Academia, Old Tom Morris and a London Letdown

[Noel Mugavin]

Got to the little hut on the left where a couple of gentlemen greeted me, took my bag and set it up on a pull cart. Gave me a run down of the course, where the driving range was and then invited me to go and explore the clubhouse.

Looking at the starter's hut and the general direction of the first hole



The upstairs male changerooms




View from the changeroom


Wall of the staircase


Into the pro shop to pick up a ball marker and some balls. Only arrived in Scotland with 11 balls, 5 of them were lost during my round the day prior, so though it was prudent to grab some more. Bit taken aback by the cost of 3 balls wasn't til later in the trip I realised I had picked up a sleeve of Kingsbarns logo balls.
Back outside and time to head to the range

Beautiful range, unlimited balls, as it should be for the price you pay to play here. Shoulder price was 400 pounds, which as a bargain as high season price is 486 pounds.
The course had only opened for the season a week prior, so everything was in pristine condition.
Kingsbarns is absolutely beautiful, I took a lot pf photos and doubt any of them do it justice.


Back to have a putt by the practice green by the clubhouse

 

[Noel Mugavin]

My 2 playing partners, although I didn't know it yet. Chilean couple, both much better golfers than me. Nice people, for the life of me I can't remember their names, both stereotypical South American names though. They had both lived between the US and Chile since 2020 as the lady of the couple attended college on golf scholarship


Tee time, starter met us, gave a spiel about the course and suggested what tees to go off to optimise the enjoyment of the round. Also handed us a bag of goodies, included ball marker and pitch mark tool, heap of tees, scorecard, course guide and a personalised bag tag.
Also took photo of us teeing off - wont subject anyone to viewing that.
Looking down the first fairway.


Beautiful day, little wind, no sign of rain, a little bit of a chill

Looking down toward the par 3 second. GIR, 3 putt.

Par 5 third, hugging the coast

Not me fortunately


Heading back toward the clubhouse on the fourth.
Me this time.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Back across a road and to the main bulk of the property and just stunning views from every hole

On in 2, but a really challenging pin position. Happy to 3 putt bogey

Bottom corner, sloping downwards





Par 3 8th, beautiful hole

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Par5 9th



Blind pitching wedge out of the rough and if you look closely you can see I've pulled one out of my proverbial

Not my ball, but you can see my marker just to the right of the stick shadow

Nice little birdie to go into half time





Heading out on the back 9

 

[Noel Mugavin]

One of my playing partners parents and sister were holidaying in Scotland and joined us for the walk on the back 9. Quite the entourage we had now.

Managed to avoid the bunker and par the 11th


Then moved on to the most beautiful part of the course - holes 12 to 14












Think I doubled the par 5, my male companion though made me feel better when he had bunker trouble, eventually getting out on his third try, but sending his ball into the North Sea.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Looking back across the bay to the tee box of 12



Par 3 13th





Female member of our group struck bunker trouble on this one. Didn't get out at all and called it quits on this hole. Think I bogeyed

Looking back to 12 and 13





Par3 15th

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Last 3 holes

 

[Noel Mugavin]

18th, about a hundred out and surprisingly hadn't lost a ball. Should be an easy wedge on to the green.
Nope, chunked it, into the burn, lost ball.



Burn I hit in to and the bridge I believe they found while excavating the course, keeping it as a feature of the course. Playing partner at the drop zone, where I was also heading.

From the 18th green


To the 18th green


Back at the clubhouse, loving golf, Scotland and life again. On a high and rewarded myself by dropping way too much on merch in the pro shop.


Back to the car park, quick last shot of the driving range


Back to St Andrews clubhouse to register for the next days Old Course ballot, then back to the room for a nap.
Kingsbarns goody bag

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Little bit after 5 received notification re the ballot for the next day. Wasn't going to push my and couldn't confirm my spot quick enough.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Early evening, time to go onto town to grab a bite to eat. As became my routine, parked by the links clubhouse and strolled along the course and took ti all in.





Old Course starter's hut



There's benches at the back of the 18th green and always people sitting, chatting, taking it all in. Plonked myself there for 20 minutes or so, saw some good shots, saw some bad shots, but everyone seemed to have a smile on their face. Got chatting to an older American bloke, Keith, told me he was on the Old Course the next day. Matter of fact Keith, so am I. He was teeing off an hour or so earlier than me, but I was happy to share my good news with somebody.



