Our third golfing destination in the city of Edinburgh was Bruntsfield Golf Club. One of the four original golfing clubs which originally all played over Bruntsfield Links under the shadow of the Edinburgh Castle and then as congestion became a factor out at Musselburgh. When they decided that the four clubs ought to each get their own course, the chaps from Bruntsfield bought a nice piece of rolling parkland land not too far from town where the course sits today and where on this higher ground the water sparkles in the distance below. They also built a grand clubhouse in position A1. Today was earmarked as a day for rest and catching up and so we had hoped to nick around the links in a few hours and head back to base camp with Gillian and Ian. Alas, it was not to be.
We arrived for our 10am tee time and saw a gaggle of golfers hovering around the first tee. Joining the queue we watched as some of the less talented golfers managed to move the ball in a direction barely towards the hole and looked at each other as if to acknowledge that our plans of a quick round were shattered.
Two young chaps had taken their place to tee off next and, being 0950 hours and anticipating a slow round we thought it would be best to join up with Bruce and Ben two young chaps from Jamies old school â?? Stewarts Melville. Bruce was a member at Bruntsfield and Ben was on the waiting list.Â
The first hole was a stern test uphill and into the wind â?? probably the toughest hole on the course. The first tee shot was also one of those shots where youâ??ve got a dozen or so guys standing very close and watching intently which is one way to focus the attention after feeling a bit shaky from the night before. We both pulled out our 2 irons and had the old fullas wondering â??â??an iron from th tee??â?? â?? but a couple snaked down the middle drew the odd gasp. This must be put in context as theyâ??d just watched a number of groups from the Irish and Scottish lawyers golf day out tee off with what I can only describe as varied success.
[We just passed underneath an overhead message which I thought Iâ??d share with you â?? â??drive efficientlyâ?? â?? what does that mean? Perhaps gives you an insight into the Scottish Government.] Â Â
Back to Bruntsfield and â??that momentâ?? where I realized we were in for a long one. Standing over my birdie putt on the first â?? we were adjacent to the second tee. A well dressed chap looking a tad confused like an 18 year old as they walk into a busy pub for the first time had taken to the tee. His clubs were placed to the right of him and below was a huge and inviting downhill fairway. He drew the club back and made a pass at the ball and the next minute it was soaring off the clubface like no ball Iâ??ve ever seen. His drive flew to a maximum height of 2 metres, a maximum distance of 2 metres and at an angle of 90 degrees right, barely evading his bag. A similar shot followed but multiplying the distances 10 fold. Ouch. After this, these lawyerly chaps stopped for a chat as they put their knitted head covers onto their drivers before strolling off down the fairway â?? the aforementioned chap walking off on an awkward angle right all day until they pulled pin after 12 holes. To be fair to these boys the field of corporate players ahead all looked like they were on a similar wave length and pace of play this morning.
Four holes down and a few fundraising chances missed â?? including a straight eagle putt from 20 foot which I managed to 3 putt â?? we spent a good 10 minutes sitting on the 5th tee. Jamie went for the lying down option drawing the query from the group behind (also waiting) whether he was ok.  And then, after an hour 20 minutes four holes into our daily endeavor the story of the day, the story of the blog happened. After Iâ??d knocked it to the middle of the green, JP stepped up 6 iron in hand and lazily dropped the club on the ball careering it with his signature right to left sling down the hill towards the green. Great shot we said as it zeroâ??d in on the flagstick and it kept going and going. Then we saw in the distance the white ball bound up from short of the green and career straight into the middle of the flagstick only to bounce off it two feet to the right!!! I wont go into whether it was lucky or unlucky as it was traveling but what I do know is that Iâ??ve seen those go in before (on TV). It was, without a doubt the closest to a hole in one all year and I tell you itâ??s going to happen. Â
The round continued at a leisurely pace despite our disoriented chap ahead pulling pin after 12 holes. The odd sparkling shot kept us going and a few birdies were made to help the fundraising tally. Bruntsfield was lush and a really nice walk with mature trees and gentle undulations leading you around the property. From what Bruce said itâ??s normally a very leisurely place where you can knock it around in 2 ½ hours no worries and Iâ??d suggest it would be a great place to knock it about for locals at the end of a long day at work in the city. Unfortunately that wasnâ??t the case this morning and over 4 and a half hours later we arrived at the 18th frustrations aided by another three putt from JP, thanked the boys for their company and jumped in the car to head back to Ian and Gillians for some rest.Â
This is the last blog Iâ??ll write during our Edinburgh stint so Iâ??d like to thank Gillian and Ian for having me this last week â?? youâ??ve been amazingly kind to me and welcomed me into your place so thank you very much!
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