The Open Venues tour is under way and we have arrived safely in Scotland, albeit with a few delays along the way.
Upon arrival of the final golf bag – which arrived well after we all had – we made our way from Glasgow airport down to Dundonald Links where we teed it up in the late afternoon. Not without a challenge or two in getting the gear into a rental car. Smiles drove us down safely while the crew regaled tales of William Wallace and the epic movie Braveheart.
We have based ourselves in Ayr, South Ayrshire which is well placed for the Dundonald Links, Turnberry Ailsa and Royal Troon.
First impressions of the course are really good. It is well set out and we received a fantastic welcome from the team at the Links. The course does not have too many blind shots, but certainly tests the swing and the patience.
We particularly enjoyed the shaping of the fairways, which don’t send your tee shots too far off line (but if you send it into the gorse, it is a different story entirely). We have already spent some time in the pot bunkers, which are testing the skill levels, but actually add to the special links experience.
The weather actually treated us very kindly with the locals letting us know we had just experienced the best weather they have had here for five months. The form horse in the fourball is Smiley, who played brilliantly today for 78. Well played to Smiley and Bossco for winning the Dundonald pairs with their dovetail on the back nine.
Scotland is a dream destination for golf and testing your game. The welcome we have received has been incredible and the locals are intrigued to hear more about our adventure and planned rounds of golf. Everyone is very proud of the golf heritage and variety of courses that are available around the region.
The warm-up is done.
It is time to tee it up at the Open Venues. Next up is Turnberry on the Ailsa.
We are hoping for our own ‘Duel in the Sun’ at Open Venue #1 of 10! It’s Open Venues go time!
