A Week On the Road Hole
 

Mrs. Yoda and I will arrive in St. Andrews tomorrow (Tuesday, the 13th). We are staying the week in The Old Course Hotel -- adjacent to the famed 'Road Hole' (#17) -- and will return home the following Tuesday.

Would love to meet up with any LBG-ers while there. Contact me by email (not by PM), and we'll get'er done!

lynn@lynnblakegolf.com

:golfcart2:

Just got your PM Lynn. Safe journey and hope to see you and Mrs B later on in the week.
Alex

Structure at address is on a roll with Steve Stricker's win. Let's hope it continues this week with a huge payoff and trophy for Brian!

Kevin

I walked around parts of St. Andrews last Thursday. There is nothing else like in the world of golf, its a wonder. T.V. cant properly portray what the eye can see.

Im up in Dornoch now , home of Bob McDonald of the McDonald exercises and a few others ..............Donald Ross for instance. I saw a Scott putt from 50 yards off the green today........to three feet. With these fairways and humps I must say it is often the best play, as is hitting nearly the longest club possible when approaching a green in a severe wind. Perhaps we North Americans have this game a little wrong? I dunno.

Oh and by severe wind Im talking blow your stand bag, your trolly , your hat and your dog away strong. Bucket would lose a goat or two.........It was a four goat wind today thats for sure.

Ill be at the Open on Saturday.

Its been 10 years since I played the Old Course, but the memories are still very vivid.

I'm surprised you were able to secure a hotel room at that venue. You'll be bumping into a lot of well heeled guests.

Good caddying is the most important part of playing that course. From the tee box and even approach shots, its difficult to see hazards or pin. Your line is a distant bush, church spire, or sometimes just a bump in a cloud. Then dial in the distance and shot shape.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Course_at_St_Andrews

Fly by wire and best wishes.
Enjoy a black and tan at the Jigger Inn and tell em Bagger said "A misst ye sae muckle!

I hope you have the camera with you and the batteries charged up.... :) :laughing9

Rain-Soaked In St. Andrews
 

I did, indeed, AC. At considerable risk of a rain-damaged camera, I shot a number of photos and two short videos (one from under cover toward the various public pavilions and the other in a driving rainstorm while crossing Swilken Bridge). We'll get everything posted ASAP.

How bad was it? Well, the R&A called off its much anticipated former Champions four-hole exhibition. When you cancel a round of Golf in Scotland because of weather, now that's serious!

Meanwhile, from behind the first green at 'sunny' St. Andrews . . .

"H-e-e-e-e-r-e's Yoda!"

:toothy1:


And, now having crossed the famed Swilken Bridge . . .



Oops, let's dry off that lens!






Aaah, that's better!

:golfcart2:

A Bridge In Time
 

Last year, on another blessed day at St. Andrews and standing atop golf's most famous landmark -- Swilken Bridge -- this . . .




:golf:

Here's another un-forgettable picture of the Open. Americans-OMG.

I like this picture better :D
Can't believe that was almost a year ago Lynn also at least we finished our round after the squall that we played through at the turn :golf:
Alex

A Daley Double Take
 

Who are those guys with John Daley?

Two For Tee
 

I remember, Alex: We had 'all four seasons' in that round, excluding only snow!

Here's my photo that day of Alex on Swilken Burn:



My three weeks there last year began with the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond and proceeded to The Open Championship at Turnberry. During those two weeks and the next that followed, I taught at various venues. Then, the real fun:

Alex and me actually playing the game!

First, Dundonald. http://www.dundonaldlinks.com/

Then, Carnoustie. http://www.carnoustiegolflinks.co.uk/

Finally, St. Andrews. http://www.If you don't know, forgeddaboudit! :smile:

All arranged by Alex.

Thank you, my friend.

See you Friday for tournament play on the Old Course and for dinner that evening at the Hotel!

:salut:

Photos From Wednesday, July 14th, 2010, At St. Andrews
 

Full Screen Slideshow

Gone With the Wind
 

Well, today was quite a day. We woke up this morning to rain, and the early players practiced and played in it.







Then, when the rain stopped, the wind kicked up in earnest: Twenty-five miles an hour with gusts to forty. W - O - W ! !

