MO goes Around the World

Thursday, July 24, 2025

I was a little sore when I woke Thursday morning. Stretching, Cowabunga cream and ibuprofen helped.

Joe, Jay and I headed to the course around 11:40 for our 12:30 starting time. Jay is hoping someone won’t show and he can play. He’s also our official first tee photographer.

We paid the starter, filled our water bottles and what appears? Dame Laura Davies has the starting time at 12:10.

Jay obtained her autograph as she moved from the practice putting green to the first tee.

Dame Laura played with Helen Dobson and two other gentleman who rode in one of two buggies allocated to The Old Course. More on that later…

And then it was 12:20. We approached the first tee, met the starter and our caddies.

And we were off. First hole, bogeys for both of us.

The other two in our group were junior golfers—Jacob and Will. Very polite young men, in the area for a junior golf camp and were also allotted a starting time in the Old Course ballot.

The weather was perfect, again. I realize how fortunate I have been to play The Old Course without rain or substantial wind.

Remember the gentlemen in Dame Laura’s group? Apparently neither of them had ever driven a buggy with GPS. They had difficulty understanding that the buggy would not allow them to go anywhere and everywhere. Even after one of the caddies in our group talked to them and explained the orange lines on the screen to let folks know where the buggy could and could not be driven, they were still getting stuck in unauthorized areas. It was so bad they let the group between us play through on #12.

My caddie Allen was a gem. A retired Greens Superintendent, his final gig was as the advance course setup person for the European tour. So he and Joe both knew John Paramour and exchanged memories of that wonderful man. He was everything a caddie ought to be. Part big brother, part instructor and part cheerleader. He coached me to a round that was 13 strokes better than yesterday (and will drop my handicap significantly). I was in two bunkers and one gorse bush. Putts were the same as yesterday so I was hitting the ball much better. Most importantly I had fun.

Joe managed to walk 18 holes. It wasn’t his first time on the golf course. In 2018, he was a walking scorer for The Senior Open at The Old Course. He had fun today too. And both of us finished the round with a bogey. Joe received applause from the gallery for sinking his eight foot bogey putt.

Dinner was at Little Italy. Fabulous Italian food and wine.

Aperitifs afterward at The Keys Bar on Market Street. The caddies recommended it as a place with the best selection of single malt scotch. Allen and Andy weren’t kidding! I enjoyed a Mortlach and Joe enjoyed one that isn’t exported to the states.

Home to bed and to do it again tomorrow at the Strathtyrum Course where Joe will have a buggy.