St Andrews (Finally)

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richart

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Having booked up the Old and New courses at St Andrews in September 2010, four of us from my club are finally off to Scotland this Monday. Booked in to play the New on Wednesday and the Old on Thursday. In case the weather is a bit breezy I also booked Ladybank which is supposed to be fairly sheltered for the Tuesday. Popped up the pro shop today to get some base layers, and warm trousers not that I am expecting it to be cold.:)

Hoping to meet up with Euan (golfcitydweller) for a few beers, and advice on how to play the Old course. Two of my mates have booked caddies, so at least we will not get lost. Might even have a little prayer that I don't knock it out of bounds off the first.:D

If I can work out how my new camera works, will take pictures and bore you all with our experiences.

Hopefully I will not miss too much excitement on the forum, such as another Gilbertgate, Homergate, or even Smiffy having a good round.:eek:
 
Enjoy mate, its a great experience. We played the Jubilee, New and Old Course earlier this year and they are all great tracks

The first tee shot is the most nervous i have ever been when standing over a ball but thankfully got a decent drive away

Euan is a true gent and will give you some great advice for playing the Old Course.

Definately jealous as I cant wait to get back over.
 
You'll enjoy it and I'll echo the shouts for Euan he's one of the nicest fly Fifers youu'll meet. Take his advice he'll keep you right.
 
The weather forecast for next week seems to be pretty settled. High of 9 degrees (Real feel 4 degrees) on Wednesday so a good breakfast of porridge and you'll be fine.
 
Hope you have a great time Rich, and fingers crossed that you get decent weather.
Played the Old Course once in 1991. March day, freezing cold but very little wind. I have never been so nervous standing on a first tee since that day.
Have played at Ladybank too, lovely course. Remember playing in a large group (12) there one day and my brother in law was coming up one fairway as I was walking down another. He was on about the 13th hole and had his thumbs in the air and a big smile on his face. I nipped across to ask him how it was going and he was really excited. "35 points in the bag with 5 holes left to go" he said. He was playing well for a change and was on target to win something. When we got back to the clubhouse I tracked him down by the bar. "How did you end up?" I asked.
"35 points" he replied almost in tears. He had blobbed every hole from the 12th.
 
Good to hear the courses are in great condition, and the weather doesn't look too bad. Any advice from Euan will be gratefully received, just a shame we couldn't sort out a game together. We have a spare day on the Friday which I would like to play Lundin Links. Unfortunately the other three seem to want to go to Edinburgh for a bit of culture.:confused: I am sure they quality of the courses will convince them that another game is the best option.:)

I take it the last six at Ladybank are quite difficult then Rob, or is your brother in law not very fit ?:confused:
 
richart said:
Good to hear the courses are in great condition, and the weather doesn't look too bad. Any advice from Euan will be gratefully received, just a shame we couldn't sort out a game together. We have a spare day on the Friday which I would like to play Lundin Links. Unfortunately the other three seem to want to go to Edinburgh for a bit of culture.:confused: I am sure they quality of the courses will convince them that another game is the best option.:)

I take it the last six at Ladybank are quite difficult then Rob, or is your brother in law not very fit ?:confused:
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rich, i hope you have have good time and take on board Euans advice its better than having a caddy i can tell you that. Its a pity we couldn't meet up i'm now off on Tuesday but am playing Kingsbarns for nowt as my mate is a caddy there,it will be 2nd game in a month due to injury so looking forward to it.

If your going to Edinburgh why no try and get a game at Gullane or ask DCB i'm sure he'll give you sound advice on where to play.

Have a good trip mate.
 
stevek1969 said:
rich, i hope you have have good time and take on board Euans advice its better than having a caddy i can tell you that. Its a pity we couldn't meet up i'm now off on Tuesday but am playing Kingsbarns for nowt as my mate is a caddy there,it will be 2nd game in a month due to injury so looking forward to it.

