On The Road to Schytherbolle

One of the Magnificent seven

Photgraph from Islay's Harbour Inn and Restaurant

Just as France has its wine regions Scotland has it Whisky regions.
Malt Whisky is classified by the location of the distillery where it was made. The four main categories are - Highland, Speyside, Lowland and Islay. There are seven working distilleries on Islay and one on the neighbouring island of Jura, all international known for the fine malt whisky they produce.

And here's THE best link I've found so far for Whisky tours and background to the distilleries.

And by the way Islay Whisky Festival 2005 is on 28th May to 5th June 2005.

Ah yes! Such is the stuff that dreams are made of.

Machrie

As David Brice at GolfWeb reminds us Islay (Whisky Island) is pronounced 'eye-lah'
David also reminds us.
Remote as Machrie is today, it was even more so in 1901, when it hosted the richest Open event of its time with a prize of a princely one hundred pounds. So important was this event perceived that the Great Triumvirate, comprising of Harry Vardon, John Taylor and James Braid, all journeyed to Machrie to join the field.

And no! Bowmore, Ardbeg, Bunnahabhain, Bruichladdich, Caol Ila, Lagavulin and Laphroig are not the names of some of the holes at Machrie.
And if you don't recognize the names. Have you ever got a treat in store after you've first played Machrie. That of course assumes you're not averse to a wee dram or two.

Ferry terminal at Kennacraig

And here's where we headed for on Whisky Island


Port Askaig Hotel
is a picturesque, family run Highland Inn on the shores of the Sound of Islay, overlooking the pier at which daily car ferries berth on arrival from the Scottish mainland.
If you look down to the left you'll see where your boat comes in.
Now come on you can't get much closer to your hotel than that.

Good golfing at the weekend

Skipness Castle

Before rushing off to Whisky Island.
Stay at Skipness Castle
Follow A83, signed Campbeltown, through Tarbert (Loch Fyne). Continue on A83 and ½ mile after Kennacraig ferry terminal take B8001 to Skipness. Pass Claonaig ferry terminal. Drive through Skipness village, over hump-back bridge and through gates immediately on right.

And here's very good link to other Scottish castles where you can stay.

Won't be going there but just had to add this wee photo and loved their slogan.

"The most northerly Castle Hotel in the World"


Balfour Castle Balfour, Isle of Shapinsay, Orkney Isles

Torrisdale Castle

Since we hurried to Machrihanish on the A83.
It's time to take the B roads (B842 and B8001) back to Tarbert and the ferry to Whisky Island

I'm also informed on good authority that somewhere along the B842 near to Campbeltown is the location of Paul McCartney's Scottish Farmhouse - And here's some local goss and background to Paul McCartney's "Mull of Kintyre".

In the 1970s Paul McCartney bought an old farmhouse and converted some of the out buildings into a recording studio, and when he married Linda they did up the house.
They used to spend every summer up there when the children were small, saying it was the one place in the world they could feel free to "be themselves".
The idea of the "Mull of Kintyre" came to Paul on a walk by the sea where the mist frequently comes rolling in from the sea.
He got the local Pipe Band together for a backing session and had a barbecue on the beach after the recording had been made.

Also B prepared to stopover at Torrisdale Estate

Torrisdale Estate has its own sandy beach and a small rowing boat is available for mackerel fishing or just splashing about. (Life jackets available). Explore the 1500 acres of the Torrisdale Estate. For golfers there is a challenging and very "tricky" 9 hole course at Carradale (we give 2 free rounds per holiday except in July & August for this)
Anything coming FREE from a Scotsman has to be worth investigating.

About 2 miles away is the attractive fishing village of Carradale, which has a Post Office, several shops, bars and restaurants. There is also a Heritage Centre which has some very interesting displays, activities for children and a very good tea-room. Boating and fishing are available

Machrie is situated on Whisky Island so we'd better be off
But first some homework on where we're heading

Andrew Penner, Staff Writer for www.worldgolf.com writes in -
Machrihanish and Machrie: Scotland's Faraway Links

"But if you want to expand your horizons, get really adventurous, throw a little remoteness into the mix, then I know just the place (Machrie) -- and now, so do you."

Aye that whets my appetite and not just for a wee dram on Whisky Island

Here 'tis the toughest opening hole in the world, with the largest lateral water hazard in the world? - The Atlantic Ocean

Here's a link to a great report on Machrihanish

If you've not already visited Machrihanishs' web site go there now you won't be disappointed.
Just be patient it can take a wee while to load

Fore more info on this photgraph click here

Feast your eyes on this over the weekend.
And good golfing.

Seeya Monday unless you've already made off for Machrihanish

My daughter has a passion for Highland cows so this one's for you Mhairi.

But please note - Fur coats are not necessary on the Mull of Kintyre since there's a wee stream called the Gulf Stream closeby the Mull.

From the same Kintyre web site that gave us the Highland coo we are reminded that -

"Kintyre is a golfers paradise with two 18 holes courses and 3 nine hole courses in the one small peninsula. Access to the courses is easy and green fees are low.
The 18 hole courses are at Machrihanish and Dunaverty (Southend), with the 9 hole courses being at Carradale, Tarbert and on the Island of Gigha"

And we're also told the gardens of Gigha are a great sight and proof of the presence of the Gulf Stream.

