If you are at Gullane Golf Club and are looking for a “diamond in the rough” experience you should call ahead and make an appointment with Archie Baird to see his wonderful Heritage of Golf Exhibition.

Young Archie and another interested golf historian

Archie, at the sprite young age of 92,  is someone worth meeting on his own merit.  A former Secretary of the Gullane Golf Club, a proper Scotsman with a wonderful sense of humor who still has a youthful glint in his eye.  He has an enormous amount of golf history in his head and, despite a few pregnant memory moments, he is willing to share it all with you.

His Heritage of Golf Exhibition is a cluttered room next door to the Gullane Golf Club Pro Shop.  It is like going through Archie’s attic, full of folkloric pictures, old clubs and balls, and assorted other memorabilia from his personal collection he has accumulated over a very engaged golfing career in the East Lothian area.  This collection reminds us that East Lothian, with one of the most robust collections of early links courses in the British Isles, had a long and storied rivalry with St. Andrews as to the epicenter of golf in Scotland.

A smattering of the lineage of original clubs from the way back machine

The coolest part of this is, as Archie says, unlike any other museum of golf history you walk through you can actually pick up, touch, and feel all these historic treasures.  You will be amazed at how just holding a feathery ball or an ash shafted spoon  in your hand tells you so much more about its role in golf history.

Just pick one, any one, and give it a waggle

A ball library along with the menu at the turn

The original kick-stand club carrier-you can actually pick it up

Archie’s story begins with how the Dutch, not the Scots, invented the game.  He has a print of an Adriaen Van de Velde painting from 1668 to prove it.  The story moves on to Scotland and the eastern coastal towns near Dunbar, North Berwick, Musselburgh, Leith, and St. Andrews.

Depiction of North Berwick Links then….does not look much different now…

It includes the earliest rivalries from the mid 1800’s covering the stories of the early Open Championships at Prestwick and the Red Leather Belt that was bestowed to the champions.  Old Tom and Young Tom Morris and Old Willie and Young Willie Park had turned it into a family rivalry in the early years.

Old Willie Park had his own stature in the history of the game

Young Willie followed in pop’s boot steps

Archie then gets to the whole development of the ball thing….from Feathery to Guttie to the Wound Haskell ball at the turn of the 20^th Century.  He covers the development of clubs from ash to hickory to steel in the late 1920’s.  These technological changes made it more affordable and allowed the game to be embraced by more and more people…it was critical to the development of golf in those early years.

It took half a day to stuff a hat full of damp feathers into this hand-sewn leather cover….not a cheap enterprise….they could only make about 3 balls a day

The Guttie, molded from a gum-like material, was more durable and cheaper to produce

The device that allowed them to wind hundreds of feet of rubber bands around a solid core to make the first Haskell balls

Younger Archie with the fisherman’s version…a reshaped fish hook with a hemp grip and a rock surrounded by cork for the ball…..golfers will try anything to play

The rest is just an eclectic collection of all sorts of odds and ends that will fascinate you.  Delivered with a bit of wit and lots of common sense knowledge Archie gives this stuff a life all it’s own.

The proper “Members Only” outfit…

Friends in high places..signed Masters flag and personal note from Ben Crenshaw commemorating his first win at Augusta

List of 107 links courses American Tom Coyne played in 53 days back in 2015…..later this became the basis for Tom’s book “A Course Called Scotland”

Potpourri…this display case reminds me a golfing grandmother’s living room….

If you are at Gullane to play golf take the time to call ahead and arrange for a half hour walk through Archie’s attic…you will not be disappointed.

Contact Information:

The Heritage of Golf Museum

Gullane Golf Club

East Lothian, Scotland EH32 2BB

Contact: Archie Baird  01875 870277

July, 2016

Golf has been played at North Berwick for centuries but like a number of the small towns in East Lothian it is a unique place with a character all it’s own.  Today it is very much a suburban enclave for professional people who work in Edinburgh, the train connection which is under a half hour makes this an easy place to bring up a family in an environment with all the perks of a big city without the urban anxieties.