On #13 -- the hole that prompted the later wind suspension of play -- BG backed off his ball and re-marked four times as the ball wobbled about -- no, moved about -- on the green. Each player in the group three-putted, all missing second putts from less than four feet (and one from less than 12 inches). When the group behind us reached the green, Paul Goydos refused to play.

Fifteen minutes later, the horn -- the "hooter" as they call it here -- sounded, and play was suspended for an hour. Here's a shot of the players and caddies in Brian's group laying about in the grass awaiting the play of their third shots into the 14th, your basic 618-yard par 5. Don't look for Kip (BG's caddie): He was "starving" and off to get in a quick sandwich.




I noticed no appreciable difference in the wind velocity once play resumed. BG bogeyed #15 and #16 -- a three-putt including the one-stroke penalty he called on himself when the ball moved after he had soled the club -- then tripled #17 from the tough rough left off the tee. A birdie on the home hole brought him in at +11 for the day and for the tournament.

Not what we wanted or expected, of course, but it's what we got.

Next stop: The Greenbriar Classic http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/r490/, where perhaps a kinder fate awaits.

http://www.pgatour.com/2010/r/07/16/...ap/index.html#

Photos From Friday
 

Full Screen Slideshow

Got your PM Lynn but sadly too late to do anything about it, flights to all the nearby airports are SKY high!

We'll get together one of these days, of that I have no doubt. :salut:

I should say, I've played The Old Course in that sort of wind!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjUCpCwaBM8

I remember hitting a 3 wood over 350 yards through the 16th and yet couldn't get a 5 iron 120 yards to the 6th green!!!

Scottish weather eh! If you don't like it, wait 15 minutes and there'll be some new weather for you to enjoy/hate!!! :laughing9

A Late Afternoon In The Conservatory / Part I
 

The Conservatory at the Old Course Hotel is located right off the famous Road Hole at St. Andrews. As such, it offers residents and guests one of the great views of The Open Championship, the second shots into the 17th green. Also, the panorama of the 1st and 18th fairways, Swilken Bridge and the R&A clubhouse.

After our windswept, 18-hole tour of the course following Brian, we repaired to the comfy confines of The Conservatory for a quick bite. Amazingly, the place was almost empty. At the same time, my guess is that the Road Hole Bar three floors above was packed! Here's a photo of our 'private party' thoroughly enjoying that time together.





From the bay windows behind us, you are standing within just a few feet of the players preparing their approaches into the green. It's kind of eerie, because there is no gallery! All spectators are routed from behind the teebox down toward the first green, and there is no crosswalk to get back to the right side -- or left side! -- of the fairway.








So, there before the very few of us that afternoon walked the greatest players in the game. Those included Tiger Woods and Tom Watson, just minutes before his poignant final waves from Swilken Bridge. I've got couple of shots of Old Tom on #17, but they're loaded in another camera and will have to wait.

:golfcart2:

A Late Afternoon In The Conservatory / Part II
 

Usually, the activity on the walk just in front of us was minimal. Here, for example, is a lone cameraman and an unobstructed view of Rory McIlroy playing his second.







However, things grew far more hectic as the camera crews converged on our idyllic setting in preparation for Tiger's arrival!









[/url]



Despite the big wind and BG's missing the cut, it was a super day. Read Alex's account of his Friday at The Open here: http://www.lynnblakegolf.com/forum/s...4338#post74338

Thanks again to Alex for his friendship and long-term support of Lynn Blake Golf.


:golfcart2:

Just doesn't seem as compelling without Tiger of even Phil contending, as far as compelling, nothing beats Tom Watson trying to repeat as champion a century after he first won it.

Why not? Its not always about Tiger or Phil you know. There was a lot of golf played and played well throughout the week. These guys can play!
Alex

No, thank you my friend. All your hard work and effort (along with the rest of the LBG team) certainly does not go without being noticed.
Hopefully we shall meet up in Cuscowilla soon,
Alex

I totally agree with you, Alex; it was a great 4 days of golf. The only negative takeaway for me was that about half the field was eliminated based on the luck of the draw. Louis came across as one of the more humble and sincere guys I've seen in a while; it was great to seem him win pulling away.

The Brothers Two
 

I've got a bunch of photos from Saturday and today. It will take time to get them up, and my travel schedule makes that more problematic than usual.

