Scotland – Day Six
Posted on: May 27, 2008No comments yet
May 27, 2008 – Today we were going to play at The New Course designed by Old Tom Morris in 1895. The new course was just the second course to be constructed at St. Andrews and was named “The New” simply because it was not “The Old.” Built in response to increasing demand by locals and visitors flocking to play at St. Andrews, the course is well into its second century of play and is probably the oldest “new” course in the world!
The weather was blustery, with light rain and 30-40 mph winds giving us the taste of true Scottish weather. As is European custom we did not have a golf cart, as golf is played as it is intended to be. Carts are only given when you have a doctor’s note, and everyone else is forced to walk. We walked to the first tee which immediately welcomed us with a sea of yellow gorse which we had to avoid.
The New Course protects its greens with bunkers that punish golfers who misjudge their approach shots. I had my best drive on the 8th tee, a 472-yard Par 5 that landed just short of three bunkers that threatened to swallow my ball. With just 190 yards left to the green, I pulled out my 4-iron and missed the sand surrounding the green, giving me a great opportunity to putt for Eagle, making my day! My putt was short just a few inches on the slow green, and I humbly accepted a birdie.
The 9th hole was a difficult par 3, with 225 yards surrounded by the Eden Estuary, a water hazard that was low and receded. The 15th green holds two holes, for the 15th and 3rd tees. The enormous green was more forgiving as it allowed us to make longer putts! Dad got himself trapped in the fairway bunker, and Jed had a great time making fun of him from the high cliff surrounding the bunker. Our last drive of the day on the 18th was neat, as Jed and my balls ended up just inches from each other on the fairway! We both smiled and cooly parred the hole, equaling shot-for-shot on the hole! We both would have birdied but we both came up just an inch short on our putt, and refusing a mulligan we took our par. Regardless it was a nice finish to a great day on the New Course!
We spent our night in the town of St. Andrews seeing the 12th Century ruins of a cathedral. The cathedral was pillaged for its stones which was used to build the town, including the restaurant we ate in that night. We ate a classic Scottish dish, Haggis. The dish is a large spherical sausage made of the liver, heart, and lungs of a sheep also chopped and mixed with beef, mutten suet, and oatmeal. Seasoned with onion, cayenne pepper, and other spices, the mixture is packed in a sheep’s stomach and boiled for a delicious meal! Usually accompanied by turnips and mashed potatoes, I downed the local dish which tasted so many times better than meat loaf! Scottish whiskey was the perfect thing to wash down the Haggis as I started to think about our day on the New Course in the morning!
It is every golfer’s dream to play there, and mine was about to be realized.
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