Just returned home to India from a great experience of playing the Old Course at St. Andrews. I sincerely hope that every golfer sometime in his life gets a chance to play at those links. Uncanny but we got 7 days of the Scotland Sun.
One can appreciate the conditions the players play under in the Open Championship and the creativity needed for the short game to be able to score well. Used a wedge approach once in 18 holes.Used 7 and 8 irons from 100 yards in as approaches. Used a putter from inane distances off the green losing site of the ball in swails for upto 4 seconds from 30 yards off the green, HAD to play backwards from two bunkers, visited the burn on hole 1, shot a 6 over with 3 birdies. With winds at 25 to 30 mph its a challenge. With some greens 80 yards in length or breadth and putts of 100 ft at times its just a 'bit' tough. With bunkers that you wanna avoid that you cant see off the tee it gets even easier .
Sincerely I wish all of golfers get a chance to experience the links courses at St Andrews if you already havent yet. Doesnt get any more natural than those links. Secondly the ambiance ,the stature and the heritage that comes with the experience is second to none.
Will post some pics up with my student group that I took to play over there. Kids between 12 and 16.
Setting up to do the Open Trail nxt year. Prestwick, Carnoustie,Turnberry, Troon and St. Andrews just bfore the Open.
That should be fun.
Vik
__________________
"If you keep on thinking what you always thought, you'll keep on doing.what you always did. And if you keep on doing what you always did, you'll keep on getting what you always got."
It really is a surreal experience if you haven't been. I am sure many forum members have. Played it in '05 when my game was at it's worst. Just barely made it in under the 23 index cut off. Was staying in Linlithgow and hit the road about 6:00 to get there by 7:30 to go out as a single. Would gladly have waited all day, but was sent out with one of the first groups at 7:30. A very nice father and son from the US.
Had a beautiful day, mid 60's, broken clouds, couldn't have asked for better weather. Hacked it around as awful as I knew how (way before I ever heard of TGM or Lynn Blake). Frigging moonscape, that course (I mean that in the nicest way).
Some memorable highlights: On #17, waiting for the green to clear, needing "relief" I hopped over the wall of the pub along the fairway to use the facilities, should've grabbed a pint at the same time.
Came to #18, all of God's great acres to hit with #1 and #18 fairways forming a big square. Sliced it OB, hits a car parked along the road and bounces back in bounds (thankfully no one around) 130 yards left to the green, pull out an 8 iron and manage to slice that way right towards the storefront windows along the road. Just waiting for the crash. Walk up and there is a guy on the other side of the fence holding my ball. I ask him if everything is Ok, and he gives me the "no speak English" gesture. German guy, but as it turned out, no damage.
Really an unbelievable experience to walk that hallowed ground. I need to go back and do it again with a better game.
Had a beautiful day, mid 60's, broken clouds, couldn't have asked for better weather. Hacked it around as awful as I knew how (way before I ever heard of TGM or Lynn Blake). Frigging moonscape, that course (I mean that in the nicest way).
Some memorable highlights: On #17, waiting for the green to clear, needing "relief" I hopped over the wall of the pub along the fairway to use the facilities, should've grabbed a pint at the same time.
Came to #18, all of God's great acres to hit with #1 and #18 fairways forming a big square. Sliced it OB, hits a car parked along the road and bounces back in bounds (thankfully no one around) 130 yards left to the green, pull out an 8 iron and manage to slice that way right towards the storefront windows along the road. Just waiting for the crash. Walk up and there is a guy on the other side of the fence holding my ball. I ask him if everything is Ok, and he gives me the "no speak English" gesture. German guy, but as it turned out, no damage.
Really an unbelievable experience to walk that hallowed ground. I need to go back and do it again with a better game.
Thanks, Brian, for this story. It's one of the funniest golf stories I've ever read . . . a killer for the 19th hole!
I consider myself lucky to have played it 5 times.
The first time was on a cold February morning back in 2003. As we set off the 18th was on a temporary green because the green was frozen. We aske dthe chances of it being in play by the time we made it round and were informed "Not good". 4 glourious hours later we sweated our way up the last in unseasonal heat to find the majesty of the 18th green, complete with valley of sin awaiting us. Later in the pub we came across the starter and happily bought him a few drinks!
The highlight of my first year was an eagle 2 on 10.
There have been other memorable highs and lows, including birdieing the first one year and driving through the back of 16 - with a 3 wood! The wind was strong that year, I had 120 to the front of the 6th, hit 5 iron well and came up short!!!
Its an awesome place and every golfer should make it their goal to play it at least once!
I should also mention that the pub bmctigue ran into on 17 is called The Jigger Inn. Every year we play, one of the fourball hops the wall and brings out 4 bottles of bud. Its the only way to finish!!
__________________ The student senses his teacher’s steadfast belief and quiet resolve: “This is doable. It is doable by you. The pathway is there. All you need is determination and time.” And together, they make it happen.
I got the opportunity to play the Old Course in August 1996. I had to wait 4 hours to get on because the Royal Air Force was playing a match against the St. Andrews club.
I started off with a par on #1, #3, parred holes 7 thru 11, 16 and 18. The 2-putt on 8 was probably the best 2-putt of my life. I pushed my tee shot and was actually on the 10th green and was about 120 feet from the hole. I got the putt to about 5 feet and then sunk the second putt to save par.
I had to hit sideways to get out of the 2 pot bunkers I landed in. One of the guys I played with was 6' 4" tall and I couldn't even see him when he went into one of the bunkers to blast out.
. With winds at 25 to 30 mph its a challenge. With some greens 80 yards in length or breadth and putts of 100 ft at times its just a 'bit' tough.
With bunkers that you wanna avoid that you cant see off the tee it gets even easier
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