St. Andrews and ....... Golf!

loved scotland as I said, we are still in scotland - at St Andrews. Dave is the one who is quivering with excitement and anticipation- (like a lab. on duck shooting morning! stop talking about dogs Brenda). We decided to blow the budget and stay at the Old course Hotel - right on the golf course - 5 star plus - for two nights. We arrived yest. from Port William took 3 hours going from the west of the top of scotland down to the border on the east! but through some lovely countryside (I thought Braveheart scenery, and Dave said Gentle Annie! so put the two together!) lots of castles perched along lochs in the wop wops and streams etc. We then got on the A9 - main highway from Inverness to Endinburgh - which was quite cool. think Highway 1 at home with deer crossing signs on the road! not much show for car or deer I say! This place is on the coast - gorgeous old buildings all along side the courses which go along the sea edge. It was gale force winds and pouring rain, 9 degrees when we arrived (sound similar to home at the moment?) and i could see Daves face drop. A piper (with bagpipes) piped us into the hotel - we thought it was for us but found out later it was for wedding guests coming for a wedding in the hotel just as we arrived! at reception you get a glass of champagne handed to you and chocolates while you check in. Its all beautiful and old inside - the first thing Dave did was go and see the pro golf people to see about getting into the ballot to play on Monday (discovered the old course is closed on Sundays!) its very hard to get a tee time, but this guy talked to the old course pro guy and got Daves name into the ballot. then he had to find his handicap rating online (you have to be a good golfer to play the old course because its so hard) and then get them to print it out etc. so lots of drama just getting your name down. All this before we even got into our room! I was busy sipping wine and pretending to be a big wig with lots of money - so I was OK. the receptionist took us on a guided tour up to our room (cant fault the individual service of this place) - and its lovely. overlooks the course and even has a balcony to step out on! any way by 4.30pm last night Dave finds out he has a tee time at 7.40am on Monday - so the joy started! all happy and nervous and excited at the same time. He said he cant believe hes actually managed to get a time thats popular (mornings are sort after) so then it was off to the Pro shop sorting out hire clubs (really good ones app.) and balls etc. I am so happy for him - this is all he wanted to do in the 3 months so we are making a big thing of it. I actually told him to play today Sunday - at one of the other courses here as well (hey - we've been under budget so far so thought this should be memorable for Dave) so he is now playing the New course as I type. Forgot to say - we went out to the local pub for tea - and when we came back the bed was turned down, but - get this - there were mats with good night on them put at each side of the bed with slippers on each mat! I just loved it! also they room service the room twice a day as well! you get these huge thick towels with old course emblem (tempted to steal!) and gorgeous thick bath robes with same emblem. they even have instructions on how to work the bath/shower because it has 3 shower heads and very high tech! cant just turn on the taps for the bath! Breakfast is included in the price but breakfast was amazing - better than on the boat cruise I think. Buffet - the hot part includes black pudding, haggis, tattie scones and other Heeland (their joke here) food. I got eggs benedict and then waffles with cream and rasberries! (are you drooling yet!?) forgot to mention the dining room is up on the top floor and we got a table by the window looking out over the course and the sea while we ate. Talk about being in heaven! While we were eating they did our room - so it was all nice by the time we got back. (I think they phone room service and they come and do it while you are eating so not to disturb you). anyway as I said I convinced Dave to play today - no wind, cloudy and a little drizzle so not too bad. Dave had to borrow an umbrella from the pro! On the way you could see dogs and owners all over the old course going for walks! yes - you read this right! the beautifully kept course allows the locals and tourists to swarm all over it on a sunday. and that includeds dogs! I just loved it! Dave was horrified of course. Then we saw all these green keepers and locals walking in a line across the course (its very narrow) filling up all the divets with sand. this was the day they fix up the course as no one is playing on it. Then - guess what?! I asked one of the green keepers about a local Havelock boy who we know who is a greenkeeper here over the summer, and he puts me in his cart and takes me over to this guy who was sorting out a green. Dave was busy practising his putting at this stage waiting for his tee time on the New course, so I talked to this boy for ages (he went to school with Jamie). he is over here for the summer?? what summer? he said he hasnt had more than two consecutive days of fine weather since he's arrived! anyway it was good to catch up - he offered Dave his clubs for tomorrow so we will see. I carried on walking down the beach and then Ben (this guy from Havelock) picked me up in his cart and took me back over to the hotel! so feel very priviledged having all these rides! Am now parked up in a lovely chair with footstool, facing out the window and overlooking the course to see when Dave might be back. Quite happy to have time to my self and blob. will read my Kindle soon, (yes I have been using it you'll be pleased to know!). This afternoon we are going for a walk down the old course back along the beach (for more ozone) and then across into the township to check out the golf shops etc. This is also where Prince William went to Uni so have to find that too! Its not that big a place so interesting why he chose here.