Meanwhile, check out these great photos of O.B. Left -- for a change, on the right! -- and his older brother, John. I took them yesterday (Saturday) from the West Deck of the Old Course Hotel. And, yes, that would be the venerable R&A Clubhouse in the distance directly between them.

Cool!










:golfcart2:

Other than perhaps a tv cameraman up in a cane tower , we were amongst the only people on earth with a view of the Road Holes tee and fairway at the same time. The players were quite literally hitting over the Hotel. The roof of the solarium some four floors beneath us was littered with balls. Those were great great times, Lynn.

The next day we traveled to Carnoustie. There were a couple of senior players in the group of ahead of us............Fred Funk and Bobby Clampett. I'll post a video of Bobby driving off from the 1st when I get back to a proper internet connection. His swing is really something.

As an aside , just hanging out with Yoda seems to help your game. I went out in one under par on Carnoustie in high winds. Acquired motion knock downed my way around the front. Sadly coming in the course got the better of me. Bogey bogey finish for a 76. Those closing holes are indeed nasty.

A couple of days Ill never forget.

It sounds like a great trip. The more I watched Links golf, something inside me says that this is the way golf should be played.

One under par on Carnoustie front Nine is great. Congrats.

Next: RBC Canadian Open. Your home town is host (almost). Looks like a beautiful Golf Course.

Ah its the Judge :D
Good to see that you had a good time over in Scotland. I'd bet Carnoustie was fun. Aren't they playing the Seniors there this week?
Sorry that we didn't managed to meet up during your stay but next time!
Alex

when Tiger won by 8 in 2000 it was a 'masterful performance', when Louis wins by 7 in 2010 it is boring - go figure :|

Thanks Alex.

I had a wonderful time over there. There'll be other opportunities, I hope.

The Judge and I played the King's course at Glenn Eagles on our way down to the Glasgow airport. Laid out by James Braid in the early part of the century and strikingly beautiful. A masterpiece.

Of the older classic golf courses in Canada , St George's is one of my personal favourites. A Stanley Thompson design from the golden era of Canadian rail travel between the wars.

I played it in mid May and the greens were already lightning quick. With the aprons shaved and some longish rough that course can be really difficult , especially around the greens. It'll be interesting to see how they set it up.

King's Course is the better out of the 3 layouts at Gleneagles in my opinion. Like you said its an older style James Braid layout, was the gorse out in full when you played? :crybaby:
Gleneagles is the home for the 2014 Ryder Cup which will be played on the PGA Centenary Course which you would have seen beside the practice ground at the bottom of the hill. A bit of a monster that was designed by Jack Nicklaus and as such has more of a man made look about it.
Alex

Im with you Alex, in fact I think I could play the King's course for the rest of my life and be quite happy. I was very impressed. A little piece of golf heaven in the Highlands.

Talkin' Golf -- My Continent or Yours?
 

Read the recent exchanges above -- Alex, Bambam, Daryl, GPStyles and O.B. Left -- then, ask yourself . . .

Is this a great place or what?

:occasion:

Hands across the sea
 

Welcome home Lynn.

Ill post some photos of our time at The Old Course Hotel when I get back from my tourney today. Including a photo of the best seat in golf, the bay window in the Solarium. One open window away from the play on the Road Hole's fairway. You could almost shake hands with the players if you wanted to. But you'd best not try. You have to stir you tea very quietly when in there.

Uh, the players dont like the flash photography very much either, or so I hear. Wouldnt know myself, although my "Come on Monty" didnt go over so well either. Not sure where that came from.

Its a good layout and that area of Scotland (Perthshire) is a wonderful place to be in and the scenary is stunning.
Another fact. The King's Course at Gleneagles was the home of the Scottish Open from 1987 till about 1994.
Also Glenegles was host of the G20 Summit a few years ago and the PGA Centenary Course holds the European Tour's Johnnie Walker Championship every year in August (winners include Adam Scott, Paul Casey)
Alex

If you get a chance here is the best seat in golf. The Old Course Hotels ground floor , tea room.

Thats Mrs Yoda taking in the action on the Road Hole on Saturday with The Judge.



http://www.lynnblakegolf.com/forum/a...d=127991851 2