Friday, May 12 – It is time to head to St. Andrews through the Kingdom of Fife – an enchanting region of gorgeous coastal towns, ancient royal palaces and the spiritual home of golf! The countryside along the way was just as we had envisioned – green, lush, colorful and beautiful! The grape seed plants were in full bloom creating wonderful yellow ‘blankets’ in the fields – –
The bright yellow accenting the ‘kelly’ green fields was stunning!
The drive from Edinburgh to St. Andrews was only 1 1/2 hours – but, we had the entire afternoon for the trek. So – why not take the scenic road and see the coast in the famous East Neuk of Fife?!? Here the little fishing villages dot the coast like pearls on a chain – Elie, St Monans, Pettenweem and Anstruther. The lunch destination was a recommendation – the BEST fish restaurant in the Kingdom of Fife in the adorable fishing village of Anstruther – –
The marina in Anstruther.
A warning was attached to the recommendation – ‘don’t let any appearances scare you off – it is the BEST’ (and very SMALL)! We were lucky to get a seat;-)
The fish and chips were yummy.
While the countryside was as envisioned – the roads were even narrower than anticipated, resulting in very interesting ‘warnings’ – –
Funny sign…but VERY accurate.
The Annandale House – just 2 blocks from The Old Course – was to be our home for the next 5 days. It really was a charming place run by wonderful people – Fiona and Paul – who took very good care of us. The room was huge (by European standards) with three beds and a lovely bay window looking out to the North Sea. A bit of remodeling had been done to this very old building to make it livable by todays standards – including bathrooms in all the guest rooms – although a wee bit small – –
Much smaller than Magic – not much room for Gary’s knees!!
Saturday, May 13 – FINALLY! Time to get out on a course and play golf. First stop just over the Firth of Tay – the Championship Course at Carnoustie Golf Links;-)
Carnoustie – a new sign for a VERY old course.
The game of golf has been played in Carnoustie for well over four centuries. The first indication that the game was being played in the Angus town can be found in the Parish Records of 1560 when the game of ‘gowff’ was mentioned.
The Championship Course has hosted seven Open Championships, one Ladies Open and one Seniors Open – AND will host the Open Championship again in 2018!! It is generally regarded as the toughest of the Open venues with the toughest closing stretch of holes anywhere – especially the last four holes (remember this when I tell you about the wind!!). Open Championship winners on this course include Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Tom Watson and Padraig Harrington – – followed closely by EAB and GCD;-) (For E’s golfing buddies – the course has a slope and rating for women of 77/140 – YIKES!!!)
Let’s get started –
A HAPPY couple – who managed to avoid the plentiful gorse…..
….the yellow flowered bushes with nasty thorns.
As you can see from the pictures – we had clouds, patches of blue sky, a bit of a mist which led to a few raindrops, beautiful sights and views of the North Sea.
The North Sea looking east from Carnoustie.
Beautiful patches of blue sky on the way back in with the hotel in the background.
The weather was quite kind to us. Even though we “experienced all four seasons during the day” (as they love to say) – there was almost no rain and the wind did not really come up until THE LAST FOUR HOLES!!! (Remember what I said above about those holes?!?!)
An incredible day and we lived to write about it;-)
Sunday, May 14 – Kingsbarns (because it is where the Kings barns housing his livestock were located).
A mere 15 minutes from The Old Course of St. Andrews sits a newer model of the traditional Scottish seaside links golf course that offers scenic sea views from every hole as one plays along almost two miles of North Sea coastline in the town of Kingsbarns.
This course is consistently recognized in the Top 100 Golf Courses in the World and will host the Women’s British Open Championship this August (2017). (Sadly – EAB will not be playing in that tournament;-( ) This course is also consistently rated the ‘Favorite’ by all of our friends who have played golf in and around this area. It reminded us very much of the Bandon Dunes courses in Oregon.
Again – as you can see from the pictures – the weather was unbelievable, blue skies and all – and the views were stunning. G especially enjoyed the day as he had a harem – we were paired with 2 lovely young French women (who were REALLY good golfers).
Kingsbarns Clubhouse. Beautiful course, layout, setting AND weather!
The views distract from the golf;-)
Lots of bunkers up there. Some you could see before you landed in them.
G & E both had caddies for all the rounds of golf played. There was only one problem here at Kingsbarns – E’s caddie was too tall and kept pointing out ‘targets’ or ‘landmarks’ that E could not see because she wasn’t tall enough. At one point he said to aim at a particular bunker – nowhere to be found by E, who told him to get down to her level and find something she could see – –
He tried to be E’s height;-).
Par 3. Lots of bunkers, lots of gorse.
Spectacular views and weather all day long (notice the sweater is gone).
Really – for those of you who have played over here – these pictures are NOT photoshopped. The weather was that beautiful!! As was the course.
The days/rounds at Carnoustie and Kingsbarns were each enjoyed for their own personalities and histories. The Open in 2018 at Carnoustie and the Women’s Open in August at Kingsbarns will each be watched with great anticipation as we see the pros walk those hallowed steps and play each hole that gave us such fits and pleasure;-)
E & G looking forward to the St. Andrews courses
Elizabeth & Gary's Magic Bus Tour 