Fore more info on the above visit golfweb.com

Here's a wee bit about Old Tom from the golfweb page.

"Old Tom was truly an early master of golf course "routing" -- the task whereby the general layout and direction of the golf holes are first determined. He established the technique of "double loop routing," in which each nine holes returns to the clubhouse."

Now why did I think the 9th green routing was an American country club idea for those who can't wait to have a cocktail?

Alas Old Tom didn't manage it at Royal Dornoch
- To quote the club's web site

"The great Tom Morris came up from St Andrews and laid out 9 proper golf holes. Three years later another 9 holes were added and the fame of the Dornoch course started to spread, even across the Atlantic to America."

Aye it's lang walk back tae the clubhouse if you've forgotten your hip flask and in desperate need of a wee dram.

David Joy the golf historian, and many other talents, has produced a video about Old Tom
KEEPER OF THE GREENS and is a must add to anyone's collection.

So what's the above got to do with going down to Mach?

Well unless you've got rocks in your head or had too many Scotches on the rocks, you'll want to spend a few days, way down there. And just so you don't leave the locals thinking you're a newbie from the New World. Or a Sassenach wi' nae sense of golfing history. You'd better start doing some 101 homework. Starting with knowing something about Old Tom.

PS
One of my very favourite golf writers John Huggan - of course he's a (fighting) Scotsman,has just posted "Was Lehman really the best PGA could do?"

WARNING The content in Huggan's article is HEAVY stuff especially if you like Lehman.

And just in case you're not a Scotsman and have difficulty with Huggan's "heid the ba's" phraseology. John's suggesting their thought processes were about as lucid as a Scotsman who's had way too many wee drams.

The above boat looks nothing like the PT boat that came to take General Douglas MacArthur away from Corregidor to the relative safety of Mindanao.

But it does look like the boat that took me to Islay (The Whisky Island) in the days of my youth. And "I shall return!" to Tarbert and Islay as soon as I've popped down to Mach of which it's been said by Old Tom Morris

"The Almichty maun hae had gowf in his e'e when he made the place" - Or someone like it.

Or according to the club's web site something more like.
"Providence assuredly designed this part of the country as a special earthly Paradise."

Fore more info visit

Tarbert Golf Club, founded in 1932 has a small but challenging 9 hole golf course.

Just outside the beautiful and tranquil village of Tarbert is its local golf course.
Set on the rolling landscape aside the picturesque West Loch, this compact but challenging 9 hole golf course is perfect for golfers of all levels

Enjoy the time relaxing here because at the next golfing stop it gets a whole lot tougher.
The golf course with what's been described as one of, if not THE toughest opening hole in the world.

Tarbert 

Before moving on to Tarbert I've got to tell you there is a golf course at Tighnabruaich.

There's a hilly moorland course of nine intriguing holes all with magnificent views of the Kyles of Bute, Arran and Loch Fyne. There are no bunkers, but there are more than suffient other traps including burns and aitenes, big rough, long carries over heather and whin and a blind hole

Sometimes some thing or some place comes along and you've got to as Walter "The Haig" Hagen said. "Stop and smell the flowers along the way."

We're halfway round the Kyles of Bute on our way to "Whisky Island"
and The Royal at Tighnabruaich is just that kind of place.

"In that never ending search for the tourist free destination, Tighnabruaich is near the top of the list. Tighnabruaich is a gem of a Victorian highland fishing village, with craft shops and a Lifeboat station, and is about an hour and a halfs drive west of Glasgow through a beautiful landscape of sea, islands and deserted peninsulas."

If you are the ultimate golf addict, you could take a quick trip back doon the water to Rothesay Golf Club

And for those who think you're mad to leave the tranquility of Tighnabruaich.
Advise them you're broadening your horizons as per the comments on the club's web site.

"Most extensive and enhancing views are to be had, embracing elevated ground in no less than seven Scottish counties. The Bays of Rothesay and Port Bannatyne, with the Kyles of Bute and Loch Striven, lie spread out like an extensive lake, which, with on the one hand the sound of Bute and on the other the majestic sweep of the Firth of Clyde from the Cloch to the Cumbrae and Garroch Head present a sea vista unsurpassed for variety and beauty."

They say Glasgow (s)miles better.
And hopefully a lot better than the last time I was there.
Mind you that was a wee while ago.
I'm going to pass on through Glasgow.
Give the Ayrshire courses a miss and head for a trip "doon the water".
Glaswegians who say they are "Goin' doon the water" are informing you that they are going to take a pleasurable sail usually on a MacBrayne's boat from Gourock to Dunoon and sometimes further "doon the water" to a place called Tighnabruaich
Try and say that place name if you've had a few wee drams while goin' doon the water.

Here's the map of where we're heading.
All the way from Gourock on the Clyde to "Whisky Island". Otherwise known as The Isle of Islay with a wee stopover at "The Mach"(Machrihanish).

