A friend of mine sent these to me yesterday, catching North Berwick on a typical Scottish summer day. While it rained for a few holes during the round, and since he didn't wear any rain gear out there at the start because he didn't think it would rain,   the result was worth getting drenched.

If anyone can't fathom the existence of the concept of heaven, well then you've never been to North Berwick.

Tommy:

While we've been working on The Renaissance Club at Archerfield, Don, Bruce, Brian, Brian, Kye Goalby, George Waters and Mike McCartin have all taken turns living in apartments which are a quarter-mile walk from the first tee at North Berwick.

There has been a lot of late-evening golf on the West Links.  I got in a little myself on that last trip, too.

Tom,
I could see where there might be an attempt by some of the guys would want to make Archerfield on a standard of the courses around it. Especially after seeing pictures such as these.

Nope. No George Waters! But your right though, George is has an outstanding eye. He knows his Mexican food too!

Thanks Tommy. Just about now in 21 days time I will be collecting the keys to our apartment in Market Square, I was excited but now I'm   .

I had though that I would try and only take 'atmosphere' photos as we've all seen shots taken while playing the round, but the standard these set are so very high.  If your frined has any more please urge him to post.

Maybe its just me,but these pictures remind me of something that has puzzled me on my 3 or 4 visits:there is something strange about the way the sunlight hits NB.It is beautiful but I have no depth perception there.

Great photos.  I was just there in May.  NB is one of my favorite all time courses.  Made one my most memorable birdies on the Redan hole hitting a 2I in there to 20 feet  

Mike Benham's signature photo is of the 18th with clubhouse and rainbow behind.  

As I read Tommy's post, my first thoughts was "rain = rainbows at North Berwick" and WOW ... thanks for remember Bill although these photos have more dramatic effect than mine ...

Ps:  And Bill .... GO GIANTS !!![/i][/color]

Tommy - I hope you don't mind, but I took the liberty of adjusting the contrast of your photos to bring out the details.

As I've said a number of times on here I've only been to North Berwick and played the course one time---in the summer of 2003 which was extremely dry over there. I played one round with USGA Exec member Craig Ammerman, and still today Ammerman reminds me that in his opinion he doesn't think any course he's ever played topped that one and that day for "cool". I sort of feel the same way and I'd be glad to describe some of my feelings as we proceeded through the golf course coming upon those holes, one after another that we'd heard about and read about. There were a lot of "OH MY GODs, as we proceeded through the course but I do remember when we came up to #16 green we looked at each other and said if we saw nothing else than just that green it would've made the entire trip over there more than worth it.

TE Paul

re North Berwick #16 green.  Where was the pin when you played it - front green or back green?

I'm not sure who I was talking to (a local, Rihc or FBD) but the chat was that the front green is more difficult.  I think the chap talked about when a couple of famous notables (?Mickelson and another US player, can't recall who) who in their earlier days had to pre-qualify at North berwick (presumably for an Open title at nearby Muirfield).  These players came to grief on #16, going from side to side before finally holing out and failing to qualify.

The risk of side to side play apparently is higher at the front green, although the rear green is quite severe.  I imagine the number who actually 'hit' the wrong green and can then have a legitimate play through that swale/valley/crevasse would be few indeed.

James B

That photo of #16 ("The Gate", not sure where that name came from, maybe there was a gate in the wall you want to be sure not to hit with your tee shot!) was taken from about where I hit my third shot the first time I played the hole.  I pushed my second and it ran up into closely cut grass over there.  I looked over the shot but failed to notice that little valley that cuts in there and joins the big valley.  Hit a putt to the pin, which was in the back of the front half, and thought it looked pretty promising, until it reached that little valley and SWOOSH!! dove off to the right and down into the big swale!  

Luckily I was able to two putt from down in the swale and salvaged a bogey, but that was a really wild experience!    What a green.  

Tom's guy is right, the trip is made worthwhile by that green itself.  And then of course it's preceded by Redan, and Perfection before that, and the Pit before that...........

Take that you Bay Area Bozos!

HAH!

Here are the totals for you two yoyo's:
Los Angeles Trolley DODGERS 3[/color]

San Fransucko gnats 1