Historic Scottish course lives up to advance billing
NORTH BERWICK, Scotland – Wednesday was the day we got to play the North Berwick Golf Club West Links course, ranked annually among the top 10 courses in the UK and Ireland and well inside the top 100 courses in the world.
Eighteen holes later and there’s hardly words to describe the experience of playing an historic course that dates to 1832 – making it the 13th oldest course in the world. That alone is worth the price of admission. Throw in the views of Bass Rock and Fidra, the Firth of Forth, several iconic holes such as Pit, Redan, Perfection and Gate, and it makes for an unforgettable round of golf.
Taking a caddie was recommended, and after two rounds of carrying and pushing a trolley it was a relief to just walk the course with somebody else doing the heavy lifting.
I got super lucky with my caddie. Graham is married to former LPGA great Catriona Matthew and he spent 13 years caddying for her on the tour. He knows every inch of North Berwick. We also have one person we know in common – Graham said he has looped for Jim Hartsell, who was a major part of the inspiration for this trip.
During the round we talked about the LPGA Tour, and Graham commented that he liked the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail Magnolia Grove site in Mobile, where his wife played during her career. He also remembered the Capitol Hill RTJ Golf Trail site. We had good conversation and a good time, even though I know inside he was thinking that I suck at golf. That’s how poorly I played.
We had a good chuckle on the 11th hole, a par 5 called Bos’ns Locker when he pointed to a shed on the right for my target line. I thought he pointed to another shed probably 200 yards left. Of course, it was one of the few drives I hit it where I aimed and it ended deep in the heather. But I escaped with a par, so all was good.
Graham said he plays to 2 handicap and his best day at North Berwick was a 67 shot in benign conditions like we had Wednesday. The weather was perfect, by the way. A mix of sun and clouds, very little breeze and about 70 degrees – not typical Scottish weather.
Scott, Paul and George were our other caddies and they were awesome, as well. Scott, the youngest, attends the University of Edinburgh. Paul and George are veteran caddies – not members of the Beatles.
It would be easy to go on and on about North Berwick – it’s that good. But what I’ll remember most are the people we encountered. Adjacent to the practice green and throughout the course, residents were walking their dogs or coming from the beach. And there were four young boys – probably around 10-12 years old who were headed out for a late game, probably not realizing how lucky they are to be playing one of the world’s best golf courses.
Scotland embraces golf in a way I’m not sure we do in the U.S. And that’s a good thing.
Gregg Dewalt is the editor of Alabama Golf News
Have a story idea or a news item to report to Alabama Golf News? Email gregg@alabamagolfnews.com
Featured image of the Scottish coast courtesy of CNN.
