Gullane #1

Second Review - Gullane #1
(Played on March 7th, 2016)

Got the first round out of my system at North Berwick the day before where I scored about as well as I could have expected for my first round of the year.  I didn't quite break 80 but had 3 birdies, which helped me shoot a respectable score while breaking off the rust.  I also had some high numbers, but that is to be expected for the current state of my golf game.

The round at North Berwick gave me confidence going into my second round, but also made me realize that I needed to practice.  Luckily for me, Gullane Golf Club has a very nice practice facility -unique to most traditional Scottish Links.  If you're in the area you should definitely take advantage of the practice facilities, as well as the pro shop on site that is the only place in the area that also sells Muirfield items.  As Muirfield Golf Club only has a very limited selection of club specific materials, this is by far the best place to get merchandise for Muirfield as well.  Now that got all of that out, to the course review:

Gullane #1 is an amazing course
I am not really sure where to even begin when reviewing Gullane #1.  Leaving the weekend I found it to be an amazing course.  But looking back on it the course has not stood the test of time in my mind.  Having now played 9 courses, not many holes on Gullane stand out as much as some holes on other courses.  At the same time, this course definitely holds its own with the other courses I have played - which makes me feel this is a good time to mention that Scotland has a lot of great courses.  I would be lucky to play any of these courses for the rest of my life.

 I still remember many of the holes fondly, the problem though as I look back at Gullane is that the weak ending to the course has had more of an impact on me than I expected.  As a positive:  The course is a true championship links course, and by far has the most beautiful views of any of the three courses near the area that I played.  

With that said, as far as the memorable factor - it doesn't have the historical aspect of Muirfield for me, and doesn't have the unique quirkiness of North Berwick.  It just doesn't quite have the "IT" factor that many of the others courses I have played thus far possess.  Although I definitely enjoyed my round here more than I enjoyed my round at Muirfield, I also in some sick way absolutely loved the brutal day I had at Muirfield (please see Muirfield review to come later).

Gullane #1 is a tough Championship links course at near 6900 yards and it felt even longer to me, at least on the day when I played it in March.  I played very well here and hit a lot of great drives but I ended up shooting the same score as I did the day before at North Berwick.  I would guess I would have shot about a +5 strokes worse as I look back on my North Berwick if had played the same way here.

What I loved about GULLANE #1
To start, the views are second to none.  WOW, what a beautiful course - especially from the top of #3 and #9.

You should definitely take the time to play this course if you're in the area.  It holds it's own with the top 100 ranked courses North Berwick and Muirfield.  It is a great course.  Here are summaries of a few of the holes.

Hole #1 - "First"
One may say this is a weak starting hole, but as I have begun to realize - I really appreciate a course giving me a friendly welcome.  I was not this way back home, but in March I absolutely loved walking up to a 305 yard par 4.  It is always nice beginning with a par.  You have the clubhouse far to your right, high grass to the left and can see the brutal second hole waiting for you up the hill ahead.




















Hole #2 - "Windygate"
Windygate is a great hole to remind you that you are playing a Championship links course - and not your neighborhood course down the road.  This hole reads 412 yards, but felt like I was playing a 490 yard monster.  The hole heads up a volcanic hill and gave me nightmares.  Even after I hit a drive right down the middle, I still ended up with a double bogey as this hole scared me to death for some reason.  After my drive, I had a long way to go as the hole typically heads straight into a stronger wind than one would expect on this side of the hill.  Wow, this hole still makes me want to cry a little - and again, for some reason when it comes to links golf I love this memory.




















I loved that what felt like the most brutal hole on the course for me was followed by one of the best views on the course.  Following hole 2 is the first time the golfer is granted the opportunity to view the beautiful location of the course.  What a great way to pick up a golfer's spirits.

Hole #3 - "Racecourse"
One of the most beautiful views I have found on any course, this hole is great.  I also happened to birdie it with a long putt.  I didn't do anything exceptional until my 3rd shot that put me into position to make a long putt.  I'll quit blabbering though and just show you a couple of photos of the beautiful views from this hole

Hole #9- "Corbie"
One of the most respected holes on the golf course. This is the view everyone will tell you about, but I actually liked the view from 3 just a well.