The West Links Golf Club dates back to 1832 and the place has all the attributes of a old school distinguished Scottish links.

North Berwick Clubhouse….handsome sandstone weathered to distinction

Trophy cases in the members bar glisten with pride

Wood paneled member’s board room has tradition coming out of it’s pores

The original members lockers are incorporated into the decor

List of the club Captains, as well as men’s and ladies champions, adorn the walls

There is no getting lost……

The golf shop….a simple understated building for such a famous links

Starter’s Lodge is somewhat updated

Even the weather vane has a themed message to it

There were volcanic eruptions in Scotland creating notable land forms

Lest you forget the course shares the shoreline beach with the locals

Bass, Lamb, and Fidra rocks may be the most iconic visuals of North Berwick

They lord over the links and present convenient aiming lines for the players

The ghostly appearance of Bass Rock behind the 17th for example

Then there is the kitchy course…you got this approach shot in your bag?

North Berwick is so much more than the Old Links, it is a quaint country town.  First class hotel, inns, kitchy shops, new age restaurants, and all the fixins.

The Marine Hotel has lavished visitors with high end service for generations

It sports a Children’s Pitch and Putt Course…you must be accompanied by a kid

The town bulletin board buys into the golf tradition of North Berwick

They do remember why many folks come and what they need

Narrow winding streets are full of local upscale shops and restaurants

It’s not without it’s rules, though apparently some don’t heed the promulgations

Like a good family place all creatures are welcome and treated with dignity

Even those without house training are accommodated in the public square

Trendy clothing that fits the young population’s vibe

Restaurants for all tastes

New age establishments….like Zitto’s Italian Wine Bar and Tapas

Even has an asymmetric new age business card

As it should, in the end it all comes back to treats for all ages

North Berwick…come for the revered links golf..but take time to borrow a child and play the pitch and putt, stroll the town for some shopping and a gelato,  or make time for  a tasty piece of Scottish salmon or a fine plate of pasta.  North Berwick is a special place….take the time to enjoy all that this lovely community has to offer.

July, 2016

(Click to read the Moegolf North Berwick Golf Club course review)

For a golfer a visit to St. Andrews is a spiritual golf experience. The Old Course, the R & A Clubhouse, and the ghost of Old Tom Morris are images in the mind that convey solemn golfing history.

Royal and Ancient Golf Club dates back to 1754

Reminder that the R & A had been quite exclusionary until just recently

British Golf Museum houses a detail history of golf in the British Isles

The Old Course begins and ends in the center of town

Tom Morris Golf Shop still peers over the 18th Green

Within you find his old workbench and his locker

A stroll around to the Himalayas for some recreational putting is a unique St. Andrews experience. Follow the road a little longer and you are at The Links clubhouse the terminus for the New and Jubilee golf courses. This building has it’s own pieces of St. Andrews history on display.

Old Tom, the face of St. Andrews, regales the hallway in front of the pub

Along with Seve, one of it’s most iconic Champion Golfer Of The Year

But a walk through this town, richly layered with 600 years of academic, religious, and cultural artifacts, one cannot help but feel that St. Andrews very much represents the soul of Scotland far beyond it’s reputation as the home of golf.

Heading back up The Scores one sneaks up on the vast presence of the University of St. Andrews University, the third oldest university in the English speaking world, that was founded around 1410. An all male institution until the late 1800’s, St. Andrews started offering a limited Masters of Arts degree for women in 1876 and by 1892 had become the first Scottish university to enroll female undergraduates on the same full time basis as their male counterparts.

The central quad looks like every other university…..distinguished yet tranquil

All kinds of beings matriculate there

And some of them were soon-to-be Royals

Religion reverently felt in St. Andrews at the St. Salvators Chapel since the 1500’s

A short walk up North Street brings you to the remnants of the old cathedral

Eerie reminder…religious persecution rerouted Scottish history……

Time and again

The final resting place of Young Tom Morris ….

