Friday May 17: Leaving LA to Scotland today. It's a bucket list for me to play golf in the golf capital of the world along with the guys that I play the most golf with at home. It's me and Dave, Sliv, Bill, Brad, Josh, TK and Rocky. And everyone is in route. I decided to pack some gift baskets for the boys. The all ragged on me for how much luggage I brought.
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| Anyone need some M&M's and Reeses Pieces. |
I know I do. I also know that we will all need plenty of golf balls.
If you hit the ball directly on my face, it will go straight.
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| Most of these guys will miss my face a lot. So not worried. |
May 18th: We lost a day somehow. I never really understand time differences and/or the International Date Line. But my Apple Watch does. Yes, it's Saturday. Just landed in Edinburgh. Everyone landed around the same time except for Rocky and Josh. TK lives in Mexico now. He is part of the Cartel. We picked him up for some lunch.
Time for some fish and chips and haggis. I don't know what haggis is. Kinda looks like something Arby's would serve. How is Arby's still in business?
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| Let the festivities begin |
In the UK they drive on the right. Holbrow is driving one car and I am driving the other. They didn't teach this shit in drivers ed.
Holbrow seems to have it down. What a surprise.
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| Easy. Holbrow hangin to the left. |
Rather than all stay in hotel rooms, I decided best that we rent a castle for the week. When in Scotland. It's called the Dairsie Castle and its about a 15 minute drive from St. Andrews. Looks pretty sweet from the outside.
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Sleeps 14. Showers 2.
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| Nice backyard |
I have to say that there is something about the community hang in an Airbnb versus a hotel for a trip like this. Those casual hang moments are special. This is going to be a special trip.
After we got settled, chose rooms, exchanged gift bags and made a few toasts we decided to head out to watch the PGA Championship at a pub in St. Andrews. Our 1st views of the historic city.
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| Just off the 18th green at The Old Course |
The itinerary is pretty much eat, golf, gamble, drink, repeat. We are playing a tournament over the trip where everyone chips in and we play all 6 rounds and points are given after each round (1-8) for the best net scores (after handicaps). We have one 6 round winner and two 3 round winners, so we can reset points after the first 3 rounds. Also there are 2 on 2 matches everyday. Lot's of golf jawing to say the least.
Sunday May 19th: We are playing Kingsbarn. It's about a 25 minute drive from the Castle. Our plan was breakfast, warm up and play. Our plan worked.
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| Kingsbarn's Kids |
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| Me and Brad versus Rocky and Josh |
We lost. But their caddie was much better than ours. The caddies dress very lightly in Scotland.
Kingsbarn Scores
Glenn Goodstein met us after our round. Glenn's a high school friend of Brad's. Taft High, home of the Toreadors. We had an afternoon snack, some post round drinks and then Glenn invited us to his club for more post game festivities located just off the The Old Course. Playing on The Old Course is a very long shot as you have to enter a daily lottery 48 hours before. But as Holbrow says, "The Great Ones Find a Way."
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Night putting contest on The Old Course
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| Losing Team |
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| Winning Team. $20. Ship It. |
After the putting match we watched the end of the PGA Championship. Some of us One of us was greatly over served. But we made it through a full Day 1unscathed. Congrats! Rocky and Schauflle for winning Day 1 and the PGA Championship.
May 20th: New Course. Am morning preparation is always key for a full golf day.
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| Fill 'er Up |
The New Course is right next to the Old Course. It was built just after the Old Course. I think they were just lazy with coming up with golf course names during that era. We could not have asked for a better weather day.
New Course Scores
After we played and ate a quick snack. We decided to play 9 more holes and team up with partners. We played a best ball format where you played your best ball. Dave and I did not win this one. I don't think we realized that it is approximately 6 miles to walk a golf course and 9 holes on the New Course take you straight out 4.5 miles and then you have to walk back for dinner.
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| Take the long way home... |
At night we ate dinner at The Addason. I think it was pretty good. Not great, but good. After walking 12 miles, everyone was hungry and ready for bed.
May 24: Wake up and do it again. Playing golf in Scotland is definitely and bucket list for me. Playing with my golf buddies is icing on my wonder cake. But.... if there was only a way to be able to play The Old Course, the home of golf. The only way to get on the course, besides paying $2,000 per person to a broker that you book a vacation with (which we didn't do) is to enter the lottery 48 hours in advance. I hear it's like trying to win the actual lottery. But you can't win if you don't play.
It makes it even harder when you submit your ballot and you say you can only play in the morning on Wednesday because you are driving to the Springsteen concert in the afternoon. I check the ballot results everyday online.....
Unreal. Magic. Blessed. Markus had something to do with this. Played Eden today thinking about being able to play the The Old Course tomorrow.
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| More golf pics. Don't think this is Eden. Might be Kingsbarn |
I do remember our caddie at Eden was Mathew Belemy. He was by far the best caddie we had and we requested he join us on the Old Course the next day.
Eden Course Scores
TK steps up to win the day and the first 3 rounds. You gotta respect your elders. Way to go TK.
Ended the day meeting Glenn at a great Italian restaurant called Little Italy. Highly recommended if you like Italian.
