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 1st tee. The group ahead drive to the right and a hollow shout of “Fore!” echoes round golf’s Hall of Fame. Everyone who is anyone has stood on the 1st tee. EVERYONE – and LINKS75. A moderately strong, headwind is blowing.
The driver has been predominant off the tee this morning. LINKS75 also decides to go with the driver and hit four, nervy tee shots a comfortable distance from out-of-bounds and the starter house. We are on our way. Arms are raised triumphantly – AWESOME! A dramatic stage; a historic, real-time experience like playing at Wimbledon, or driving lap after lap at Monza. The wind increases. Double greens create cheerfulness, fear and bewilderment. Already on the 3rd hole LINKS75′s well-balanced approach shot disappears to the benefit of a seriously focussed player on the 15th. We ask nicely and get our white gold back. On the 7th – the definition of a links plaza – we experience a whirlwind of classic links safari and pay and play. The ambassadors slice their ball over eight surprised souls on the 11th tee and land next to a further eight even more surprised souls on the 10th green. The caddie points – “I put your ball there. It lay close to the hole.” Following a lengthy traffic jam it is our turn – and a ball from behind lands in our shadow. A surprised LINKS75 soul sorts out what is going on with yet another caddie. The 9th with a tailwind leads to a putt for an eagle. Coffee and scotch. The course turns uphill and twists around itself. On the 11th – a par 3 – some members in front get restless and shout “Fore!” and strike before the north Swedish 4-ball has time to stand up. LINKS75 peers into the light and show they are made of the right stuff, landing our balls on the green into a strong headwind. The members give us the thumbs up. The wind increases another few notches – LINKS75 smiles and dances on. On the 13th – downwind – a drive of 300 meters. Pleasure envelopes us as we make our way into the town’s bosom. Warmth – our thoughts fly away and suddenly we are standing in front of Hell’s Bunker – a monster of celestial dignity made of sand.
Over-confidence and love of the ground we are standing on causes us to putt for an eagle from the double green’s far corner. One hundred meters away and five putts later we find the hole – happiness. On the 15th LINKS75 ends up on the New Course but in true links fashion manages to get back for a par. Few holes have decided so many fates as the 17th on the Old Course, few holes have created so many heroes. LINKS75 hit both over and into the hotel – lags up on the green from a steady 160 meters and saves itself out of the Road Bunker. A hole that makes one feel like one has experienced a whole championship.
Finally there is only the 18th left and we feel exactly like the immortal words from Casablanca – “Play it again Sam.”
English
Svenska