If your going to Edinburgh why no try and get a game at Gullane or ask DCB i'm sure he'll give you sound advice on where to play.

Have a good trip mate.
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Thanks Steve. I am sure we will all love the golf, and will be coming back up again. Hope to catch you next time. Looked at Kingsbarns but think they wanted £185 each ! You are a lucky so and so getting it for free:) Have a good game and enjoy the views !
 
Back from St Andrews, and what a fantastic time we all had. Weather was appalling when we flew into Edinburgh airport late on Monday, and we were doubting we would be playing next day. Shouldn't have worried as Tuesday was windy but dry and even sunny:) Played Ladybank in the afternoon, and despite four temporary greens and the greens being treated on the front nine, it was in great condition. Course reminded us of a cross between Hankley Common and Worplesdon, which is high praise. So glad we played an inland course with such strong winds.

Couldn't hit a fairway, and the heather and trees meant a lot of chipping out for me.:( Only managed a few pars, and a string of bogeys, and got a good thumping in our fourball match. Not looking good for the next day at the New Course at St Andrews.

Wednesday was breezy and sunny again, and we hit a few balls down the range before playing which didn't do much for my confidence. The New Course looked great, and in fact was in immaculate condition with the best links greens I have ever played on. True and fast and showing no signs of the monsoon conditions earlier in the week. Started with a nice birdie, and after seven holes was still one under par:). Dropped a couple of shots, but still one over par standing on the 16th tee, and having visions of a possible par round. Four dropped shots in the last three holes, meant a slightly disappointing 76, 5 over, net 65 ! Managed to win back the money lost the day before, so a good day all round. I would easily put the New Course down as the best links course I had played up to that point, and the condition was an added bonus.

Last day and the big one at the Old Course. Tee off 10.40, and standing on the first tee there was hardly a breath of wind:) The wait to play was nerve racking, but once I had teed up and looked down the huge fairway, I was surprisingly calm. Nice drive straight down the middle and we were off. The calm didn't last long as I topped my second into the burn.:( Chip and a four foot putt and off to a bogey start. The greens were not as fast on the Old as the New but with the huge undulations just as well. Played nicely over the next few holes, and despite a couple of three putts, birdied the 9th to be out in 39, three over:) More solid pars and a single bogey meant I was just four over after 14, hitting the difficult finishing stretch. Three putts on 15, and a double on 16 after going in my only bunker of the day, meant I needed to par the last two to break 80. Two reasonable shots to the Road Hole, left me in with a chance, but a woeful first putt lead to a bogey.:(

Now needed to birdie the last, and after driving a couple of feet short of Granny Clarks Wynd , just had a nice 9 iron in to a front flag position. Think I might of had an andrenalin rush, as I proceed to hit the ball straight over the flag to the back of the green and into the rough a couple of feet from the out of bounds.:eek: A good chip breaking from the left looked like it had a chance, and just as I was about to celebrate it grazed the hole, and trickled five feet past. Holed the putt though for a solid eight over 80, net 69.

Another win in our fourball matches, so ended the week in the black. The two rounds on the two St Andrews courses were undoubtedly the best two days golf I have ever had. The Old Course instantly became my favourite course of all time, and I can not wait to play it again. I feel that I have only sampled a small part of what it has to offer, and I need to play it a lot more times to fully appreciate it. No two rounds could ever be the same over such hallowed fairways.

A big thanks to Euan (golfcitydweller) for inviting us all for a drink in the St Andrews members clubhouse. His tip on putting the short ones on the Old Course was invaluable, and I didn't miss from inside four feet all day. A really nice guy, and I look forward to meeting up again, hopefully with clubs this time.

Well thats all folks. Sorry it has been so long, but even these words don't fully describe how good the courses were. I know I will probably never play as well there again, but I can't wait for the next time.
 
Glad you enjoyed it. Aura is incredible when you turn and face the Auld Grey Toon!
 
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