Other Comments about the round
Many of the holes felt longer than the yardage, and for some reason I found what I expected to be the tougher holes not as difficult as some of the easier ones.  Especially when it came to the par 5's - I birdied the two longer par 5's, but double bogey the 480 yard one.  

Toughest Holes
#2, #10

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What Disappointed me about Gullane #1
Weak ending.  I was definitely underwhelmed by the last two holes.  I absolutely pushed/sliced a driver and I was still in great position on 17.  18 also didn't do it for me.  I am sure it is different playing in Summer conditions, but the rest of the course did not deserve this ending.  Sadly, these last two holes impacted my review for what is otherwise an absolutely amazing course.




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Other Photos

A Kid Again - first Scottish links round at North Berwick

First Review - North Berwick West Links 
(played on March 6th, 2016)


Some of my favorite memories from about 10 years of age on are on the golf course, spending 10 hours at the local golf club that it cost me only about  $200 USD a year to play.  Golfing in the Kingdom has brought me back to that feeling.  This was definitely true for my first round in the Kingdom, at the historic North Berwick Golf Club playing the West Links.

I have never felt the spiritual aspect of golf more than my first drive to North Berwick and my first round.  As you pull up to North Berwick (as well as many other historic Scottish courses), you instantly feel the history.  It isn't like walking up to some cookie cutter American clubhouse, you're literally staring at history.



The First Tee
I spent months before my first journey to Scotland preparing for my trip.  I studied North Berwick and Muirfield, and researched a third could play in the area. I read stories about Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson sneaking on 16 to putt but ending up kicked off the course by an employee that did not recognize them.  I  know not to park in the parking lot that sits right on hole 18, and most importantly, knew every hole at The West Links.   I knew every hole; that is, until I pulled up to play my first round.

As I pulled up to play, I instantly became nervous.  I started to doubt my game, why I planned so many rounds, and why I would be so stupid to commit myself to months of traveling for golf.  After some self coaching in the car, I walked up to the clubhouse and was welcomed quite warmly.  This gave me a nice boost of confidence as I began working on swings with a swing trainer I had brought with me.  After a little while swinging, I checked in with the starter and walked up to the first tee.

Standing on the tee box I took the opportunity to look around at the beautiful landscape and while doing so also happened to notice that there were about 10 people standing around.  At that moment, I get that shanks thought in my head (I had the s**nks last year a couple times and hadn't played a round of golf in 4 months) - I pray you never have to deal with those.  Thank God I was able to hit an iron off the tee as I somehow, in spite of my knees knocking, striped it down the middle.  As I walk to my ball in the fairway I can't help but be overwhelmed by the fact that I am actually living my dream.  This is something I never thought I would accomplish, and after some news a few years ago really didn't believe was possible for me.  Yet, here I am, about the hit an approach shot from 125 out.



I am extremely excited at this point, could I birdie my first hole?  This is a perfect 52 degree for me and I have a clear view of the green.  I walk up, hit a good shot at my target.  As I approach what I believe to be the green,  I realize I aimed at the wrong green.  I am 20 yards short of the 17th green I aimed at, and pin high but 15 yards left for the 1st hole (This should also serve as a reminder that caddies are a huge help when playing links golf).   I somehow despite my nerves clouding my memory managed to get up and down with my putter (possibly the best putt I have hit in my life from off a green), and saved a par.


