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Scotland on my Mind by Dan King
Sunday June 16th
The Glen Golf Course |
Our first big disappointment.
Sunday morning there we were, all dressed up in coat and tie. Mike Smyth even had to buy a shirt and tie for the event, not realizing the need to wear a coat also meant a tie. We were all getting into the van to go and have some lunch and then head over to Dougie Seaton's in North Berwick to meet up with our Muirfield member. A call from Dougie as we were on our way out changed our plans. It appears that some Americans (can you say our friends Michael Douglass and Jack Nickolson? That's our guess anyway) played the course on Friday, a day reserved for members only. The captain of Muirfield got upset and said there will be no more guests for a while. So our round at Muirfield was off. The secretary of the club who called Dougie was very apologetic, but what can you do with an omni-potent captain.
We decided to go get some lunch and meet Dougie later. Driving into Gullane for lunch we decided to eat at Greywalls, the hotel adjacent to the 10th tee at Muirfield. There we were told they were booked up for lunch, but we could come in and have a drink. I had a shot of 17 year old Oban and also selected a Romeo y Julieta and Monte Cristo from their humidor. We did go out back of the hotel to take a look at the course. The 10th tee box is practically in Greywalls back yard. The day was about as still as you get in East Lothian. Not a hint of a wind. The course looked good, very long rough, but it didn't look like one of the greatest courses in the world from where we stood.
When we organized this trip, Muirfield was not on the itinerary. We were playing public golf. Golf is a more public game in Scotland than in the States. However, Dougie Seaton set up a round for us at Muirfield with a friend of his who is a member. I wasn't originally that wild about playing since we would have to play without Darla Cowden since women were not allowed. Darla Cowden insisted we play and she would find something else to do. Her plans were to play the Glen Course (North Berwick East Links) while we played Muirfield. I'm not as disappointed as my companions in missing Muirfield.
We had lunch in Gullane at the Old Pro Shop across from the Gullane Children's Golf Course. The lunch was the best meal I have had in Scotland to date. I had Scottish Salmon that was the freshest Salmon I've eaten that I didn't catch myself. Mike Smyth and Darla Cowden ignored worried about Mad Cow Disease and had cheeseburgers. Very good cheeseburgers, but I think we will keep an eye on them for the rest of the trip.
From Gullane it was over to North Berwick to meet up with Dougie Seaton and decide where to golf. We decided to use the tee time at the Glen course. Since there were now five of us I decided to just walk along. My game is getting better, but I'm still having troubles scoring. I decided a day to just watch golf might be what I need. I think it is easier to appreciate a course with out playing. You're not worried about your swing or following your ball or any of the other countless concerns.
One thing we have noted in Scotland is how quite it is on the courses. In America, you often here whoops and shouts from other golfers as they make putts or chip in or whatever. You don't here that in Scotland. On the Glen course, there was a few groups of Americans playing the course. We could tell they were Americans because one of them was wearing a stars and stripes shirt. You could also tell because when they shouted, it was with American accents.
The Glen course was by far the prettiest course we had played. From the Starter's box, you climb up a plateau which is out on a point near Bass Rock. You have a view of Bass Rock from just about every point on the course. The designers of Sandpiper in Santa Barbara, California and Torrey Pines in San Diego, California should have come and looked at this course before they designed those courses. Despite being on cliffs well above the sea, you sensed the sea on every shot. At Torrey and Sandpiper you only sense you are seaside on a few holes.
Once again we had beautiful weather. We have had more need for suntan lotion than all the sweaters and goretex we brought with us. There was hardly a breath of wind while we played up on this plateau.
The routing of the course was interesting. Up onto the plateau and then head mostly east, with a few diversions out to the south and back north. The 9th green is the most easterly point on the course, and then you head back west, with a few holes coming back east now and then. The final hole is back down off the plateau with a green sitting beside the clubhouse.
After the round and a drink or two in the clubhouse, we headed over to Dougie Seaton's house to watch the final round of the U.S. Open. The Scottish tourist authority should hire the Seaton's. Great hosts for the evening, always making sure everyone had plenty of what-ever. If the Seaton's ever come to California, I'll have to pull out all the stops to match their graciousness.
It's a little strange to watch a golf tournament until 11:00 at night. With the 5 hour time difference between Detroit and Scotland that's what time it concluded. I felt very bad for Davis Love missing the short putt that would have gotten him into a playoff. However, Steve Jones played well and it is good for the game to have a qualifier win the U.S. Open.
Some of my favorite holes (mostly from a scenic view point since I wasn't playing the course).
Hole#1 Par-4 341 yards. A flat tee shot to the beginning of the hill sets you up for an approach shot to a green 50 feet above the fairway.
Hole#6 Par-5 485 yards. Not a very difficult or scenic hole, but very memorable since Dick Gunderson made his first eagle of his life were he made it with his putter (He had made an eagle before but that was with a wedge). He's had numerous opportunities lately but he has had trouble finishing with his putter.
Hole#9 Par-3 230 yards. Down the hill to the farthest point. The green is protected on the left and right with pot bunkers. It's a 30 foot drop, but a run-up is required to have any chance of holding this green. Horses crazing in the pasture just beyond the green with Bass Rock in the background.
Hole#13 Par-3 146 yards. A blind tee shot to this green 20 feet below the tee. This hole is the closest to the beach and the only time there is danger of hitting on to the beach.
Hole#14 Par-4 365 yards. This hole reminded me off Sandpipers 12th hole,the best hole on that course. A tee shot to a fairway 20-30 feet above, the hole doglegs to the right, the fairway slopes right, and the cliffs sit along the right. In other words, do not hit to the right.
Talk to you tomorrow.
Dan King
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