It is 15 years next month since several GCA'ers played the three-day event at The Old Course, comprising Old (anti-clockwise, or right hand side), New and Old Reverse (clockwise, or left hand side).
Great memories, and some great names played.
Imagine 1 and 18 playing diagonally with no centre line hazards (everyone seemed to play a similar line on a one-off play, straight at the pin. Then 9 and 10 playing diagonally with centreline hazards (I think).
Imagine the terror of playing 7 to a pin just over the most ferocious bunker you can imagine (11th typical pin) with no backstop.
And the ability to play in the alternate direction to 16 holes (8 double greens).
Yes, the mowing is poor.
Yes, the 12th hole is poor (although Tom Doak had worked out how to play it, as a wide dogleg left).
Yes, the incoming balls from tee shots played to the right was too common.
And yes, an unforgettable experience.
I described it as dancing with your wife's twin sister. It looked similar, but played completely differently.
Oh to do it all again, with friends.
James B
ps the East Lothian trip that Tony M arranged prior was exceptional as well.
pps there was a 2-ball in front of us who had driven up from near Bath that day, both in their 20's, just to play The Old Course. They had to play the Reverse that day, not their expected one-off game of the Old Course. I don't know what they expected for such a long day of driving and 'different' golf.