SCOTLAND 2025 This year TD will do his Scotland "thang" in the area of Tain and has (somehow) received membership in the Tain Golf Club. Old Tom still haunts the site he laid out 120 + years ago and this membership is one of the best values in Scotland.

Brothers Peter and Chris joined TC and TD for a round at Carne during International Members Week.  TD hopes to hook up with Peter in a few weeks in Sandwich as he attends the Black Deer Festival to see Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Bonnie Raitt and Lucas Nelson & The Promise of the Real.  TD will rap up his UK visit with the Van Morrison show at Royal Albert Hall in London on June 28.  

This was an extremely classy event that started on Monday morning with Fiona Topher's explanation as to the "plight" of Carne and ended with a banquet for over 100 international members from the US, Canada, the UK and other friendly places, i.e., Vladmir was not in attendance.

Not only were these two Canadian Ambassadors (Center) here to represent the Trudeau Administration, the Country of California was represented by Eric (left) who was fortunate to have been paired with these "a-booters" and TD on the first day.  All golfers got an "eh?"  for "achievement?"  

The host tract did not disappoint as many new embellishments have come to fruition at golf's greatest dunes course.  Truly, a special place.  

. . . or maybe young heifer as TD is not experienced in cow aging.  Regardless, she had heard where the grass was greener and TD had no right to interfere in her day.

TD came to Ireland directly from the East Coast of Florida where he was hobnobbing with other environmentalists.  It as suggested that he should try his hand at fishing off the pier at Jacksonville Beach.  Result? Let's just say that in 40 more years, he'll be 110.  

This was emotional, even for the old TD.  He felt the ground shake, and a tear appeared in his eye as Woods crossed the Swilkin Bridge and ascended the rise to the 18th green.  Woods committed to be back to for the 2023 Open to which the TD remarks, Godspeed! 

A picture of the Crail Golf Hotel, first being taken by the Traveling Duffer in 2010, just made him feel that golf was a major part of life in Scotland.  This has been and will continue to true for many centuries to come.  

While TD only was able to hook up with Martin, Dylan and Jim far into the back nine, this meeting once again exemplified what fine people inhabited this part of the world.  Three tradesmen, father and son and co-worker - a pint and a chat with these three solidified the necessity of TD's return to the home of golf.  

TD and his entourage spent two days traveling from St. Andrews to Pitlocry to Inverness and back, experiencing the beauty of The Highlands.

A view of the City of St. Andrews from the Torrence Course at the Fairmont St. Andrews had an impact on the TD.  While he had not experienced this property before, he shall again! His only complaint  was too few Scots.

TD met these fine gentlemen (Bill from Toronto on the left and Creegan from County Donegal on the right) at the Donegal links just across the bay from...hold on...yes...Donegal.  What a beautiful course and the company was great!

Creegan had a hot date so Bill and TD sat on the terrace of Donegal Clubhouse drinking a pint or two and discussing the physics of carbon release and sequestration.  By the second pint, they were quite authoritative in their views on the subject.  Oh yes, the "other views" are quite magnificent as well.

TD has a terrible time remembering the vantage points of his fine photography.  Thus, many times he will try to frame a reminder of where a particular shot is taken on the course.  On this hole however, the vantage reminder matched his score. 

Just to the west of Sligo Town, TD was able to roll his chariot into the parking lot before even the cook arrived.  While napping, three fine early birds rapped on his window with an invitation to enjoy this spectacular layout. TD has been known to embellish for effect but the invitation was made, just the same.

What happens when a Scotsman, an Englishman, an Irishman and an American tee it up, first off on a cloudy day?  You find out that the term yank can be a verb, an adjective and a noun; sometimes all three in the same sentence.  Jim, Bob, John and TD comprised an international 

foursome worthy of a 

St. Andrews Open.

Strandhill, another Eddie Hackett re-design invokes the seaside into its being better than any TD has played on this trip.  Horse races were held on the this sandy strand back in the day making this a golf course next to a horse race course.