And Old Tom Morris tie it together…

But as for most others it always seems to conclude at the 18th of the Old Course

July, 2016

Right behind the 1st tee of the Old Course and the Royal and Ancient Club Building in St. Andrews there is a must stop for all serious golfers at the British Golf Museum. In less than an hour you can take in the full history of the development of the game in this part of the world. Early clubs and trophies, period attire, and iconic images of the “Champion Golfers of the Year”-this place is just oozing memorabilia to prod your golfing memory.

The toil of stuffing the feathery ball made the game expensive to play

Until the introduction of the molded Gutta Percha in 1848

Which prompted major changes in club design

Some were very innovative……………..

Some were adjustable….and eventually illegal

Then there were accessories…the first “kick-stand” club carrier

Challenge for the Silver Club began at St. Andrews in 1754

The silver cup from the Musselburgh Challenge dates back to 1774

Original red Moroccan leather and silver Challenge Belt for The Open Champion

Replaced by the Claret Jug at the Open Championship in 1872

Tribute to golf course architecture’s Golden Age of 1920 to 1939

Honoring Bobby Jones’s connection with British golf

Another British golfing favorite son…name is Bond..James Bond

Open Championship programs dating back to the mid 1950’s

Appropriately ends with some wee bits of golf wisdom

The R and A has done a marvelous job composing this museum to maximize your understanding of the pivotal role the British Isles have had in the development of our sport.  Much like the USGA Museum in Far Hills does for American golf, you will walk away from this visit with a much keener understanding of the history of golf in Britain.

July, 2016

It is not unusual in your travels around Scotland to stumble across a large crowd gathered at public putting green in the center of town. In many small towns and villages these are popular hang outs where old folks, kids, families, and friends can meet and greet or get together for a little afternoon competition.

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The most famous of them all is in the center of St. Andrews right next to the second tee on the Old Course across from the Old Course Hotel. It is called The Himalayas, a.k.a. The St. Andrews Ladies Putting Club, created as a private club back in 1867. It is open to the public daily for a nominal fee but still reserves select times during the week for the members.

Originally laid out as a nine-hole Cleek and Putt Course by Old Tom Morris in 1867 on a rough piece of ground north of the Swilcan Burn it eventually grew to it’s massive size as more land was acquired and the course transitioned to putting only as the ground became smoother from all the play. The competitions date back to it’s origin and the ladies still maintain a regular Wednesday afternoon game for trophies and monthly medals and a Thursday morning Shotgun that can attract over 50 people.

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The Clubhouse was built in the late 90’s

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Sits conveniently across from the Road Hole and the Old Course Hotel

People and best friends que up and pay a few quid to play this awesome venue

A patron at the first of the more tame 9-hole Course

Putting in view of the whole town

One serious transition to negotiate…..pick your flag

As close as could be managed on a 60-footer with 10 feet of break

Attracting players of all sizes for a wee bit of afternoon fun…and no windmills or clown noses are needed

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It has taken a while but golf resorts in America are finally getting their arms around this idea and adding entertaining facilities like this for the enjoyment of their guests.  Bandon Dunes opened their version called The Punchbowl just last year.

July, 2016

As has been a tradition for people on holiday for over a century Cruden Bay was one of our first stops on a recent trip to Scotland. Always a fan favorite the members enhanced Cruden Bay golf course with a couple of changes that please the eye and the competitive balance of the course.

Picturesque view from the clubhouse…remains of Slains Castle on yonder ridge

A driving range in Scotland? Who’d a thunk it!

Controlling enthusiastic folk working on their games

The 1st and 2nd holes would feel right at home at Royal Dornoch

After the cardiologists hike up from the 8th Green the players are now greeted with a refreshing look of the coastline from the new 9th tee perched atop the highest dune ridge on the property. This view reminds me of Bandon Dunes.

Play is exposed to the wind breezes as the 9th works its way across the ridge

What follows is a long approach into a green complex canted left to right

Two more changes..they moved the tee on the 10th hole to the right of the 9th green (shown above) to force the tee shot to be played over the shoulder of the gorse laden dune on the right. Puts a little fright into a spectacular view of your ball free falling to the fairway floor five stories below.

