Back from Scotland

I shot 68 (-3) last Saturday, tying my all-time best. This after I almost missed my teetime by getting stuck in a 7AM traffic jam, only having time to hit 3 practice putts before my group was on the tee. The 68, strangely, felt like the highest I could have scored: I missed five putts of five feet or less. I hit solid drives and sharp approaches (11 birdie opportunities under 15 feet) and I stayed away from trouble by hitting the right clubs and sticking to routine. I made some, but not all, my putts.

I now know exactly what it takes to go out and shoot in the low 60's, but I know enough that I could just as easily go out next time and shoot 81. I hit 17 greens and the one I missed on #2, I nearly holed out a tough bunker shot. I missed a 5 foot birdie putt on the par 3 4th, and another on the 8th which turned into a three putt. But then I birdied 10 and 12, two of the hardest holes on the course and the two easiest 15th and 16th, just missing a 4 foot eagle putt on 16. I then missed two more very short putts on 17 and 18, leaving me stunned but still pleased with the round. I could have really gone low.

I returned from a golf trip to Scotland a few weeks ago with friends and played some of the historic/best/storied golf courses in the world. In a week, we played St. Andrews The Old Course, St. Andrews Castle Course, Kingsbarns twice, Carnoustie, Troon, Prestwick and Turnberry. Golf is much, much harder in Scotland. Part of it is the weather conditions, where 30 mph winds and driving rain describe some of the nicer days; part of it is the difference in turf, where the ball just does not sit up nicely on Scottish fairways as it does in calm Westchester or Long Island courses; some of it is the fescue which can swallow balls hit even slightly offline. Whatever it is, it's same game, but golf in Scotland is more complex and requires more creativity than stateside golf.

During the back nine at Carnoustie (the site of Jean Van de Velde's epic meltdown at the 1999 British Open), on a 460 yard par 4, downwind, I hit a Driver and 9-iron on the green but well past the pin, approximately 480 yards. On the 17th hole, playing into the wind, I was unable to reach the green with two of my best drivers on a 380 yard par 4. Forgetting about how a 30+ mph wind makes your swing unstable, you need creativity and trust to hit a 5 iron 130 yards into the wind or a 9 iron 175 yards downwind. Small mistakes are magnified and many of the best shots are not rewarded.

(Carnoustie 18th)

I went from playing unfamiliar courses in tough conditions back to where I've played hundreds of times in near perfect conditions. We will see if I can continue this momentum into the club championship starting in just two and a half weeks.

Turnberry

Turnberry

Troon

St. Andrews Castle

The Road Hole