best layovers

[Tommy Williamsen]

I am one of those guys who hates to waste a day in travel.  When I ski, I fly to Denver early and get on the slopes after lunch.  When I go further afield I have to get creative.

Here are three great layovers.  They made the trip an adventure.
1.  2008  I had a speaking engagement in England.  I flew to Amsterdam and had an 8 hour layover.  I took the train to Zandvoort and a cab to Kennemer GC where I borrowed a set of clubs and played 18.  Got on the wrong train on the way back and almost missed my plane.

2. In 2010 I visited our sister church in Madagascar.  I had a 36 hour layover in Johannesburg.  I rented a car and drove up to Sun City where I got a room.  In the morning I visited Pilanesburg Game Reserve where an elephant almost ran me over.  Later that day I played Gary Player CC and 9 at the Lost City GC.  Got to the plane in plenty of time.

3.  last year I visited our sister church in Slovakia.  I had a 7 hour layover in Paris.  A friend picked me up and drove me to Morfontaine GC. Had to play in a hurry but got back to the airport with time (10 minutes) to spare.

[Michael Goldstein]

Tommy, I like your thinking.

A couple weeks ago I had 10 hours spare in LA en route back to NZ.  Disregarding the Friday traffic I bundled my gear into a cab and went to LACC (which is one of the best restorations I've seen).  Unfortunately there was a competition on and I had to pull pin after 16 in order to make the next flight home...

[Adam Lawrence]

You know, it had never really occurred to me how easy it would be to get to Morfontaine from CDG. And the course is always quiet, so you can pretty much guarantee a quick round. Love the place.

[Rich Goodale]

Has to be Prestwick airport.  If you were lucky enough to be there in March 1960, you would have got to spend time with THE King (sorry Dan....).

http://www.elvispresleymusic.com.au/pictures/1960_march_3_elvis_presley_prestwick_airport_scotland.html

Even today, they have an Elvis Bar at the airport, and you never know, he may still be in the building.....

[JMEvensky]

Even today, they have an Elvis Bar at the airport, and you never know, he may still be in the building.....

Nah,he's still here in Memphis--the newspaper interviewed a woman who saw him at the grocery store a couple of weeks ago.

[Wayne_Kozun]

In 2010 I visited our sister church in Madagascar.

So are you going to tell us about your visit to Foulpointe, at one time the #10 ranked course in the world?

[Doug Wright]

I flew to Europe via Iceland earlier this month. Had a 9 hour layover, and we saw some of the sights (which are very cool) with a guide. We passed 3-4 golf courses along the way, including one near the airport that looked linksy and interesting.

PS Iceland would be an easy place to do a Hundred Hole Hike this time of year!

[Tommy Williamsen]

In 2010 I visited our sister church in Madagascar.

So are you going to tell us about your visit to Foulpointe, at one time the #10 ranked course in the world?

I remember reading about Foulpoint.  I went south from Antananarivo and I guess Foulpoint is north a bit.  From what I understand there is still  holes there but nothing remains of the original.  I did stop at a 9 hole course in Antsirabe. Pretty primitive.  It is golf in its most raw form.

[Mark Chaplin]

Not sure a layover in Amsterdam is great when you can fly direct to LHR from most of the world!

[Tommy Williamsen]

Not sure a layover in Amsterdam is great when you can fly direct to LHR from most of the world!

You don't understand, I flew through Amsterdam just to play Kennemer.

[Rich Goodale]

Don't be so kind, Tommy.  Everybody who knows anything about air travel knows that Heathrow is one of the best 3rd world airports in the developed world....