Cullen 1988

The second golf holiday took place in Gavin's ancestral home, the small town of Cullen in NE Scotland.  There is a very fine nine hole course there - remember the par three where the tee and the green is separated by  the North Sea. Sadly after playing it, not many of us could claim to have driven across the North Sea!!

However most of our golf was played elsewhere. We had a mini bus and went as far North as Royal Dornoch and as far South as Cruden Bay. Can anyone remember where else? My recollection of Dornoch was that it was the hardest course we have ever played on - a stunning links course with completely unforgiving rough and greens that were impossible to get on.

Another strong recollection I have is Gavin’s driving. No, not the usual sorry tale of golf balls being sprayed around an unsuspecting golf course. Rather, by letting him behind the wheel of the mini-bus we saw parts of rural Scotland that had not seen human life for centuries.

One day in particular Gavin insisted on taking a short-cut. As we came off ‘A’ Road, then ‘B’ road, then ‘C’ Road we quickly realised that Gavin didn’t have a clue where he was or where he was going. Despite everyone’s protests, Gavin insisted he did and we then went down country lanes, farm roads and eventually dirt tracks. Only when it became clear that the crew where about to mutiny and forcibly remove him did Gavin rather grudgingly admit that he ‘had taken a wrong turning’. 

The other momentous moment was meeting up withSteveBailes. He was on a training tour of Scotlandbrushing up on the golf skills that were to make him his fortune. Coincidently he was staying in the same B&B as us. Coincidently there were only seven of us and it made sense to invite the lone golfer into the group. We should have learnt our lesson then. In the pub at night he took our money off us on the pool table. On the golf course he did the same. I think I’m right in saying he earned the ‘bandit’ title at this very first meeting. He’s been doing it ever since.

These are my memories - if you want to add them e-mail Fritz

NF