Catch 8:45 ferry with bin lorry with Caddy A. Sunshine! Call in at Post Office to pay 1 quid (I paid 4). This is my return trip and last time I played in trainers. This year I walked in trainers and played in golf shoes. There is a good 20 minute walk to the start. As usual I had the course to myself. I was little worried about the cows but I was assured by the locals that all would be fine.
This year I have given up using anything bigger than a 5i so my bag was lighter!
The course is a natural course and has very little maintenance so the fairways are kept under control by shell and cattle. The greens are probably mown and flattened once a year for the Iona open. The greens are small and putting is tough. As a result I either gave myself a score of 1 or 2 when I got to the green.
On the first I took a route right and ended just short of the green in 3.
On the 2nd I made good progress to the hole being just short in 3.
On the 3rd par up the hill I went short and should have been OK but my shot went over, hit a stone and bounced quite a way along the path ending up with a 6!
On the elevated 4th down the hill I went right of the hill and only messed up a bit close to the hole.
On the 5th I did a nice tee shot and then ended up on the beach, paid the price with a penalty (must go right in future!)
On the 6th by the sea it was a nice easy 5.
On the 7th I went left over the fence towards the farm but got back to the hole nicely with a 4.
Over the fence to the 8th away from the farm,
Back over the 8th on the par 3 9th I went too far with the wind behind, No trouble though.
The 10th is a long way going away from the farm to the rocks. At least I had an idea where I was going. I got to the rocks in 3 scaring a couple of sheep on the way.
The 11th is one of my favourites towards the beach.
The 12 is a long way up a hill. This year I kept left of any trouble and found the hole with the help of a caddy.
No memory of 13th
14th is short par 3 and I went over a bit.
The 15th is across some sand dunes and a couple of stiles up a hill. Quite along way.
The 16th is back across the 2 stiles and then over a sand dune. Instead of playing short before the dune I lost my ball in the long grass. (Just after the caddy had said "at least we have not lost any balls").
The 17th is a one way back up to the open hillside near the start.
The 18th is almost at the first tee.
This year is was definitely easier without a load of duff shots from my woods and it was drier so my balls went further. My score is click here.
With a handicap of 28 I only messed up 2 holes. The 3rd par 3 with a poor 2nd shot and the 16th with a lost ball in the long grass. Both were avoidable. It is quite telling that I only managed 3 greens in anything like a proper golf score. With 4 real bogeys and a real par.
Great fun!
