THE GREATEST OF DAYS FOR PEOPLE WATCHING (AND MEETING) AT GAILES LINKS
TD undertook this blog primarily—at least at the outset—as a way to remember the people who made golf, on any specific day, memorable and thoroughly more enjoyable. From that perspective, today was phenomenal. When he entered the clubhouse and found Mel, starter at Gailes Links, and Mel’s grandson Charlie at the desk, TD immediately got the vibe that these folks were intent on his having an exemplary round. They possessed and imparted far more information than would normally be bestowed on an elderly person playing as a single. Golf shop, lounges, changing rooms, practice facility; Mel and Charlie had it all under control. What’s more, each seemed equally proud of the other’s abilities—and this was all before the first tee.
Then, at the starter’s shack—in this case, more of an octagonal starter’s “edifice,” being of frame construction with a shake shingle roof—TD, being a minor historian of golf (think Reader’s Digest meets James Braid for a pint), asked Mel a question about the club and clubhouse. To this interrogatory, Mel’s retort was, “I’m going to tell you about that.” You could tell there was a sequence to this man’s ritual, of which Charlie was proudly observant. What a team. TD received the full, but concise, spectrum of the challenges of this tract (there aren’t many “don’ts” in Scotland), then aimed down the first fairway with the assurance that he had been “started” by the master—a truly appreciated golf experience. Editor’s note: Please appreciate those smiles. TD’s expression reflects that he has just eaten persimmon.
Navigating such a tract as Gailes Links as a single is not necessarily boring, but for TD, a professional (and visionary) conversationalist, he simply runs out of things to say to himself that he hasn’t already heard. He had met Harry of Norway at the practice facility (Scottish for driving range), and, at least subliminally, he suspected that the two would be “simpatico.” However, it took a wedding of the two on the 11th tee box to bring this expectation to reality. This made the balance of the round substantially “more better,” and TD was getting tired of conversing with the old man with whom he has shared every round of golf he has ever undertaken. Quite frankly, many years ago, he had already answered all his own questions. Harry was in town for his daughter’s college graduation and thus was all smiles. His level of cordiality was significant. Both played those last seven holes significantly better than TD’s expectations for himself had foretold. Thanks for taking that walk, Harry. You’ve been immortalized in the mind of a guy who’ll probably die in the next decade, so you can estimate the perceived value.
And then, just after he thought the fat lady had sung, TD encountered this pair: son Vincent and proud dad Lars of Sweden. Lars felt the need to buy TD a beer, something brought on by a total lack of reason. TD immediately agreed and would have returned the favor, but his “one-beer-driving-on-the-wrong-side-through-multi-lane-roundabouts rule” prevailed. Lars and TD imbibed as young Vincent went back to his canvas—the practice facility—as he was unhappy with his round. TD thinketh that possibly Lars had prevailed today. A native of Kentucky, then DC, and now living in Sweden, Lars, along with Vincent, proved to old TD once again that you only meet the high, high-quality personage on a golf course. The two discussed their respective businesses and a shared familiarity with a fellow whose approach to public life could charitably be described as combustible, i.e., the guy setting the world on fire.
This says it all…TD does thinketh.