Scotland and Ireland. As they say over there, there's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing. Ask the US Ryder Cup team! I have bad clothing. Something needs to be done about this. Found an inexpensive rain set, both the jacket and pants for $40. Done. That covers the wife in case she is walking with me and it starts. (If the weather is that bad from the get go, I wouldn't expect her to come with us on the course!) I already have a decent pair of rain pants that have been used once. Now, just need to replace my 6 year old Sun Mountain jacket. Enter the Adidas Storm Soft Shell. Lightweight AND super waterproof. Perfect for the trip.
Lining up Caddies. I have requested a Caddie at Kingsbarns, the Old Course, and Ballybunion. Figure I will use a push cart on the Jubilee just to get into links mode. And by the time we get to Adare, might as well ride since it will be the 5th round in 6 days and my wife can ride with me. It's the only course that openly has carts of the courses I'm playing. Having never played with a caddie before, this should be an interesting experience. I've been playing for over 30 years, and played in some competitive tournaments, but just never had a caddie. I'm interested to hear some of the stories and see how much they help me in my game. I'm hoping it leads me to a 75 or better on the Old Course! (Disclosure: I'm a 5.8 handicap.)
I found a brand new travel bag on clearance. Should fit the bill...a one time use time thing. And a stiff arm on close-out clearance at Dicks. Of course the clubs are set, and have two dozen brand new balls to take. Picked up some gloves including a pair of rain gloves at the member-guest this year. Only have worn my Adidas shoes a few times, so they are still "new" and waterproof. I think I might be ready for this trip!
Thursday, August 29, 2013
The plan
The initial prize consisted of 3 rounds in St Andrews; Kingsbarns, the Castle and Old Course. In Ireland it would be 2 rounds; the Old and Cashen at Ballybunion. We were supposed to stay at the guest house in Ballybunion, which is out of town and off the course. No biggie, just something different. Hey, it's the prize, it will be nice.
We had to book the trip by the end of May, and had to take the trip by the end of the year. Thinking of dates, I didn't want to go when it's too cold to enjoy a vacation, nor during rainy season (I know. I know.) nor during when it's just way too crowded. Plus, with my wife's schedule, September seemed to be the ideal time. Just had to work around the Dunhill Links which they moved up 2 weeks to the end of September this year. And other R&A club events at the Old. Plus pre-booked times. So we went back and forth and settled on leaving Labor Day. Cool.
Shortly after settling on the date, I checked the itinerary. It was updated showing the Jubilee course. Ok, no preference between the Castle or Jubilee. Going to play whatever the book. I also noticed that they changed the Cashen course at Ballybunion for Adare. Adare? A quick google search turns up that it's about 1.5 hours away. Will I have to rent a car for this? I don't want to drive over there if I don't have to, especially in Ireland with the tight roadways. Then I see that they have us staying in Adare. In an old stone hotel that's a few hundred years old. Kind of cool. Then I googled the golf course. It hosted back to back Irish Opens! Nice...but it also has the highest winning score since 1986.
So it is set. Leave Monday. Land Tuesday. Play Jubilee, Kingsbarns, the Old Course. Travel on Friday from Scotland to Ireland. Play Ballybunion and Adare. Come back home the following Monday. All set!
We had to book the trip by the end of May, and had to take the trip by the end of the year. Thinking of dates, I didn't want to go when it's too cold to enjoy a vacation, nor during rainy season (I know. I know.) nor during when it's just way too crowded. Plus, with my wife's schedule, September seemed to be the ideal time. Just had to work around the Dunhill Links which they moved up 2 weeks to the end of September this year. And other R&A club events at the Old. Plus pre-booked times. So we went back and forth and settled on leaving Labor Day. Cool.
Shortly after settling on the date, I checked the itinerary. It was updated showing the Jubilee course. Ok, no preference between the Castle or Jubilee. Going to play whatever the book. I also noticed that they changed the Cashen course at Ballybunion for Adare. Adare? A quick google search turns up that it's about 1.5 hours away. Will I have to rent a car for this? I don't want to drive over there if I don't have to, especially in Ireland with the tight roadways. Then I see that they have us staying in Adare. In an old stone hotel that's a few hundred years old. Kind of cool. Then I googled the golf course. It hosted back to back Irish Opens! Nice...but it also has the highest winning score since 1986.
So it is set. Leave Monday. Land Tuesday. Play Jubilee, Kingsbarns, the Old Course. Travel on Friday from Scotland to Ireland. Play Ballybunion and Adare. Come back home the following Monday. All set!
Receiving the Notice
It's a Friday, February 15. Get home at 5:15. Check the mail. A bill. Some junk mail. A large manila envelope. Nothing outstanding, so I go and change my clothes, grab a beverage, and sit to sort through it. I evidently can purchase a new mattress, no strings attached, that will change how I sleep forever. I owe Verizon something, including the bogus taxes and fees they tack on. I have a large envelope from Golf Digest with a hand written address to me. Wait. What? I don't have a GD subscription. Did I renew over Christmas? Did someone give me a gift subscription? Did I get one for attending a golf show? I'm confused. Why is it hand written? What is this? Inside is a letter addressed to me, dated yesterday. With RE: Rounds Around the World : Scotland/Ireland. Ok...time to read some more. "Congratulations! You have been selected as the winner, pending verification, of the Rounds Around the World: Scotland/Ireland sweepstakes." What??!!! Me?! Really?! Holy...