TD is reunited with his family at the Dublin Airport and they head off into the Irish sunset for 10 days of doing "Irish things".  

While having grown accustomed to van living, TD was happy to change his ways to that of hotel life.  The RIU Gresham in Dublin had beds and hot and cold running water.  Yay!!!

Hearing that they were giving away free beer if you only heard the beckoned call, TD and family were rushed to the Guiness hospital, ah brewery.  It was a fine experience causing much enlightenment as to the concoction of such a fine ale.  

...came a trip to St. Patrick's Cathedral in an effort to pray for Guiness.  Oddly enough, there was a significant connection between Sir Arthur Guiness and the cathedral; more on that later.  

No trip to Waterford would be complete without a trip to the fabled glass maker.  Here the TD and his group viewed, not only golf trophies and their making, but also a moving sculpture presented to New York firefighters after 9/11.  

THANKS TO HIS NEW FRIEND JIM, TD CAME TO UNDERSTAND THAT QUEEN MAEVE MAY BE BURIED ATOP THIS MOUNTAIN ABOVE STRANDHILL LINKS.  SHE HAD FIVE HUSBANDS WHO ALL BECAME KINGS.  THIS REMINDED TD OF HIS AUNT MILDRED WHO MARRIED 9-13 TIMES (NOBODY REALLY KNEW) AND ALL OF HER HUSBANDS 

DIED PAUPERS.

AS THE ATLANTIC WRAPS THE WEST AND NORTH COASTS OF IRELAND, LINKS GOLF TAKES ADVANTAGE OF NEARLY 

EVERY STRAND.  

  "ONE HUNDRED LINKS COURSES LINING THE SEA? NOTHING IS BETTER FOR THEE THAN ME!" 

                           credit: Old Quaker hymn 

THE TOWN HINTED THAT  IT COULD DOUBLE FOR THE STRIP AT BAGNELL.  HOWEVER, THE WAVES TOLD A DIFFERENT STORY.

VIEWS, VISTAS, VANTAGES AT EVERY TURN. A LANDSCAPE ARTIST'S DREAM...

OR NIGHTMARE?

PHOTO FURNISHED BY THE 

IRISH DEPARTMENT OF 

REDUNDANCY DEPARTMENT 

. . . TD couldn't help but notice the sign on the N59 Highway (near Skreen) pointing north-ward-ly toward the BEACH BAR.  Since Coyne's book had only a few pictures, TD was half expectant of a seaside shanty with dirt floors; something from a 60's American surfing movie starring Annette Funicello. He couldn't have been more mistaken!

Whilst TD likely missed out on some of the local craic of the Beach Bar by walking into the dining room rather than the pub, he was nonetheless overtaken by his surroundings.  The walls of this spectacular Inn were adorned with memorabilia of goings on in current and past centuries.  I fine dining establishment, for sure! 

 Thanks to the staff at corporate headquarters, TD travels mainly on points.  Another "points Christmas" came in February when TD fled  the Missouri winter to see what golf was like in the fabled Algarve region of Portugal.  It was an enlightening experience.  

TD was told by the nice English couple he played with here that this is the most photographed golf hole in Europe.  200yd par 3 over not one, but two canyons and against the sea.  Whew!  Stay right to avoid the hazard!

In the view of this duffer, The Algarve was too much like a steroidal Lake of The Ozarks.  People tearing down million dollar houses to build $5M houses.  (Photo of Monte Rei, the Nicholas facility in the eastern Algarve). 

If he is ever so lucky as to return to Portugal, TD will make his stand north of Lisbon near Peniche.  This four year old Dye Company layout was one of the best golf courses TD has ever experienced.  

The vistas at West Cliffs and its sister course Praia Del Rey were just stunning.  And, just to the north is Peniche, a peninsula city that is the surfing capital of Europe known for it's huge and angry Atlantic waves.