Post 3: On To The Old Course & More

Day 6 – 9 Aug. Today is the day.  For the first time in all his trips to Scotland, Dennis was lucky enough to draw ballots for the Old Course.  Bill and I were drawn along with two others in our group.  Man, life really is good.  The irony is of all the times that Dennis had led groups to Scotland and put in for ballots, this is the first time any of his group has ever been drawn.  We had a 12:30 tee time and I don’t remember when I’ve been so nervous.  The Old Course does not have a driving range so I had no place to “bleed” off my anxiety.  The other great part was Beanie and Kim are able to walk the course with us so not only am I playing the Old Course with a good friend, I have my bride sharing it with me.  

The Picture Tells The Story

To say I played well would be a bit of a white lie, well, actually a much larger lie.  The day was really nice, warm (low 60s) but a bit breezy.  Gonna be lots of pics as they tell the story.

L-R: Tall, Good Looking Guy; Bill, Kelly, & David

1st Tee.  I shanked my first tee shot OB right, but recovered enough to make double bogey. 

You Know, The Swing Didn't Look That Bad

Putting For My Double Bogie Start With The "Old Course Hotel" In View

I Have No Idea How To Play This Hole!!

I Wish I Could Say This Was My Only Walk In The Rough - But The Heather Is Pretty

A Good Hit . . . . With That Swing!

We had two caddies for the four of us and they were very good.  They had caddied for a wide variety of big name people and many Opens between them.  Oddly enough their favorite was Glen Campbell and he had passed just hours before we teed off.  We played the course with big grins, all the classic holes we’ve seen on TV over the years.  Of course, when we got to the Road House hole, I had to go for it over the Old Course Hotel sign.  

Such A Good Ball Strike But Either A Yard Short Or Yard Right - Still OB!!

160 Yards To #17 Green, But Lying 3!!

The damn green tee shot is nearly as difficult as the tee shot!  It’s skinny, has a couple big swales in it, and just kinda evil.    

Bill & I Explaining To Each Other Why We Can't Putt #17 Green

Unfortunately, I was a yard too far to the right and landed just inside the wall on the hotel side.  My second effort was spot on and I was 160 yards out and salvaged (well in my mind salvaged!!) a 7.

Probably A Million Photos Taken From This Position Heading Up 18

Teeing off on 18 was almost as nerve racking as 1.

Unleashing A Mighty Blow . . . Just a Little Left (50 Yards!)

The Home Stretch Of A Spectacular Day!!

I pulled my tee shot left, 168 to the pin, hit a bit chubby 6-iron and ended up 60 yards short (okay, maybe more than a bit chubby!!).  This means I am 180 feet to the pin and the Valley of Sin lies between me and the pin.  

Doesn't Everyone Put From 180'?

I take out my mighty putter, raise it above my head and scream to the golf gods, “This hole will be mine!!!!” Smoothy the putter backstroke begins and the words of Brian Baer enter my head, “long putts require a loose, tension-free grip”, the putter falls striking the club face ever so squarely, the ball relinquishing its control over me, rolling thru the Valley of Sin, and coming to rest 3 feet short of the pin, (you really didn’t think I was going to make it did you??).  Then I miss the f@*king putt for a bogie.  Man, what fun!!

A REALLY Good Group Of Lads!!

Kathy:  Wow…………and Wow..  It was incredible sharing golfing The Old Course with Randy and I know Kim felt the same sharing it with Bill as this is a huge bucket list item for both the “boys”.  I loved seeing all the holes that I recognized from watching Opens on TV, especially holes 1, 17 and 18.  I didn’t expect how close together all the holes are and at times it was hard to tell which green belonged to which hole.  Many of the greens were huge because they were shared by two holes.  And seeing all the people and occasionally even vehicles crossing over the 1^st hole on a road was weird.  It seemed the main purpose of having a course employee on the first hole was to yell fore and direct people off the road when golfers were ready to tee off.  I noticed that all the caddies were up there in years – probably in their 50s and 60s and even 70s.  I would imagine it takes quite a few years to merit working as a caddy for The Old Course.