Golf Courses I Have Played

These are all golf courses I have played. I have been very fortunate to play these wonderful golf courses.

Some of these course you will recognize, perhaps some you have played.

I have included each golf courses website.

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Kingsbarns Golf Links - Kingsbarns, Fife, Scotland

http://www.kingsbarns.com/

6th Hole - Auld Links - Par 4 (318 Yards)

First Played in July 2006
Last Played in August 2013

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Royals St, George's Golf Club - Sandwich, Kent, England

http://www.royalstgeorges.com/

6th Hole - The Maiden - Par 3 (176 Yards)

First Played in July 1989
Last Played in August 1993
Visited in August 2012
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Baltusrol Golf Club (Lower Course) - Springfield, New Jersey, United States

http://www.baltusrol.org/Club/Scripts/Home/home.asp

18th Hole Par 5 (511 Yards)

First Played in August 2009
Last Played in August 2009
Last Visited in July 2013
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Peterhead Golf Club (Craigewan Links) - Peterhead, Scotland

http://www.peterheadgolfclub.co.uk/main.htm

17th Hole Par 4 (316 Yards)

First Played August 2010
Last Played August 2013
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Brighouse Bay Golf Club - Borgue, Kirkcubright, Scotland

http://www.brighousebay-golfclub.co.uk/

3rd Hole Par 3 (156 Yards)

First Played August 2013
Last Played August 2013
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Indian Wells Golf Resort (Players Course)  - Indian Wells, California, United States

http://www.indianwellsgolfresort.com/index.php

18th Hole Par 4 (416 Yards)

First Played December 2008
Last Played December 2012
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Chambers Bay - University Place, Washington, United States

http://www.chambersbaygolf.com

14th Hole - Cape Fear - Par 4 (407 Yards)

First Played October 2007
Last Played June 2008
Last Visited January 2014
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Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (Bandon Dunes) - Bandon, Oregon, United States

http://www.bandondunesgolf.com/

16th Hole Par 4 (345 Yards)

First Played October 2004
Last Played December 2013

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Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (Pacific Dunes) - Bandon, Oregon, United States

http://www.bandondunesgolf.com/

11th Hole Par 3 (131 Yards)

First Played October 2004
Last Played January 2014
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Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (Bandon Trails)  - Bandon, Oregon, United States

http://www.bandondunesgolf.com/

5th Hole Par 3 (124 Yards)

First Played February 2007
Last Played February 2007
Last Visited December 2013
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Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (Old Macdonald Golf Links) - Bandon, Oregon, United States

http://www.bandondunesgolf.com/

3rd Hole - Sahara - Par 4 (345 yards)

First Played December 2013
Last Played December 2013
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St. Andrews Links (Old) - St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland

http://www.standrews.org.uk/

18th Hole - Tom Morris - Par 4 (355 Yards)

First Played July 1989
Last Played July 2012
Last Visited August 2013
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St. Andrews Links (New) - St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland

http://www.standrews.org.uk/

18th Hole Par 4 (408 yards)

First Played July 1989
Last Played August 2013
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St. Andrews Links (Jubilee) - St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland

http://www.standrews.org.uk/

1st Hole - Willie Auchterlonie -Par 4 (337 Yards)

First Played July 2002
Last Played August 2011
Last Visited August 2013
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Old Musselburgh Golf Links

Visitors from all over the world have come and played on this historic course and so can you! Open to the public all year round, you can experience a piece of golfing history and for a truly unique experience you can hire hickory clubs and play the course as it was in its heyday!

Please browse through the website to discover more of the course’s unique history, learn about our membership opportunities and please feel free to submit your comments on any experiences you have had with the oldest golf course in the world.

http://www.musselburgholdlinks.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11&Itemid=16

A warm welcome to Musselburgh Links, The Old Golf Course, officially recognised by Guinness World Records as the “oldest golf course in the world”.

(The above text is from the official website of "Musselburgh Links")

http://www.musselburgholdlinks.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=frontpage&Itemid=1

 



Andrew Clarkson is a member of the Musselburgh Links that I met in August of 2011 while playing as a single. We arranged another game in August of 2012. We now call this event the International Championship. (more details to follow)





The following are photos and video taken in August of 2012 at "Musselburgh Links The Old Golf Course".


1st Hole Par 3 -  The Short Hole

(The tee has been relocated beside the new clubhouse and pro shop.
The hole now plays over 225 yards, perhaps a name change is needed)

http://www.musselburgholdlinks.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11&Itemid=16

 

1st Green

(Notice the race track in the background, no horses running today.)




2nd Hole - The Graves

(Picture is taken from behind the
green looking back up the fairway.)

*From Website*

http://www.musselburgholdlinks.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10&Itemid=17

"Beware of the two hidden bunkers on this hole.  They are approximately, three quarters of the way down the fairway!

History Trivia: It has been suggested that this may have been a burial ground for soldiers who died at the Battle of Pinkie in 1547. They were buried on Musselburgh Links to discourage golfers from playing there, as golf was frowned upon at that time.

 


Mrs. Forman's Bar & Kitchen is directly

behind the 4th green.

 

Does this door lead to the old pub where Old Tom Morris decided to wait out the boisterous and unruly crowd when playing a match against Musselburgh's Champion Golfer Willie Park Sr.?

