The pandemic has forced us to cancel our Scotland Golf Vacation this year. But we refuse to let that stop us from doing all the things we love in Scotland. So for the next two weeks we’ll be in Scotland, not physically but mentally. We choose to take our own imaginary vacation to those lovely links. We’re not crazy…not yet anyway. But two weeks from now who knows.
The overnight flight from Newark, New Jersey was a joy to behold! No seatmates in my aisle, no one within three rows except for my brother George who had the aisle across from me. We both like the aisle and this trip we enjoyed plenty of free space.
A few whiskys for the ride over and I slept like a baby the whole way. Yes, this is a real fantasy as I am normally dealing with a throbbing back at about the three hour mark and wishing the damn plane would turn around. But not this trip!
Plenty of good food, good drink and no interaction with a single passenger. Just how we like it. We breezed through customs, found our bags and clubs waiting for us on the conveyor and before we knew it were at the rental car counter.
There was some mix up with our reservation so the rep upgraded us to a wonderful full size, turbo charged Audi where my brother’s lead foot would feel right at home.
The sun was bright, the air was clear and temps in the 60’s as we headed from the airport to what they call Scotland’s Golf Coast. It’s a bit of land on the east coast of Scotland where they advertise “The greatest concentration of Championship links golf courses in the world.” Fine by us.
We had a 2:30pm tee time at Kilspindle Golf Club which sits on the shore of Aberlady Bay and the Firth of Forth. We had a leisurely lunch at the clubhouse which is our normal habit as we get a feel for the club, its members and its history.
Fish and chips for me as I jettison my Keto diet the second my feet touch linksland and a salad for my bro who was still be very vigilant about his diet.
Off to the first tee and after a bit of stretching and a chat with a very amiable starter who loved the fact we chose Kilspindie and we were off. Now, you won’t find Kilspindie on any of the top courses list like the Old Course, Carnoustie or Kingsbarns but it is a fine, classic links course.
George and I have played plenty of golf in Scotland and we soon realized a few things: yes, it’s fine to play the big names but it’s really expensive and there is so much great golf…great links golf that goes unnoticed by most visiting Americans. We make it a point to seek out those ‘hidden gems’ and it has paid us back over and over each time.
Kilspindie is one of those gems. Laid out on lovely links land with views of the sea and the profile of Edinburgh off in the distance. And no gorse! That ball stealing, shirt ripping, skin scraping bush that has eaten plenty of my precious Titleists.
George and I were thrilled to hear the sea and feel the crunch of firm turf under our feet. And of course we brought the Skinner Weather with us… sunny, warm and a wee bit of breeze.
It was a good match with me going two up after nine holes but as I was busy fantasizing about an opening round win the Golf Gods reminded me never to get too ahead of yourself.
The tides had turned and George was pounding it down the middle, that driver of his is a weapon of grass destruction. On the short par four 17th hole, called Craigielaw we were dormie and I needed a win just to have a chance to get a tie. It’s a cute hole with an old stone wall reminiscent of the Pit at North Berwick. It’s funny…I hit one off that wall too. When I bounced one off the wall here I could only manage a bogey and George’s par won the day 3 & 1.
I didn’t care…we were playing golf again. Playing links golf again. And playing it together. Nothing is better than this.
Related Articles
You’ve got to watch out for those stone walls,bro! They’ll get you every time.