On the blind par three 16th they realized that the hill that obscures your view of the green was expanding over time from sand blowing up from the beach. They were kind enough to shave it down enough so you can at least see the top of the flag behind the ridge.

Happy campers….albiet a bit wet but still happy to be at Cruden Bay

(Click to see the full Cruden Bay Golf club course review)

July, 2016

Simple mathematics….bend over and do your part….

Royal Aberdeen Golf Club

Aberdeen, Scotland

We had the pleasure of experiencing the hospitality of the folks at the Arnold Palmer Private Course at PGA West in Palm Desert on a glorious January day. Lots of sun, temps in the 70’s, perfect course conditions, and a bagful of giggles with friends.

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The Day Starts Here

Some Pimped Out Street Ready Wheels

AC, Upholstered Seats, Kona Lei, and a Recognizable Hood Mount

Thursday Guys League…Lots of Trash Talkin’……

Testimonial Plaque To A Fading Memory Of The King

Scale Defined By The Surrounding Topography

Peek Between The Goal Posts Down The Eighth Fairway

Even The Trim Comes From Hills

Water, Sand, and Tropical Palms Frame The Ninth

Surviving Sand In A Cloud Of Dust

Fowl Play

Courtin’

Big Horn Country…Looking Down At Fifteen

Jerry Garcia Peace Sign Rock Lords Over The Sixteenth Green

The Equestrian Final Hurdle At The Home Hole

Just Hangin’ Out-Brenda, Carl, Moe, & Kathy

January, 2016

(Click to see the full Course Review of the Arnold Palmer Private Course)

Brian Harman did something exceedingly rare today at The Barclay’s Championship on the PGA Tour. He made two holes-in-one in the same round. After a rough bogie-bogie start he made a one on the Par 3 third hole with a 7-iron from 183 yards. After turning the back nine he made a second ace on the Par 3 fourteenth hitting a 4 hybrid from 228 yards into the hole.

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This has only been done three times in PGA Tour history, once by an amateur Bill Whedon back in the 1955 Insurance City Open and most recently by Yasuka Miyazato, another household name, at the 2006 Reno Tahoe Open. So in the realm of Final Jeopardy obscurity Harman enters a pretty exclusive club.

Now having said that Harman actually did not play that well today. He was four-under par with eagles on these two holes and nearly holed 173 yard approach on the 17th hole today for another eagle. But with all that he shoots a rather tepid 2-under par 68 on the Par 70 Plainfield Country Club course in New Jersey. Apparently other than these three shots he did not really have his “A” Game today.

If nothing else there are a couple of families pretty happy about Harman’s play today because Quicken Loans will pay the mortgages for the next year of two more people entered into the Quicken Loans Hole-In-One Sweepstakes they are sponsoring all year on the PGA Tour.

August, 2015

August brings to our club one of our favorite events of the year The First Tee Mentor Outing sponsored by our men’s group, The Keepers, in conjunction with of the First Tee of Montgomery County. It is a day of field activities for the kids and volunteers that includes clinics with our club pros, a peanut-free picnic lunch, and some course time on the zoysia with the kids.

(Click on any photo to see a larger version of the image)

Our youngest volunteers- brothers working for mitzvah points
Keepers and friends were interested observers and cat herders
Encouragement….this is called a mentoring outing for a reason

Clinics run by our professionals…close up and personal

It is all about these kids and their love of the game

All smiles chilling over turkey, tuna, apples and yes….cookies…very good cookies

Some fairway time with friends and making some putts

Certificates and stuff to take home

What ensued were ooooos and aaaahs for the personalized Keepers bag tags and an open market trading session for Titlests and Callaways from the goodie bags.

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Special thanks to Woodmont Country Club for hosting, Conner, Geoff, Trillium, and Andy for running the show, the board of the First Tee of Montgomery Country for their help in getting us the participating kids, Steve and Moe for administrating the event, and our over 25 volunteers of Keepers, Woodmont Friends, and others from the First Tee Program who made it a fun and memorable day for all.

(photos courtesy of Melanie Padgett Powers/S. Keller/M. Dweck)

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August, 2015