Another early start but neither of us were rushing to leave the house, it was pouring. But it was the last day and M needed to win by more than 8 holes to complete a great comeback. So there was no way we would miss it.
The local Lamlash bakery was closed and there was a note on the door saying back in 10. We opted to get to the golf course and see if we could get a breakfast butty there.
Shiskine is over the other side of the Island so it was up to Brodick and turn left across the string road. As we drove, the rain turned to snow, heavy snow at the top, we were forced to slow down. Golf did not look very likely. Soon over the top and the snow turned to rain and the rain gradually eased.
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| Proof of the snow! |
By the time we parked to get our card stamped the rain had stopped... very lucky! Now for the bad news, breakfast was not possible at the club until the restaurant opened in 20 mins. So we were forced to eat Fruit and Nut chocolate bars for breakfast. It was the nearest thing to a breakfast that was available in the pro shop! We were told that there was 2 people already playing and some were booked to follow us.
So with a bar of chocolate for breakfast off we went.
I had played this course last year so I had some advantage. The course is so good that I had played it over in my mind many times since, hence now I remember it in great detail.
First hole I hit the fairway with a very average shot and M went right. I continued down the fairway with poor shots until reaching the green and 2 putting. M went over the mountains to the right. (This turned out to be part of the 11th hole).
2nd hole was a bit better and I made steady progress to the hole. M went right again.
3rd hole is the signature onto the cliff hole. I managed to get over the hill onto the edge and M got 90% up the hill. We completed this hole with no trouble. Is that what happens when you practice for a week?
4th hole down from the cliff. M hit a good one just off the green. My first attempt went right and I assumed it was lost. I took a provisional which was also lost so I took my mulligan and hit one short. Luckily for me I found my first ball on a nice ledge. So all was well if not a bit lucky! And perhaps cheating?
5th hole was down to the seashore. I did a nice shot to the right and M had a bit of trouble off the tee and ended up under a bench.
We waited a bit for the 2 people behind in a buggy to catch up but they were so slow we carried on and ended up finishing a long way in front. No idea how!
6th hole is along the sea heading for a sunken green infront of the hill. Played this well and got a par.
7th hole is over the hill. This year I remembered that you can go right if you are happy with at least 4.
I was happy with my 4. The direct way to the green is over the Himalayas!
8th hole is back to he sea. Black cat crossed both our paths (unusual or lucky!). I got to the green in 2 I think and another par.
9th hole is the long one over the hill then over the burn then up onto the green. I managed to stick to the fairway and avoided the water (unlike last year).
10th hole is down across some heather to par 3. I ht a nice 4r just short of the green. By this time M was flagging with the start of cold/flu and a long week of golf!
11th hole is across the mountains that M had crossed on hole 1. I hit my 5W and it went right but was perched up so that I had a great view of the hole. M went onto the first fairway...
12th is easy par 3 if you can avoid going over the back. I pitched short but 1 putt for another par.
This was my best round of golf ever... hence the long blog.
And it also sealed my title of Arran Challenge winner 2013. Roll on 2014!
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| M getting to the green on the 2nd. |
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| Looks like an awkward lie? |
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| Change your club then. |
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| Not the only ones here there are 2 more. |
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| Down the cliff! |
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| M got here in 1. |
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| Putting into the sea. |
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| Putt cam practice. |
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| Bag forgotten? |
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| Tee cam. |
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| Long chip. |
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| Looks like me. |
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| M over the hills. |
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| Its wasn't warm. |
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| Tee cam practice. |
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| Nice shot to the green. |
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| Last shot. |
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| Close up! |
The restaurant was open and we had a great breakfast... M was convinced that if breakfast had been before the game then things would have been different.
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| Butty Cam. |
But thats not all... on return to the cottage we had a couple of hours chipping practice while inventing a game of football that relied on hitting a golf ball at a football and trying to get it into the goal. We had to give this up after about 3/4 hour as only minimal progress. Don't expect to see this as an olympic sport anytime soon.
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| Hit the football with the golf ball..? Why would you do that? |
