In August of 2010, I took a golf trip to Scotland with my father (first strictly golf trip outside of the United States for us), with the intention of enjoying the game in it’s birthplace and spending quality time as father and son (something we’re not able to do as often as we’d like…Thanks a lot corporate America).
We had an outstanding week of golf, unfathomably good weather, and more than a few pints while doing our best to enjoy all that Scotland had to offer. Our itinerary included: Prestwick, Turnberry, Troon, St. Andrews, Carnoustie and last but most certainly not least, Kingsbarns.
On the final morning of our trip, we teed off at Kingsbarns as a four-ball, with another father and son from Philadelphia and enjoyed a round in perfect conditions, with great playing partners. The course was in outstanding shape, we enjoyed all 18; breathtaking views from almost every hole, forcing us to use every club in the bag, risk\reward options abounded. Kingsbarns featured everything a good course should with absolutely unparalleled aesthetics. Two years later, I can still recall each and every hole.
What made it most memorable, and the reason I’ll never forget my day at the course, was the 18th. Walking down the fairway, after the forced carry, across the burn, arm around my father, we reflected on the round, our perfect week, our time together, and our good fortune for being able to take such a trip. As the final putts dropped, signifying the end of our golf for the week, we embraced, and the two of us (normally non-emotional), were most definitely choked up. It was the perfect ending in the perfect setting. Kingsbarns, while being perhaps the most scenic course I have ever played (including some similar styled American clubs), proved to be a worthy final combatant. When I look back on that week, I smile, and I often think back to that very moment, walking off the 18th, when the trip we long dreamt about, spent months, if not years planning, had turned out to be everything we had hoped for. Kingsbarns, along with the other fine links it neighbors, allowed us the chance to enjoy world class golf and to renew our bond as more than father and son, but as best friends….Kingsbarns, a challenging yet playable course, remains one of my personal favorites and a course that I will not soon forget. Coming in to the trip, it was the course I knew least about, but upon returning, is the one I have most touted as a must play to friends and associates. It proved to be the perfect close to the trip of a lifetime…Thank you Kingsbarns.