"... Please don't kill someone"
Walking to the next tee I am feeling great, thanking God I somehow got over my nerves and managed a par, and thrilled to play the famous 2nd hole called "Beach."  I feel a sigh of relief on my short walk as I felt this will get a lot easier now with no one watching me.  Nope.  Walk up to the second hole (another one of the flagships of North Berwick) and I notice what is easily 30 people on the beach or walking right near the fairway where I want to aim.  I am standing on one of the best holes I will play in my entire life and I am about to kill someone with what is my first Driver swing of the season.  I didn't kill anyone.  What I did, was duck hook it right into a group of players on another hole.  I loudly yell "fore!," pick up my tee and walk quickly to apologize.    I feel awful after nearly hitting the golfers and am fully expecting to get screamed at, told I am a terrible golfer and should not be playing there.  As I walk down toward the group, one of the golfers in the group - that happens to be a group of members -  yells, "we expected that you were going to duck hook it with that huge group over on the public areas of the course and the beach.  What a difficult drive today, it gets crazy out here with locals walking in the public areas on lovely days like today."  This instantly gives me comfort and we spend a few minutes discussing the course.  He welcomes me and thanks me for joining the club for the day.   I am absolutely blown away by the welcome, and shocked that a member kind enough to share his club with me is thanking me.









WOW.  What an experience.  The course and members were top notch, and the experience at North Berwick was likely the most welcoming golf experience I have had thus far in my journeys.  Other courses have been very welcoming as well, but North Berwick stood out (As well as Muirfield, which I will share in a later review).

A course full of fun
There is no way to not have fun playing North Berwick.  With stone walls running through the course, sunken greens, short par 5s, tricky par 3s, memorable holes, and beautiful views - I thought at times, I hope Heaven is this good.  North Berwick, although not my top course, was likely the most fun round I will have in my journeys.   I would guess that more of my favorite holes on my journeys will come from North Berwick West Links than any other course.  I would guess North Berwick ends up having about 3 of my 10 favorite holes in my golf journeys (which are looking like I will end up playing about 16 of the top courses in the world that happen to be in the UK).


North Berwick was a great way for me to kick off my journeys as it made me realize that my golf journeys are all about having fun.   All about being a kid again.  About the spiritual component that golf has in my life, and about appreciating opportunities in life I was not sure I would have 4 years ago.  It was a lesson on appreciating the journey and not just the outcome - A lesson I am still reminding myself.

It doesn't matter how I play, I am living a dream that I have been blessed to have the opportunity.


Photos

The "Pit" - Hole 13

Straightforward short Par 4 with the beach left.  Not a difficult hole but intimidating tee shot for a person with Winter Season driver in the bag.  One of most memorable holes will ever play.  Where else can you find a sunken green, beside the beach, with a stone wall running through the hole?

Redan - Hole 15

#HumbleBrag I birdied this hole.  The most famous hole on the course and one of the most copied in golf.  I hit an iron to
about 8 feet.  I am pretty sure though that if it had been Summer with the brutal pin position that I would have easily been off the green.

















Other Photos

Map of Scotland Golf

Map of Top 100 ranked Courses of Scotland from Today's Golfer U.K.

 

One part of planning a trip that is important is knowing where you are going.  Sounds obvious, but it is also good to have a basis from which to begin looking. Well here is a great map that I used to help me get a feel for the areas.  To also take this a step further, just FYI to get from Edinburgh to Royal Dornoch is about 3.5 hours, and to get from Edinburgh to Turnberry is about 1.5 hours.  This should give you at least a rough estimate moving forward for anyone that happens to stumble across this blog.  Also, go to Google Maps.  Sometimes people forget to go to obvious sites, but that is just a reminder.  Use it!

Introduction to Golf Journeys in the Kingdom

Golf Journeys in the Kingdom

Hello and welcome.  This blog was created as a way to express my feelings and to tell stories of my 2016 journeys across (primarily) the United Kingdom on the quest to play some of the best courses in the world.

I will have course reviews, stories of my journeys, photos of courses, and other information.  Please also make requests if anything you would like to know or for me to add.

