My father was from St Andrews, loved his golf but as a young man preferred swimming and became Scottish Record Holder and champion in the mid 1930’s.
He was at home on TOC, so there can only be one place The Old Course St Andrews.
He taught me how to play, explained the game and how important it was to relax and enjoy the challenge. He encouraged playing new and different courses to savour the excitement of the unknown. Golf in my early days was a wonderful adventure. The game was totally played for enjoyment, for walking with nature and of course exercise. Yet the first time on the course that Old Tom developed for nearly 40 years of his life, was the biggest mountain I ever had to climb in my golfing life. Forgetting those watching, my mind was still on all that I had see and been told having just come out of the R&A Club House after a tour on all the history and golfing trophies i.e. The Championship Belt, Old Tom’s painting, the old clubs, the list just went on. I remember as we walked to the tee my father’s voice “Don’t worry, its just Old Tom’s course” then gave me the honour of Teeing off. To this day I still love the challenge of the unknown course.
In my youth, through to leaving school I was very competitive, winning many cups and trophies in Swimming, Athletics (the sprints 100 & 220 yards), Boxing, yet I never felt the need to be competitive with my golf – that must be down to my fathers influence.
Richard, I agree – any combination of father/son/daughter – no game of golf gets better than that.