But first a round (of golf-not wee drams yet) at Gourock.
Here's a fabulous photo taken from the 9th tee
The course boasts spectacular views of the River Clyde, "Doon the water" and the Argyllshire Hills

Just knew I'd read supporting evidence somewhere.
So here's validation on my thoughts about Bridge of Allan

This item is from niblickgolf.com June 1998 Newsletter

"Back in a time machine to Scotland to visit a remarkable nine-hole course nearly untouched since Old Tom Morris designed it in 1895. I consider the Bridge of Allan to be my favorite nine-hole course in all of the British Isles."

So you can go there and when you return home, you can say how you'd played on the Old Tom Morris golf course - You don't have to say it wasn't the Old Course.
And think of the money you'll have saved.

The clubhouse on..The bonnie, bonnie banks O' Loch Lomond.

But not before revisiting my old home club Glenbervie.

Aye gentleman John Panton (now Honorary Professional R & A) is long gone as the club pro but a recent wee note from him says he's still hitting the wee white ba' and beating his age very frequently.
I guess when you've got you never lose it.
Here's a photo of Glenbervie's 14th called Braid's - Named after James Braid - Yes THE James Braid who was the course architect

Oh by the way there's a wee gem of a 9 hole course just up the road from Glenbervie.
Here's what someone posted on the web about Bridge of Allan

Hilly as hell,tight as a ducks ----blind summits,WALLS,Bunkers,TREES ,Stupendous veiws.
This stunningly beautifull little gem of a course is the "Diamond of central Scotland"

If B of A is the diamond what does that make Loch Lomond?

One more stop before leaving the Kingdom.



Pitreavie



Located in Dunfermline - The Home of Andrew Carnegie

What you've never heard of Andrew Carnegie?

You've obviously never been to Skibo to play golf.



And by the way if you're an admirer of Dr Alister MacKenzie

you've got to play Pitreavie.

The good Doc had a hand in designing it.



Good golfing at the weekend

Having been there and...well you know the rest.
I've prioritized my time in The Kingdom and decided on Kingsbarns.

And for those of you who have a life beyond the clubhouse gates.
Here's some great shots of the wee village.

As you'll read - Kingsbarns is a conservation village.
And lovers of good old Scottish pubs - take note.
Not far from here is The 19th Hole public house that has been serving the community of Earlsferry for over 200 years.

And just in case you miss popping into the BRITISH GOLF MUSEUM in St Andrews.
Here's the link

And did you know that according to the Museum's FAQs

Why is BOGEY so called?
The term originated from the mythical golfer, Colonel Bogey, a player of high amateur standard who was held to play every hole of a given course in the standard stroke score. The meaning of the term has changed over the years. It is now most commonly used to denote a score of one stroke over par, but was originally the target score that a good amateur should achieve on a given course. In the same way par became associated with the target score for professionals. For a while the two terms were interchangeable until par became the standard term.

Time to decide, which course after Scotscraig?
Since I've already played the Old Course I'll pass on the Old Lady.

However won't pass on passing on this bit of information about the Old Course.
If you're determined to play there no matter how long it takes to get a tee time.
Chances are you'll enjoy the experience but not the golf course.
I'm not the first person to make this comment but in need of someone of higher standing to back me up - I'll quote David Fay, Executive Director of the USGA.

'Anyone who raves about the Old Course after just one or two rounds there is either a liar or a fool,'

However I won't pass on having a wee dram at The Road Hole Bar at the Old Course Hotel

And after tasting one or two of the 174 malts they have available, I'll probabbly end up in my cups and advise those who'll listen that when I first played the Old Course the Railway Sheds were still in existence.
Ah yes tempus fugit indeed

The Kingdom of Fife
Many many years ago an old golfing friend would reprimand me when I spoke of Fife or Fifeshire.
"It's the Kingdom of Fife laddie!"
And so now having left Carnoustie we've arrived in the Kingdom of Fife.

Arriving here is a bit like a child looking at all his or her Xmas presents and trying to decide which one should be the first to be opened.
For us golfers it's a question of which golf course.
Here's a link with 48 "Xmas presents"

And starting with not the Old Course but the New Course.
Of course as you should be aware if you've done your travel homework - New in Scotland is a very relative term.
In this case the New Course - Opened in 1895 and laid out by Tom Morris, it is considered by many as one of the best courses on the (St Andrews) links.

So where do we start on our trip through the Kingdom?
Well since we've just come across the Tay Road Bridge and entered the Kingdom from the North. Let's stop at Scotscraig.

According to the Scotscraig's web site
With many whin bushes and the rolling nature of the fairways the course is quite demanding, but, at the same time, interesting. Players of all levels will find a day's golf at Scotscraig truly enjoyable.
As to where to stay before moving on to St Andrews try The Drumoig Hotel Golf Resort
Now repeat after me! Drum - oy (The oy as in boy) - g (The g as in guid god does it cost that much to stay there)
And there will be no repeat of this process in trying to explain how to pronounce nearby Auchtermuchty.
And by the way this is THE link to view all the Kingdom of Fife courses on one map