An Educational Journey to the Home of Golf Written by Cam Shaw, Second Assistant, Burlington Golf & Country Club
I
t has been four months now since I returned from my trip to the UK, and the taste of freshly steamed haggis is still fresh on my breath (you think I’m kidding). Even more potent are the memories of the people, places and experiences that made up this once in a life time opportunity. I set sail for Scotland in October of last year after being awarded the Toro Future Superintendent of the Year Award from the CGSA. I remember thinking that six weeks would leave me plenty of time to experience all the great things that Scotland and Ireland have to offer. However, one soon discovers that narrow roads, chatty people, enchanting pubs and an outdated map from 1985 make for sluggish wanderlusting. For me, slow travel has never been a curse, just a blessing which allows a traveller to savour each moment a little longer. My first week was spent working at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at Kingsbarns, just outside of the St. Andrews. I arrived two days before the other volunteers and was afforded my first few afternoons off to get acquainted, rent a car, and settle in. But settle in I did not, for on the very first evening of my arrival was none other than the final day of the Ryder Cup. Without hesitation I found my way to town, shacked up in the famous Dunvegan pub, and watched one of the most infamous comebacks in all of sport. Next to being in the crowds swarming the 18th green at Medinah, I can’t think of a more awesome and authentic place to be during that moment. We were all crammed in that little pub like sardines. Shoulder to shoulder, screaming, chanting, spilling, heckling and dancing. I had only been in this country a day and I was already arm in arm with 30 strangers whom I felt I had known for years. From the moment I arrived in Edinburgh, the weather was outstanding. The Dunhill had the best playing conditions since anyone could remember. The tournament made a perfect venue for me to begin my journey because turfies from all over Europe had come to volunteer. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet people, chat about new ideas, and dodge about each other’s outrageous native accents. Innes Knight, the Head Greenkeeper, had arranged for me and four other volunteers to stay in a stone cottage on the edge of St. Andrews. During the tournament, mornings were filled with hard work, bacon rolls and stories of the previous night. Midday breaks were used to catch up on sleep and visit nearby golf courses such as Carnoustie, Fairmont St. Andrews Bay or Craill Golfing Society. In the afternoons, focus was put on filling divots and brushing sand off the revetted bunker faces. When work was done, we used our remaining time and energy to muster up some food, and taxi into town to repeat the shenanigans of the previous evening. It was bittersweet when the tournament came to a close, but I was looking forward to my first day off and my next stop on this dreamlike trip.
Left: Teeing off at St Andrews Castle Course. Top insets: Rain shelter at Royal Portrush; Lighthouse at Turnberry, Ailsa Course. Opposite page, left to right: Renovating revetted bunkers on the Old Course; Royal Portrush sign; Swilcan Bridge on the 18th hole at St Andrews Links Old Course.
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Green is Beautiful •
Winter 2013