My birthday celebrations continued at the weekend when SWMBO treated me to a long weekend at the Turnberry hotel in Ayrshire. Turnberry has two golf courses, the Ailsa and the Kintyre and I was fortunate to play both.
Friday I was scheduled for the Kintyre and Saturday the Ailsa, but on waking on the Friday morning I was greeted by Wallasey like conditions, strong winds and a bit nippy, so I was keen to take on the Open Championship course in close to it's toughest state.
When I arrived on the first tee, I was informed by the starter that there were three clear holes ahead of me and nobody behind for half an hour. Effectively this meant I had one of the top ten courses in the Country all to myself, what a joy....
The anorak in me knows I first played the Ailsa course in May 1989, something I have made reference to in previous blogs. I went round in 26 over par that day. Friday, however, was not about my score, but about the challenge and the conditions. I did manage to par the 6th hole and got a few fives elsewhere, but I came off the course exhilarated and elated by the whole experience.
The next day I took on the Kintyre course and I was keen to play a competition type round to post a reasonable score. I joined a husband and wife to make a three ball, and they made me aware the lady was a novice and the round might be painful. It would not have been my ideal scenario, but off we went none the less.
In May 1989 I played both the Ailsa and the Kintyre on the same day. The Kintrye was, actually called the Arran in those days, and it has changed somewhat during the passing 20 odd years. I was, therefore, keen to see the new design.
Things did not start well, and I was taken aback by the tight nature of the opening holes, however, I kept to my plan to post a score, and after opening 8,5,5,8,7 (33) against a par of 20, I went round the remaining 13 holes in 9 over par, a very satisfying days work.
The hotel improved as our stay went on. The first night we ate in the 1906 restaurant and the food was average at best. We had a bar meal the next night which was excellent, and then had out own private dining room the final night, which did seat ten, but nobody else had booked it. It was the hotel equivalent of a Michelin starred eatery and did not disappoint.
The Friday night and Saturday the hotel was accepting GroupOn voucher guests and it appeared that the staff were somewhat off hand with them, whereas our attention level increased when they realised we were there for longer than the one night deal the other guests had booked.
Its definitely a place we will revisit, with the BMW championships scheduled in late September. So I will have to get to Royal Liverpool and try to qualify for that again.
Monday 11 March 2013
Wednesday 6 March 2013
Life in the fast lane
Wedged in between my two boozy weekends, I was lucky enough to be invited to attend something called a speed awareness course. This was in no way related to alcohol, but in fact to the way in which I drive my car.
I have made reference in the past to my dislike of speed camera's and the fact they contribute millions of pounds to local government coffer's as a type of stealth tax aimed at mostly honest drivers. Well I was in a room with twenty or so like minded drivers, all there to avoid getting three points on our licenses as a result of driving a few miles over the limit.
In years past the course involved a practical session out on the road with an instructor. These days it's four hours of classroom tutorial, most of which is mind blowingly dull.
The only part I found useful related to the positioning of speed limit signs at the junctions to roads, at a point where the limit changes. Other than that it was a waste of an afternoon, and the sun was out to really rub it in.
Apart from avoiding three penalty points another benefit of the course is to get cheaper or maintained price motor insurance, but with at least one insurance company now considering the course to be the same as an endorsement, that benefit may soon be a thing of the past. As soon as that happens the courses will be a thing of the past.
So while I still have a clean license, I just await the next official police communique inviting me to attend the local magistrates court. Deep joy.
I have made reference in the past to my dislike of speed camera's and the fact they contribute millions of pounds to local government coffer's as a type of stealth tax aimed at mostly honest drivers. Well I was in a room with twenty or so like minded drivers, all there to avoid getting three points on our licenses as a result of driving a few miles over the limit.
In years past the course involved a practical session out on the road with an instructor. These days it's four hours of classroom tutorial, most of which is mind blowingly dull.
The only part I found useful related to the positioning of speed limit signs at the junctions to roads, at a point where the limit changes. Other than that it was a waste of an afternoon, and the sun was out to really rub it in.
Apart from avoiding three penalty points another benefit of the course is to get cheaper or maintained price motor insurance, but with at least one insurance company now considering the course to be the same as an endorsement, that benefit may soon be a thing of the past. As soon as that happens the courses will be a thing of the past.
So while I still have a clean license, I just await the next official police communique inviting me to attend the local magistrates court. Deep joy.
Gone in a haze
The problem with having a birthday celebration which lasts three weeks is that some parts of it just become a blur and days disappear or get lost for ever. My actual birth date was one such.
I had a plan as to how my weekend would go....Friday evening in Formby with the outlaws, Saturday playing golf and chilling then a full on family luncheon on Sunday with more golf Monday morning ( my actual birth date) and then a late lunch with SWMBO.
Other people had other ideas, however, so Friday was cancelled, and Sunday became a bit more mega than expected. Alcohol was consumed at a great rate, and when the lads adjourned to the local hostility, I knew there would be trouble.
After several glasses of wine, a bloody Mary and a frozen Margarita in the restaurant, I really did not need a zombie, whatever that is, but that's tradition apparently so after a few more beers, I decided to make my excuses and leave. I remember getting home and watching Match of the Day, but then things went a bit fuzzy.
Needless to say the next day was a complete washout and I complained about my drinks being spiked ( they weren't ), the meal disagreeing with me, and having an anti-social need for sleep!.
The rest of the crew came in from about midnight until 3am!!
The next part of the celebrations is a long weekend in Turnberry chasing a little white ball around in the wind, I must try to moderate my whiskey tasting and enjoy the view. Och aye the noo!
I had a plan as to how my weekend would go....Friday evening in Formby with the outlaws, Saturday playing golf and chilling then a full on family luncheon on Sunday with more golf Monday morning ( my actual birth date) and then a late lunch with SWMBO.
Other people had other ideas, however, so Friday was cancelled, and Sunday became a bit more mega than expected. Alcohol was consumed at a great rate, and when the lads adjourned to the local hostility, I knew there would be trouble.
After several glasses of wine, a bloody Mary and a frozen Margarita in the restaurant, I really did not need a zombie, whatever that is, but that's tradition apparently so after a few more beers, I decided to make my excuses and leave. I remember getting home and watching Match of the Day, but then things went a bit fuzzy.
Needless to say the next day was a complete washout and I complained about my drinks being spiked ( they weren't ), the meal disagreeing with me, and having an anti-social need for sleep!.
The rest of the crew came in from about midnight until 3am!!
The next part of the celebrations is a long weekend in Turnberry chasing a little white ball around in the wind, I must try to moderate my whiskey tasting and enjoy the view. Och aye the noo!
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