Went for more of a wander


Legacy of Old Tom Morris looms large across St Andrews




Looking up the 18th fairway

 

[Wanderlust_tim]

Congratulations! Really looking forward to hearing all about your round on the old course

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Road crossing guard






Absolutely beautiful late afternoon




You can get close and personal on the road hole green

Plenty of walking paths around the golf courses

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Back to the main area of town for something to eat; its only 2 streets in from the Old Course









Back to the car

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Up early and definitely a bit of a pep in the step. Little wander around the old abbey.








Then down to the Eden clubhouse and range area.
Looking down the 16th fairway of the Old Course






Path runs alongside and in between the Old and Eden Courses.


Looking into the driving range facility

Back towards the town

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Chipping area of the driving range


First tee of the Eden Course



Back to the hotel for a little while, then back down to the Links Clubhouse. Up to the rooftop for a few shots
Himalayas Putting Course
Beautiful morning, little bit of wind

Group ready to tee off on the first


Picked up a coffee from a little van. Lady serving me asked where I was from. Turns out her sister and brother in law lived in Perth.
Went for a little stroll, picked up a sandwich and some nuts for the afternoon ahead

 

[Logan^]

Nice pics around Edinburgh. Regrading teh airport....yes the locals and visitors have all.been having moan and much new work and expansion has been in the making/planning. Bottom line the airport has expanded beyond it's capacity with traffic and pax throughout over recent years. It now seriously needs to make sure the airport matches pax levels.

Its been about three years now but had to fly into Edinburgh twice in the space of two weeks and the experience was deadset awful. Security was ridiculously long, crowded and yeah a complete zoo. I will see how it compares to Manilla in a few weeks.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Back to the car and clubhouse to get changed, on the way stopped at the starter's hut. You have to provide evidence of a handicap below 28. I had made sure I had that certification printed out and in my hand luggage on the way over and checked I had it every day. Now, stupidly, on the day I actually needed it, I had left it at the accommodation. I do also have the Golf Australia app on my phone which also has it, but I just asked if I could show it now in case my wifi was down when I actually checked in. He told me not to worry, I'd be fine. Took his word for it, but was worried.
Weather holding out.

Into the club rooms and changed into my gear









Into the car for the short 3 minute or so drive to the range






4r minutes or so the range, nice and loose, then back to the links clubhouse to park the car and up to the rooftop to survey the scene


Quite the hive of activity on a Tuesday morning

 

[Noel Mugavin]

First on the Jubilee Course

18th of the the New Course

First tee on the New, 2nd and 17th fairways of the Old Course the other side of the gorse bush.
A hell of a lot of golf in a small area of land

Himalayas, walking path, 1st and 18th fairways of the Old Course

Stairs to the rooftop viewing area


The walk to my tee time




Went to the Old Course Pavilion, checked in, paid my 300 odd pounds, wifi worked, showed my handicap, got my goodies bag, then went for a putt

Tee time. Met my playing partners, Warwick and Connor, young Scottish blokes from Dundee and Steve (I think), older bloke from the US.
1st tee, wide fairway, a few people watching and if not nerves, definitely a bit of a tingle running through the body.

No dramas, 220 plus straight down the middle
Off I go, looking back to the tee box. My caddie just off to the side, more on him a little later on

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Got my yardage from my caddie Peter, once we clarified I was working in metres and not yards. 110 metres, just need to navigate the burn and I'm putting.
To Peter - 77 years old, cancer survivor and has had a hip replacement. And if you think I felt guilty and like a piece of cough for having a 77 year old cancer survivor who's had a hip replacement lug my bag around for 4 and a half hours, you'd be 100% correct

My ball on the edge of the green, 2 putt par, easy game

Get up and personal with players on the Himalayas


Warwick teeing off and the 2nd

Not such an easy game, doubled the second. Couldn't be unhappy though, this place has a magic feel to it.

Shepherds hut on the Eden Course.
One thing I hadn't realised about the Old Course was how undulating it was, gets quite severe in places



Greens are massive