On 25 July 2019, I was proud to be one of the eight golfers who played four of Scotland’s most iconic golf courses in one day and complete the incredible ‘Pioneers of the Past’ Golf Challenge.
Starting at 4am at Prestwick Golf Club, birthplace of the Open Championship, we completed our first round by 7am, then jumped in the bus that took us across to Musselburgh. It was a hot day and the sun was scorching in Musselburgh, even at that early hour. We played the famous 9-hole course, located mostly within the racecourse, then back into the bus to North Berwick, where a welcome lunch awaited.
The sun shone all day over North Berwick before an evening breeze came in off the sea to cool us down. The third round of the day completed, we were back on the bus to St Andrews. The original plan had been to sail from North Berwick to Anstruther, as our pioneers had done, but conditions precluded any small boats sailing that day, and the one hour sail instead became a 2 hour bus trip.
Arriving at the New Course, St Andrews at 7pm for our final round, light was already deteriorating. Rain fell as we reached the 6th, followed by thunder and lightening in the distance. Thankfully, it passed and we completed the New Course as the sun set.
All in all, it was a fantastic day. It was an exciting challenge for a worthy cause – Tommy’s Honour Education Trust – www.justgiving.com/campaign/pioneers
After our eighteen hour, 50,000 steps challenge, I slept well that night!