So I read it again. I stand up. I read it one more time. My wife is on the phone with her mom and I'm inching towards her. I tell her to get off the phone. She ignores me and keeps talking. I tell her to get off the phone. She halfway waves me off. No, I'm throwing the fastball here. Get off the phone. "Wait a minute mom, Brent is trying to tell me something..." "GET OFF THE PHONE. WE'RE GOING TO SCOTLAND AND IRELAND!" "Yeah, Mom, I gotta go." Click.
My heart is racing. My mind is running. I'm floating. I didn't even read past the first paragraph. She takes the letter and reads it. I take a huge drink and try to ensure the dogs that I'm not mad at them. On the second page, there is a contact name and number. Time to call. Of course, it's after 5pm on a Holiday weekend Friday. Didn't expect an answer, but it was worth a shot. Didn't get a live person, just left a voice mail. Hopefully she'll call me back. Soon. Hopefully. Because I will NOT be sleeping.
The trip is for two people. A golf trip, including airfare, hotel room, greens fees, a meal here and there. I'm going to be playing The Old Course. And Ballybunion. And Kingsbarns. I'm going to be in the Old Grey Toon. And Ireland. With my wife! We got married on St Patrick's Day. We attend and set up as a vendor at Celtic festivals. We both have heritage in both Scotland and Ireland. Not much, but enough. This can't be real. Only hiccup: she doesn't play golf. No, it's not worth her learning just for this trip. We'll just have to figure it out.
Inside the package was a few things that needed to be filled out by myself and travel companion. As part of this was a form that needed to be notarized and returned within 5 days. Business days or straight days? Monday is a President's Day. Sunday, no mail. And getting a notary at 5:30 on a Friday? Wait, the Banks have notaries on staff. We will just have to go get the forms filled out and sent back certified mail on Saturday. If things get wonky, I'm only out $5 or so. Time to google the courses, towns, weather, whisky, beer, weather, courses, weather.
It's finally Tuesday at lunchtime. My phone rings. It's the letter writer from Golf Digest/Conde Naste. She politely introduces herself and I tell her about receiving the letter.
"I just have a few questions. Is this real?!"
"Um, yeah, it's real."
"Ok, good. Am I the only one? It says pending further verification in the letter."
"Yes, you are the only one. The further verification includes the forms that we sent. When you get a chance, just return them to us completed."
"They are on their way to you right now and should be delivered by 2. One last question. I want to take my wife, but she doesn't golf. That won't be a problem will it?"
"Not at all. That's fine. Any other questions?"
"Um, no. I'm going to Scotland and Ireland!"
So I read it again. I stand up. I read it one more time. My wife is on the phone with her mom and I'm inching towards her. I tell her to get off the phone. She ignores me and keeps talking. I tell her to get off the phone. She halfway waves me off. No, I'm throwing the fastball here. Get off the phone. "Wait a minute mom, Brent is trying to tell me something..." "GET OFF THE PHONE. WE'RE GOING TO SCOTLAND AND IRELAND!" "Yeah, Mom, I gotta go." Click.
My heart is racing. My mind is running. I'm floating. I didn't even read past the first paragraph. She takes the letter and reads it. I take a huge drink and try to ensure the dogs that I'm not mad at them. On the second page, there is a contact name and number. Time to call. Of course, it's after 5pm on a Holiday weekend Friday. Didn't expect an answer, but it was worth a shot. Didn't get a live person, just left a voice mail. Hopefully she'll call me back. Soon. Hopefully. Because I will NOT be sleeping.
The trip is for two people. A golf trip, including airfare, hotel room, greens fees, a meal here and there. I'm going to be playing The Old Course. And Ballybunion. And Kingsbarns. I'm going to be in the Old Grey Toon. And Ireland. With my wife! We got married on St Patrick's Day. We attend and set up as a vendor at Celtic festivals. We both have heritage in both Scotland and Ireland. Not much, but enough. This can't be real. Only hiccup: she doesn't play golf. No, it's not worth her learning just for this trip. We'll just have to figure it out.
Inside the package was a few things that needed to be filled out by myself and travel companion. As part of this was a form that needed to be notarized and returned within 5 days. Business days or straight days? Monday is a President's Day. Sunday, no mail. And getting a notary at 5:30 on a Friday? Wait, the Banks have notaries on staff. We will just have to go get the forms filled out and sent back certified mail on Saturday. If things get wonky, I'm only out $5 or so. Time to google the courses, towns, weather, whisky, beer, weather, courses, weather.
It's finally Tuesday at lunchtime. My phone rings. It's the letter writer from Golf Digest/Conde Naste. She politely introduces herself and I tell her about receiving the letter.
"I just have a few questions. Is this real?!"
"Um, yeah, it's real."
"Ok, good. Am I the only one? It says pending further verification in the letter."
"Yes, you are the only one. The further verification includes the forms that we sent. When you get a chance, just return them to us completed."
"They are on their way to you right now and should be delivered by 2. One last question. I want to take my wife, but she doesn't golf. That won't be a problem will it?"
"Not at all. That's fine. Any other questions?"
"Um, no. I'm going to Scotland and Ireland!"
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