I was out practicing the other morning on the Strathyrum and was having some major problems with a hook. Now the Strath runs parallel to the Eden Course for a few holes on the way in. On the 14th of the Strath I hit two monstrous hooks which ended up on the 16th fairway of the Eden, a par 5, amidst a group of four gentlemen’s drives who all looked a bit less than inviting, let’s say. So I thought I’d try a bit of humour to help along the situation by quirping ‘Which course are you guys playing?’ Unfortunately this was not taken that well by at least three members of the group who maintained rather stern looking faces. I think the other chap muttered something along the lines ‘not the one you’re playing’.
Anyhow, I made haste back to the Strath and onto the 15th tee, a short par 4. This time I again hit two monstrous hooks which now ended up on the 16th green of the Eden and again amongst the balls of the same four gentlemen who were now trying to play-out that hole, except one of my balls was about 6 feet from their flag. I ventured across and thought I’d try some humour again to help me out the predicament. In a sense this was really all quite amusing I reasoned. It’s not exactly that I was aiming their way.
Anyway, I sauntered onto their green, waited till a few of them putted out, got a few glares and then quickly picked up my errant balls while venturing the long shot ‘I’m sure you guys are on the wrong course’
No laughter ensued.
I did have a lovely round the following day though when I bumped into Gerard from Florida at the New Course. He is across for a week and playing 7 rounds, including a trip down to North Berwick. What a delightful man. We had a great chat and game and it showed me again what goff can offer in the beaten way of aquaintance.
Not what these guys on the Eden were reflecting when they stumbled across moi though! I imagine they would be uttering less poetical musings.
But heho it takes all sorts. And I’ll stick with the Gerard’s of this world. All day!
On Saturday I went down to Edinburgh to play in the Mortonhall monthly medal. I left St Andrews at 8.25am and got home at 6.49pm (the wonders of Stagecoach!), having played the medal and then walked back into the West End from my old patch at the Braids! (I haven’t got my blue card yet and it was a beautiful evening and I was feeling a tad nostalgic).
On the 11th green at Morty I noticed that someone on the 8th tee was looking across at me with some recognition. He had a tammy on and I didn’t know who it was. I ventured across after putting out and hey, it was Cammy my old caddie-master at the Fairmont who now lives in Edinburgh and has joined Morty! He was playing with Bob Ellis who gave me a big hug which was kind of endearing of him. I suppose it has been 7 years since I left. Small world though with Cammy. In fact it’s a small world all round. The chap I was playing with, James Kidd, is starting a new job on Monday morning in Melville Street. And his boss is none other than Dave’s son, Jack Ferguson.
A small world indeed!