April 2013

Grandstand at Muirfield

April 23, 2013
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The evening before we had gone through the plan with the Scots over 2 to 300 record fast pints of Guinness. LINKS75 a.k.a  “xxx” will incognito go round Muirfield – host for this year’s British Open.   The origin of this conspiracy on a dark April evening lies a few years back in time. LINKS75 remembers […]

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No. 1 with Geese on the Sea

April 22, 2013
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A solid Scottish breakfast rests in our stomachs – American pancakes with Canadian maple syrup. Gullane has three courses – No1 has its own clubhouse. We stroll through the shop-starter-visitor’s clubhouse before finally finding ourselves in the holy of holies – the member’s clubhouse. Coffee and an open fire – a greeting of love. It […]

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Sunday Links with the Twins

April 21, 2013
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It is Sunday – a links Sunday. We are staying next to the one identical links twin – Lundin – and make our way to the other – Leven. The clubhouse is locked but an early-bird member lets us in. A huge, old dilapidated mansion with a more recently built verandah. Next to our locker […]

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The Hybrid King and the Sea

April 20, 2013
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We arrive as a result of hearsay and expectation. A classic links course by the sea. With the twins – Lundin & Leven – a golfing society. The Swedish flag is raised. The Hybrid King arrives in shiny shoes and immaculate creases, dressed in white and bright yellow. The course, like its neighbours, clings to […]

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The King’s Barn – An Experience as Big as A Royal House

April 19, 2013
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On the way to Kingsbarns, the ambassadors manage to follow the wrong Peugeot and wind up at a Scottish farm. When we finally get there we are given a warm welcome – a characteristic of these Yankee links. This one was created by Mark Parsinen together with Kyle Phillips. Our putting strokes are practised on […]

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The Old Lady Invites Us to Dance

April 18, 2013
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Traditional breakfast in the conservatory with a view over our own Golgata – the 1st tee on the Old Course. We saunter over the the 1st and 18th fairway. The starter shares with us some treats from his goodie bag – a bag full of expectation. We recall stories and myths surrounding the Old Course’s […]

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In the Eye of the Storm at Jubilee

April 16, 2013
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Breakfast with a view over the 18th fairway. The flags stand perpendicular – are they stuck down with wallpaper glue. The day’s first steps take us nearly down into the brook and confirm that the wind has got its dander up. We inspect the university’s faculty, the Old Tom Morris shop and the day’s draw. […]

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Spectacular at Lundin

April 15, 2013
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Halfway to St Andrews lies Lundin & Leven, like two identical twin links courses alongside the Firth of Fourth. There is still a proper wind blowing. We choose Lundin and talk Masters and Adam Scott in the shop before heading into the clubhouse – Chesterfield and coffee. James Braid allowed the first four holes to […]

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