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| I'll have the chicken parm and no more 3 putts |
Wednesday, May 22: A day I'll never forget. The agenda is a 5:45am leave time from the Castle, then we play the Old Course while the others play Kingsbarn. Then we come back, shower, and take a bus to Sunderland to see The Boss. Who's in?
First up, a 6:40 tee time. "On the tee from Pacific Palisades, Jeff Broudy". Just don't hit your second shot in the water, bBang your chip against the waterway fall. Chip it over the green and then 2 putt for a 7. Ok, I'll try not to do that. Whoops.
It was for sure a memorable round. It was a special morning all around. On 17, we all hit it over the Old Course Hotel, which is a classic tee shot. And we walked down the 18th fairway like champions.
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"Four right!"
Scores were Spode (92), Sliv (90), Dave (96), Bill (91). Sliv and Dave the winners. |
After a great breakfast and reminiscing session we headed back to get ready for Bruce. We rented a bus and driver for the 3.5 hour drive to Sunderland. Stuart was our driver. He was great and had an epic classic rock playlist. Let's go!
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| Bringing brother Markus to the show. "Choose the Moon" |
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| The Stadium of Lights. In the rain. |
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| "Tramps like us baby we were Born to Run" |
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| "10th Avenue its Freezing Out" |
The Boss delivered. It was an awesome show. Thank you Bruce. On the way out of the stadium, half the team got lost so we waited at McDonalds for 30 minutes + 5 Chicken Strips and a vanilla shake for them. TK fed his golf win with 2 Quarter Pounders. He even impresses in fast food. Home and in bed by 3:45am. Up at 5:00 and in bed by 4:00. What am I 18 years old? I feel it. What an amazing day. I'm fucking beat.
Thursday May 23- Slept in and playing a course called Elie. The boys got up and headed out for a bite to eat and making toasts to Bruce.
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| You guys are stepping on his grave I think. |
Elie was a rainy day. But we did golf in the rain. It was actually fun experiencing Scotland weather in the rain. At least for one round.
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Looks like rain in the forecast
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| Elie's finest. |
Something special about this trip and hanging everyday is guys who didn’t really know each other got to meet.
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| A Rocky and Brad cuddle session. |
The Grinder hits a putt on 18 for the Spode/Grinder tie against TK and Dave. Even though I couldn't read my soaked scorecard. Nice match.
Elie Scores
Bill made friends on the course with a guy walking his dog. Dog walking on the course is a thing here in Scotland. Ruff, rough. Bill got a great dinner req from the dog walker at the Kilconcuhar Inn. Named could be wrong though. Kinda felt like we were having dinner in someone’s living room. Great food.
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| Great call oh dog walker |
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Toast to a fun match in the rain
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Yes, this is not a bad itinerary each day. Rise, coffee, head to course, breakfast, morning spirits, play 18, talk about the course, complain about your golf game, post game toast, dinner, crash hard.
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| Castle morning |
Next up is Crail. Looks majestic. Teaming with Rocky today against Billy and TK. Feeling optimistic.
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| Bill and TK vs. Rocky and Spode |
Brad got to hook up with Glenn and his friend Angus on the front 9.
Guess who was confident about the win and got crushed. TK and Bill both scores 76. For those keeping score at home, those are fucking great scores, even for a par 69.
Crail Scores
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Went back out and played 9 more. Sliv and Spode won. Ship the $20. Let’s not do that again. A lot of golf for the boys, especially Brad. The guys opted for pizza and beer and poker to end the day. Guess who won the poker tournament?  | | Grinder gets it done. Rocky thinking, "What could have been" |
May 25: Hard to believe it’s our last day. Playing The Castle Course to end the trip. In morning, I got serenaded by guys in kilts.
Guess who's not wearing underwear? |
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| Feel free to take over the parking lot |
Playing with Sliv today. We are feeling confident.
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| Nice swing Sliv. Where’s your phone? |
Beautiful course with amazing views of St. Andrews to end the trip. Definitely one of my favorite courses. And not only because I shot my best. It was challenging but really spectacular.
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TK and Brad take down Rocky and Dave in the other match
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Of course Grinder hits a put on 17 and Bill pars 18 to push the match. Time to talk about the round, the ball I hit on 15, the putt I missed on 13, Sliv losing his phone in a creek on 16... blah, blah, blah
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| "My clothes are wet" |
Final Castle Scores and Tournament Scores
Bill (1) and Sliv (2) on the 2nd 3 rounds. And the winner is..... TK (1) and Rocky (2). Congrats boys, well done! Hey winner, can I get a pick with you?
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| The Scotland Cup goes to TK |
Dinner was at Steakbarn. A great concept where you hang outside for drinks and then go into the barn for a picnic bench seating g dinner. Food was awesome. Whaling was at a premium. The winner finding some new friends.
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My New Foursome.
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Ended with Jeanette’s Gelato before heading g back to the Castle one last time. What a week.
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Off to the airport bye bye Castle. You will missed. Driving to airport.
Bill and Josh, try not to damage the cars on the way home.
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To Dave, Sliv, Bill, Rocky, Grinder, Brad, and TK
This was a bucket list trip for me. Spending it with the people I love golfing with (and hanging with) made it more epic than I could ever have imagined. You all made my dreams come true. With tremendous love and gratitude. Love Spode
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