Golfing heaven

We are in Scotland, aye, and Sandy says he has "died and gone to heaven". We fluked into a totally amazing suite at the Rusacks Hotel, which overlooks the 18th green at the St Andrew's Old Course. Seriously, it's a wonder golf balls were not flying through our window.

We wandered into town early in the day. St Andrews, quite apart from the golf courses, is a beautiful, historic town in a lovely setting on the sea. the ruins of the old cathedral sit majestically on the point, framing the water, and the classic ancient buildings of the university dominate the town.

We stopped at the information centre and asked the sweet girl there to find us a room in the town, not far from the golf course. She booked what she told us was a "standard double" room at this hotel. When we got here, we discovered we had possibly the best room in the whole town. It turned out to be a gorgeous suite (the Tom Morris Snr suite) with views of the course, even from the toilet. The living room looked straight at the clubhouse, the beach, and the 18th green. (The beach, as it turns out, is the same one on which the actors run in the classic opening scene of "Chariots of Fire". I seem to be on some sort of unofficial "Chariots of Fire" tour here). Part of the view you can see in the photo. Sandy says being here is better than playing the course; he has been standing at the window for the past hour critiquing the game of all the golfers who are passing by. Comments keep floating over to me like "Ah, you mug! You duffed it in the valley of sin!" This may mean more to people who golf than it does to me.


St Andrew's is actually a public golf course, so we were surprised and pleased to have been able to walk around on the paths on the course as golfers were playing. We literally stood a few metres away as a group played the 17th green. As you can see from the photos, we also got the "money shot" on the famous bridge. We were by no means the only people to be doing this!

Even though I'm no golfer, St Andrew's charmed me, and I was thrilled to see Sandy walking around with that look on his face like I get when I'm in some really exciting foodie destination.