PERSPECTIVE FROM THE 19^TH HOLE: This is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus use an image from my favorite sport, golf. Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all of my professional positions, including as a Congressional press secretary in Washington, D.C., an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and a private sector lobbyist. This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.

I have had the privilege of playing golf in Scotland on five different occasions, a reality I treasure.

One of the reasons I have gone so often to Scotland is that it was the homeland of my wife’s parents who emigrated to the United States when they were children. They arrived to a better life in the U.S., eventually married, and had three daughters, the youngest of which is my wife, Nancy.

So, with Nancy as the best tour guide I could possibly have, we set out on our Scottish expeditions.

The first time we were accompanied by my son, Eric, and his wife, Holly, as he played in the British Mid-Amateur, which was held at historic Muirfield. Better to say that Nancy and I accompanied Eric and Holly.

It was a great trip. My daughter, Lissy, was supposed to join us, but, being pregnant, the doctor put her to bed on the eve of the trip. No matter. Fortunately, we had trip insurance and several years later we completed a trip to Scotland with Lissy and her family, another part of what my wife calls “making memories.”

Over our trips to Scotland, I have played a variety of courses, including the famous ones like the Old Course in St. Andrews and Royal Dornoch in the far north of the country, which probably would rank as the best course I have played in my life.

Nancy and I also have stayed in bed and breakfast establishments where we loved talking to the Scottish people about their country. Your first impression sometimes can be that Scots are aloof, but give it just a bit of time and they’ll become fast friends, willing to help you with anything in “their country.”

In all of the communities where we stayed, I also played “no-name” courses, which my favorite Scottish golf writer calls “hidden gems.” They are gems and, if you have a chance to play with Scottish residents in these small towns, so much the better.

All of this came flooding back in my memory as I read a story in the on-line version of Links Magazine under the title “Top Modern Courses in Scotland.”

Here’s how the article started.

“The game of golf, at least as we know it, was born on the links land of eastern Scotland over 500 years ago. While it’s now played by tens of millions of golfers around the world, Scotland is still widely known as the home of golf. It is home to iconic Old Course at St Andrews and the R&A, the site of the first Open Championship back in 1860, and the birthplace of Old and Young Tom Morris.

“…during my research, I also found myself wondering about the modern Scottish courses I’d most like to play. With a wealth of courses dating back hundreds of years, I considered ‘modern’ to be anything that was built and opened since 1970.

“There are 537 golf facilities in Scotland, according to the National Golf Foundation’s database, and approximately 90 of those were built within the past 50 years. There are some particularly good ones among them, especially those built in the past two decades or so that meld modern design touches and timeless Scottish architecture.”

It turns out that I have had the privilege of playing two of the six “top modern” courses mentioned in the article.

Machrihanish Dunes (2009)
More than 100 years after Machrihanish Golf Club was laid out by Old Tom Morris, David McLay Kidd built Machrihanish Dunes on neighboring dune-scape that shares the same breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean along Scotland’s west coast. Flocks of sheep roam this rough-around-the-edges, no-frills course, which is built on pristine linksland protected by the Scottish government. Kidd’s design encourages thought, creativity and imagination.

Castle Stuart (2009)
Like Kingsbarns, Castle Stuart is the vision of American developer Mark Parsinen and overlooks the Moray Firth and well-known landmarks synonymous with Inverness and the Black Isle. This Gil Hanse design was created to join iconic courses like Royal Dornoch, Nairn, and Brora as can’t-miss golf destinations in the Scottish Highlands. Along with spectacular vistas, golfers are surrounded by a rugged landscape with vast expanses of gorse, broom, heather, and sea marram.

These words beckon me to Scotland again. It’s a treasure to be able to set foot on the hallowed ground where so many have played before. And, it’s not just a game. It’s a time to welcome the lay of the land, to appreciate the beauty God has created, and to revel in the historic venues as you play “links-style” golf.

Scotland? Again, soon!