enthusiast I had many questions for John. John answered each one in great detail. After an hour or so of pontificating on St Andrews, and after multiple pints of Scotland’s best brew, John suddenly pushed back his chair and declared that he had an appointment at another local bar and that he must be on his way. We retired that night thinking that John probably imbibed well into the morning hours.
The next morning the father and son duo, Bill and Joe Howard, decided to attend mass at the Catholic Church which was located only a half block from our rooms. When Bill and Joe entered the church they were startled at what they saw. There in the altar area of the church was our bar friend John, totally garbed in a vestment robe. Yes, John assisted in administering communion for those gathered for this Sunday morning service. As Joe and Bill returned to our quarters I was standing outside the front door. As they began their report John appeared, marching up our street, still fully robed in his vestment attire.
After dinner on Saturday night our group gathered at a local bar located on the corner just a few steps from our bed and breakfast rooms. This is where we met John. If I ever heard John’s last name, it has now escaped me. John was a local avid golfer who talked endlessly about the Old Course. It seems that the locals are granted membership in the St Andrews Trust courses. Locals are allowed reserved tee times which are plentiful and cost a mere fraction of what visitors pay for green fees. Bill, the proprietor of one of our two B&B’s, played the Old Course everyday we were in St Andrews. I had a lot of questions for John. I had heard that in prior years that The British Open was held at St Andrews that visitors who played the course for two to three weeks prior to the tournament were required to carry a plastic mat around the course with them. Each shot was to be hit from off the mat rather than from the ground where the ball had come to rest. John allayed my fears, declared that this was no longer a requirement, that he had played the course that very afternoon from the turf and we were not to worry. Being a links golf enthusiast I had many questions for John. John answered each one in great detail. After an hour or so of pontificating on St Andrews, and after multiple pints of Scotland’s best brew, John suddenly pushed back his chair and declared that he had an appointment at another local bar and that he must be on his way. We retired that night thinking that John probably imbibed well into the morning hours.
The next morning the father and son duo, Bill and Joe Howard, decided to attend mass at the Catholic Church which was located only a half block from our rooms. When Bill and Joe entered the church they were startled at what they saw. There in the altar area of the church was our bar friend John, totally garbed in a vestment robe. Yes, John assisted in administering communion for those gathered for this Sunday morning service. As Joe and Bill returned to our quarters I was standing outside the front door. As they began their report John appeared, marching up our street, still fully robed in his vestment attire.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
British Open Courses 2005 Trip Report
Greetings from the Secretary:
Following is a trip report from our 2005 trip. Look for additional trip reports from prior trips soon.
England/Scotland 2005 British Open Courses trip has come and gone, but what a great trip! I would never have guessed it in advance, but this was one of the most memorable trips our group has ever taken. It is most probably the best yet! From our start in the south of England to the final days in the Kingdom of Fife, St Andrews, there were special things happening each day. There were many firsts on this trip. Here are a few.
1. First time for Dal Riadans to play the south of England (Royal St Georges, Princes, Royal Cinque Ports).
2. First time to experience “Irish style hospitality” in the U.K. (Royal St Georges and West Sussex).
3. The first time Dal Riadans have played a course that was used the same week as a “Qualifying Course” for The U.S. Open (Walton Heath, old and new courses).
4. First time for members of our group to experience an exclusive personalized tour of the Royal & Ancient Clubhouse (including the dining room just before lunch time). Only the Head Club Porter and our six members made this tour.
5. First time our group has played a “British Open Course” (St Andrews) the last week it was open to the public prior to closing in preparation for the tournament.
6. First time a Dal Riadas golfer has shot level par on “The Old Course” St Andrews (Joe Howard).
7. First time Dal Riadans have putted through a golf green covered with hailstones (3rd and 5th holes at Carnoustie).
8. First time to meet the “reigning hickory shafted club champion”, Andrew Reynolds, club pro at Royal Cinque Ports who went around Rye Golf Club in “72” with hickory shafted clubs. Andrew has been club pro at Cinque Ports since 1978, and is not yet fifty years old.
9. First time to witness golfers in kilts (Kingsbarns).
10. First time to play “heathland” golf courses (West Sussex and Walton Heath).
11. First time to play mandatory 2 ball matches (Royal Cinque Ports and West Sussex).
On a personal note it was the first time “the secretary” has shot par on the “road hole”, #17 at The Old Course, St Andrews. Ditto for hole #18 at Carnoustie.
In addition to all this, we almost got to see the British “royal family” at St Andrews. They arrived in town for Prince William’s graduation exercise just hours after our early morning departure (June 16th) for the airport in Edinburgh. Most of our group played 12 rounds of golf on this trip including 36 holes each day at Royal St Georges and Walton Heath.
Following is a trip report from our 2005 trip. Look for additional trip reports from prior trips soon.
England/Scotland 2005 British Open Courses trip has come and gone, but what a great trip! I would never have guessed it in advance, but this was one of the most memorable trips our group has ever taken. It is most probably the best yet! From our start in the south of England to the final days in the Kingdom of Fife, St Andrews, there were special things happening each day. There were many firsts on this trip. Here are a few.
1. First time for Dal Riadans to play the south of England (Royal St Georges, Princes, Royal Cinque Ports).
2. First time to experience “Irish style hospitality” in the U.K. (Royal St Georges and West Sussex).
3. The first time Dal Riadans have played a course that was used the same week as a “Qualifying Course” for The U.S. Open (Walton Heath, old and new courses).
4. First time for members of our group to experience an exclusive personalized tour of the Royal & Ancient Clubhouse (including the dining room just before lunch time). Only the Head Club Porter and our six members made this tour.
5. First time our group has played a “British Open Course” (St Andrews) the last week it was open to the public prior to closing in preparation for the tournament.
6. First time a Dal Riadas golfer has shot level par on “The Old Course” St Andrews (Joe Howard).
7. First time Dal Riadans have putted through a golf green covered with hailstones (3rd and 5th holes at Carnoustie).
8. First time to meet the “reigning hickory shafted club champion”, Andrew Reynolds, club pro at Royal Cinque Ports who went around Rye Golf Club in “72” with hickory shafted clubs. Andrew has been club pro at Cinque Ports since 1978, and is not yet fifty years old.
9. First time to witness golfers in kilts (Kingsbarns).
10. First time to play “heathland” golf courses (West Sussex and Walton Heath).
11. First time to play mandatory 2 ball matches (Royal Cinque Ports and West Sussex).
On a personal note it was the first time “the secretary” has shot par on the “road hole”, #17 at The Old Course, St Andrews. Ditto for hole #18 at Carnoustie.
In addition to all this, we almost got to see the British “royal family” at St Andrews. They arrived in town for Prince William’s graduation exercise just hours after our early morning departure (June 16th) for the airport in Edinburgh. Most of our group played 12 rounds of golf on this trip including 36 holes each day at Royal St Georges and Walton Heath.
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