I took this picture in July of 2010 while flying over Edinburgh on my return to Scotland. I noticed the golf course inside the race track and knew it had to be "The Old Musselburgh Golf Links". I had yet to play there, but being a past Open venue, it was certainly on my list. The spring of 2010 was considerably drier than the spring of 2012.

  

Driving Across the 18th and 1st fairways of the Old Course, St. Andrews Scotland

Friendships and Golf

Friendship and golf go together like titanium and urethane. The correct combination can take you a long way. Looking at my cell phone contacts, almost all of the people have two things in common: friendship and golf.

Two friends I miss playing golf with are Don Day and my Dad. Don’s company was a pleasure and he was always complimentary towards your good shots. Don also had the great ability to share a different story on the golf course without ever repeating himself. His tremendous sense of humor never prevented him from having the utmost focus on the shot at hand. I believe Don’s passion for the game was exceeded only by his love of people. Four hours on the golf course is time well spent with friends. Unfortunately, the only bad thing about a round of golf with friends is that it must end. My last round of golf with Don was in 2004 before he passed away.

Another “friend” I miss playing golf with is my Dad. It has been a few years since we played golf and I wish we could have golfed more. Dad enjoyed his golf with friends and would be quick to organize a game wherever, whenever and with whomever. I always respected his knowledge of the rules of the game without compromise, even if it was to his disadvantage. Although Dad may not have been a scratch player, he liked to compete. I have never seen anyone so pleased to par the last hole at the Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland to shoot 98. Why? He won the match by one shot after receiving his allotment of strokes. I also never saw my Dad get angry on a golf course. Something I am still working on today, but this has been greatly improving of late.

Friendship can also develop from healthy competition. The 1977 Open Championship comes to mind. Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson had the utmost respect for each other after their “Duel in the Sun”. A great friendship would develop, after their battles on the golf course were finished.

I may not have seen a friend for a few years, but after a few holes of golf, it is like we never missed a day of contact. Enduring friendships seem to be the norm for those who play golf together. Golf Digest has a section dedicated to “Buddies Trips” with some great stories about friends and their exploits together.

A day on the golf course should be an enjoyable experience. Golf has a unique way of bringing out the best in all of us. Just ask your friends. I am sure they have some fabulous insights into your current psyche after 18 holes of golf. Excuse me, my phone is ringing. I am certain it will be a friend calling to make a tee time.

Bill & Jim

Craig Roth and son Cody

Nick, Ryan, Brad, Scott & Gord
Baltusrol Golf Club 2009

Brad & Al
Iron Man Winners KGCC 2010

Glen & Bill

Harry and Friends in Ireland

Don & Malcom
St. Andrews Caddies

Monte & Bernie
2009 Ogopogo

Soroka Family @ St. Andrews 2007

Fifi & Preban from Denmark
Kingsbarns Scotland 2008



Phil & James
Kingsbarns Scotland 2007



Krista & Nate
Kingsbarns Scotland 2010

Bernie & Christa
2010 KGCC

Greg & Dan
2008 KGCC Club Championship Final (35th Hole)

Baltusrol Caddies

Gail @ St. Andrews 2007

Gord & Phil
Kingsbarns Scotland 2007

Nick & Gord
Chambers Bay Golf Course
University Place, Washington

Lionel & Lindsay
KGCC Club Championship Final 1st Hole
Lindsay Club Champion for 2010

Kim & Mike
Balburnie Park Golf Club
Scotland 2008

Mike & Gord
Indian Wells
Palm Springs
2008

Sandy and Robin
Burnside Course
Carnoustie Scotland

Norm & Sherry
KGCC Club Championship 2008
Norm Champion for 2008

Billy, Patti & Jeff
Anthem Golf CLub
Arizona 2008

Mike, Sam & Billy
Murcar Links Golf Club
Aberdeen, Scotland 2010

Indian Wells 2008
Mike & Friends

Scott, Brad & Nick
1st Tee @ Baltusrol Golf Club 2009

Ally, Gord & Daffyd
1st Tee Old Course
St. Andrews, Scotland
August 2010

Photos from a Summer in Scotland

St. Andrews

Carnoustie 18th Tee

18th Green @ Kingsbarns in a Mist or Scottish Haar.

The 5th hole @ Anstruther Golf Course (The Rockies...and yes this is Par 3)

1st Tee Royal Aberdeen

Kingsbarns Golf Links #2 (Par 3)

Just the other side of Barry Burn @ Carnoustie's 18th

18th Tee Shot @ Ladybank Golf Course

1st and 18th Holes @ The Old Course (R&A Clubhouse, Hamilton Hall, and Swilcan Burn)

1st and 18th Holes @ The Old Course (R&A Clubhouse, Hamilton Hall, and Swilcan Burn)

The Old Course and the Town of St. Andrews

Kingsbarns Golf Links Hole #3

Peterhead Golf Club (Craigewan Golf Links Hole #7)

Murcar Links (Hole #16, Par 3)

Cruden Bay (Hole # 6, Par 5)

Moon Rise over the Old Course (Full Moon on August 24th, 2010)

Hole #2 @ Kingsbarns Golf Links