We’ve made our return to Canada after our Ultimate Golf Road Trip and now that I have some reliable Internet access I can finally recap our final day on Scottish soil.
Our guide through the East Lothian region, the affable Allan Minto of Golf East Lothian “Scotland’s Golf Coast”, might be one of the smartest men in golf. I base that on one decision alone, his choice to schedule our last day of golf in Scotland at the North Berwick West Links.
Already enthralled by the course through years of stories I had read, followed by staring at the layout for a day or so from the MacDonald Marine Hotel, I was like a kid waiting on Christmas by the time we arrived at the clubhouse.
For those not familiar with North Berwick I’ll provide but a brief summation. A comprehensive history would fill volumes.
Although North Berwick Golf Club was officially formed in 1832, it plays along a strip of oceanside turf that has likely been host to golfers for four centuries. It has been home to many historic matches and competitions and it normally a final qualifying site when the Open Championship is held just up the road at Muirfield.
The real draw, of course, is the layout itself. Regarded as one of the finest examples of links courses in the world, it combines classic architecture with eclectic holes that stamp the place with it’s own distinct flavour. The 15th hole, Redan, is one of the most copied holes in all of the world.
We had a crisp yet sunny day to play out our last trip around a Scottish golf course on Wednesday. A steady breeze ensured that we would get the full links golf experience. Allan joined us along with Christopher Spence, Secretary of the Club, ensuring not only great company and all the relevant facts we could handle in our notebooks, but a very game match that lasted to the 15th hole. Obviously their kind advice on how to play the endearing course was reliable as it helped us to close out the match in our favour on the famed Redan.
Victory was the last thing our our minds, however, as Jeff and I continually turned circles in our surroundings and exchanged grin after grin with the beauty of the Links and the constant view of the North Sea. We were in full agreement that as momentous as a week as it had been, this course was the epitomy of what we had hoped to experience on our Scottish sojourn – springy turf, amazing bunkering, tantalizing views, and hole after hole of unique challenges requiring all the shots we had learned to play in our golfing lives.
All too soon we had to leave the comfort and congenialty of the North Berwick clubhouse to make our way to Edinburgh for some pre-arranged touring. There we met up with Morag Dunbar, a professional tour guide, who took us on an abbreviated but enlightening walk along the Royal Mile, city streets, and back alleys to get a feel for what the historic city offered.
We capped the day with a quick meet-up. Ewan Colville of Visit Scotland was our host at The Golf Tavern, a pub that dates back to 1456. Ewan explained a lot about the visitor connections between Canada and Scotland an all they do to help foster that valuable relationship. Let’s put it this way…Canadians are always warmly welcomed in every part of Scotland.
After 8 days on their shores we could attest to that.
I hope you have enjoyed the posts from our Ultimate Golf Road Trip. To start planning your own Scottish Golf Journey visit Ultimate Golf Vacations and Visit Scotland.
Watch for more editorial about this trip over the next few months, including a full journal style story in Flagstick Golf Magazine, early in 2011.