One or two more courses may still be added, but as of today, I will be playing 12 courses on 4 Tours of golf.  The 4 Tours are:

The Frozen Tour (March 5th-8th)  Flying into Edinburgh

• North Berwick - West Links  Scotland
• Muirfield Golf Club, home of The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers  Scotland

The Highlands Tour (May 4th-8th)  Flying into Edinburgh with my mother

• Castle Stuart   Scotland
• Royal Dornoch   Scotland

The Royalty Tour (May 13-16th)  Flying into London, England and then Dublin, Ireland

• Royal St. Georges   England
• Royal Portrush   N. Ireland
• Royal County Down   N. Ireland

The Open Tour and Finale (July 1st-6th)  TBD Edinburgh or Glasgow

• Prestwick Golf Club   Scotland this course may get cancelled
• Turnberry Ailsa Course   Scotland
• Carnoustie Golf Links   Scotland
• St. Andrews - Jubilee    Scotland
• St. Andrews - The Old Course   Scotland

Other Courses on wish list:  Brora, Kingsbarns, Old Head Golf Links, Ballybunion, Cruden Bay, Royal Aberdeen

First Journal Entry - February 25th, 2016

The reasons for this blog and my journeys
This first entry will be a random collection of thoughts to explain the purpose of my journal, as well as to highlight some of the reasons I'm writing this blog and also give a glimpse into the future content.

First off, let's introduce anyone unfamiliar with me.  I am a young professional from the U.S. on a work delegation in Germany.  I have 6 total months in Europe, and 2 of those spent in very cold months that have already passed.  I enjoy traveling, love people, and am always excited to meet more great and interesting people in the world.  I also happen to love/loath golf and have since the age of 12.

One might look at my journeys and wonder why I would spend most of my free time outside of work in Europe on golf?  Well for someone that has never dreamt of golf it probably doesn't make sense to to spend. It's a sport that is rather costly, rather time consuming, and certainly quite frustrating.  It also takes away from time that could be spent traveling elsewhere.  For me though, if I'm spending time alone, I would much rather be on a golf course than anywhere else.

I am not the best golfer, and have had many ups and downs through different injuries and circumstances with this sport and life.  I shot 121 once last year, along with numerous rounds in the 90's on easier courses than I will be playing on this journey; but, I also currently have a 6.5 handicap with many rounds in the 70's just last year as well.  Life is a gift, make the most of the gift today!

Planning Golf Trip(s) across the U.K.
Now that got out of the way the introduction, I will touch on one of the pieces I want to write about and that is the journey itself.  For the first piece on this, I will talk about planning a journey.  The journey I am making will take me across many geographic areas and many courses that I have dreamt of my entire life.  Courses on a bucket list I didn't think I would ever cross off.  I grew up in a small town in the state of Ohio in the United States, and never really believed I would make it on such a journey as this one.  I have been blessed by God and by people in my life that have made an opportunity like this possible.

As anyone that has planned a golf trip in the U.K. on their own knows, it's not at all easy.  You have a ton of logistical issues, weather to consider, and course fees due at the time of booking your trip.  ON top of that, courses are doing maintenance and currently renovating to keep up to date with an evolving game of golf.  Certain courses are extremely difficult to get on, and even the easy ones often times only allow golfers on certain days and times.  Figuring all of that out, along with the timing on how to make the most of your time in Scotland is quite the challenge.

If I were extremely wealthy, this would've been a lot easier.  But being a young adult, still building savings, I tried to also find the cheapest times to fly and times that I could use the least amount of my vacation days.  Quite the task, but pretty happy with how I was able to work in these trips around my holiday and vacation time at work.

My 5 step advice in planning a golf trip in the U.K.:
Step 1 - Begin planning

1. Read reviews and information from others
2. Check out all of the course websites first
3. Rank Courses want to play
4. Check out flights and locations you can fly out of and into
5. Map out hopeful plan of courses can play in time/financial budget

Step 2 - Now that have planning, see how feasible it is

1. Check out rental cars and/or train routes to make sure it is possible
2. Check out hotel websites and map that out to make sure places are available
3. Reassess and map out new plan now that have all available information

Step 3 - Make sure courses are available and everything works

1. Contact all Courses on availability of tee times and costs
2. Map out all dates, possible times, courses, travel routes and ETA's
3. Reassess and fix anything that needs changed.  I had to change dates at this point and also changed a couple courses around several times

Step 4 - Book everything ahead of time

1. Book courses
2. Book flights, rental car/trains, and hotels 

Step 5 - You've done it

1. Have fun looking up photos, talking about your journeys, and practice as much as you can to play your best golf possible!