DAYS ON THE ISLAND (ARRAN THAT IS)

The Traveling Duffer’s packager for the first portion of “Scotland 2025”, (LomondGolfTours.com), sent him across the pond, across the pond (repeated for effect), to the Isle of Arran for golf and beauty he didn’t anticipate.  The ferry over to the Isle only took about 50 minutes, just enough time to get off his phone and reflect a little, although wi-fi was provided on the ship.  This portion of his journey allow him to set foot on two courses, Shiskine (a 12 hole wonder) and Brodick.

THE DIGS.

His stay at the Douglas Hotel, just a short par five from the ferry dock, was amazing.  This completely refurbished hotel had everything going for it:  great bed, bath tub for soaking away golf wounds, excellent food and beverages of every type…yes every type.  Unfortunately, as he has quit drinking on Tuesdays, he had to make up for it on Wednesday. 

THE PEEPS.

As he made his way across the Island toward Shiskine at (sometimes) 60mph, on curvey roads, TD was full of anticipation.  According to Callum of LomondGolfTours.com, the views of Shiskine were unmatched in Scottish golf and the only downside was that there were only 12 holes of time to take in the scenery.  Fortunately, as he ran to the first tee box, an unsuspecting couple (Mike and Christine) from Edinburgh (via the world), was about to tee off and, naturally, TD felt that he could only add to their day, whether they liked it or not.  Fortunately, they obliged and, this day, TD was on his best behavior. He thinks they liked it (him) as they bought his haggis/mac n cheese lunch, proving there is a free one out there if you just behave.

The meeting Mike and Christine was truly fortuitous.  They observed his first tee shot at a full 20 yards, his second shot nearly 30 yards and, whilst there and then, he decided  that this would not be a day for scorekeeping, but sightseeing. 

SHISKINE-ING.

The tee shot on the second hole (toward the wee pole that directs golfers to the wee hole), was blind; as was TD, from the howling winds of Shiskine.  TD was able to follow Christine as she had powered her tee shot over the ridge and on to the green, thus showing TD the way to create his own “infamy”.  Par, he couldn’t believe it. This course was a piece of cake….well…

As the group crested the hill to the third hole, a 900 yard par 3, into the wind, TD was so taken aback by the views of Machrihanish, that his driver fell short (or something like that).  Anyhow, he was able to chip up and save bogey, or double bogey or triple, or (again) something like that.  His college accounting courses didn’t include such numbers. 

A BORN FOLLOWER.

TD then followed this extremely tolerant couple to this hole, then that hole, as he salivated over the “eye candy”, that were the views of Shiskine.   At this point, Mike directs TD’s gaze toward the Isle of Curling (Alisa Craig), the only place in the world where a rare, quartz-free microgranite exists for the making of curling stones.  No one lives there. So, this makes one wonder, do the those shifty “curlees” slip over there at night and get stoned.?.  

CONDITION.

With all this beauty at hand and with the lashing of the elements, one has to wonder how the greensmen can create such manmade beauty amongst that which is so natural.  Oh, the contrast!

AND THEN, GOD CREATED WIND.

Nuff said.

THE SHISKINE APPARATUS

No, this is not a pole for drying a drenched wetsuit. No bell (ma), it likely could not be heard in the wind anyway. The rope (running underground) is attached to a like apparatus, at the other end (of its rope) signaling those on the tee that their predecessors in golf have left the green and that they can fire away.  This type fixture was a new one on the old TD, a man whom, within his lifetime, has already attended three goat ropings and a state fair.

IN THE END…

…with all its quirkiness, visual visuality, hills and dales, rocks and mountains, Shiskine produces a solid but challenging test of golf where competitions are held, wins are won and defeats are non-existent as the simple rounding of Scotland’s premier 12-holer is a triumph all its own.  This fine day was brought to you (and bestowed on the TD) by Mike and Christine, without whom, TD would likely be on the sea shore, with Sally, selling sea shells.