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Scotland on my Mind by Dan King
Saturday, July 6th
Cruden Bay Golf Club |
The night before our final round at Cruden (my seventh round here on this trip), we hung out in the lounge at the Kilmarnock Arms. There everyone talks golf. There are various competitions going all year within Cruden Bay Club and also against various other clubs in the area. Our friends from 2 days ago showed up, and numerous pints and drams were drank. I did more than my fair share. The next morning, I wasn't feeling my finest for our 8:00 a.m. tee time. We were faced with yet another Scotland vs. USA competition. This time with Chuck, who we met in the lounge the previous night, and his 17 year old son, Charles.
We were trying to decide handicaps when 17 year old Charles said we should just play square. Chuck was having trouble mostly, having not played much recently, but Charles has a swing that was super. He just reduced his handicap from 21 to 9, in less than a year, and he was playing very well for a 9. On almost all holes it was Charles against Mark and I, with Chuck finishing the hole BIP. Charles hung in there and went one up on the 15th when I missed a short putt. On 16, Mark made a great shot for a tap-in birdie. On 17, Charles ran into trouble, hitting into a fairway bunker, getting us to dormie with one hole to play. Both Mark and I were on the 18th in two, as was Charles. However, Charles was a good 40 feet from the hole. He almost drained the puppy, lipping out because the pace was a little fast. Very impressive for a 17 year old kid.
After drinking down our hard won pints (mine was Orange Juice since I was still feeling the sting from my drinking the night before), we got in the van and began our drive to Machrihanish. This was a very ambitious plan. If you look at a Map of Scotland and try to find to geographically opposing points, Cruden Bay and Machrihanish may just fit the bill. The travel was a little over 300 miles, with mostly single lane roads along the way. The trip took 7 hours, but it was through some of the most beautiful country I had ever seen. We drove along the Grampian mountains, with Lochs along the way. We drove to Oban, a nice little fishing village just prior to the Islands. From there, it's a long drive down the Mull of Kintrye to almost the tip of the Mull. The highway takes you back and forth, east to west on the Mull, one time with vistas of the Firth of Clyde, other times with vistas of the North Channel.
There are two places to stay in Machrihanish, both B&Bs. The town is tiny, with some grand houses, the golf course, a pub and the two B&Bs. That's about it for Machrihanish. We inquired at the first B&B on the road into town, the Ardell House. He shows us Room#3, which is a great room, with large bay windows overlooking the golf course and the North Channel beyond. right next door there is also a very comfortable lounge with a honor bar. For L25.00 a night we grabbed it. Only problem is that come Tuesday, other Americans have Room#3 reserved, so we might lose our wonderful view.
Ardell House
Machrihanish
Argyll PA28 6PT
Scotland
Tel: 0486-810235
Proprietors: Mr. and Mrs. D.G. Baxter
After the drive, it didn't take me long to fall sound asleep, with visions of birdies dancing in my head.
Talk to you tomorrow.
Dan King
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