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 to 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 press secretary in Washington, D.C. for a Democrat Congressman from Oregon (Les AuCoin), as an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, as press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and as 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 could have called this blog “Middle Ground,” for that is what I long for in both politics and golf.  The middle ground is often where the best public policy decisions lie.  And it is where you want to be on a golf course.

I am taking a respite – for me, a welcome one — from my approach in this blog lately to write about the welcome demise of Donald Trump as a loser and the welcome arrival of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as winners.

The change provides an opportunity for a majority of the country to move on from the worst presidency in history, with its litany of crimes, insurrection and sedition.

But, for today, I write about incredibly good deals to become a member of a major golf club or a golfing society in Scotland, the home of golf.  And, it won’t cost you an arm and a leg. 

Here is the information supplied by Links Magazine:

Royal Dornoch

One of the world’s most famous clubs, with one of its highest ranked courses, charges a $1,177 initiation fee, plus $557 in annual dues, which makes that $1,734 first year cost the bargain of a lifetime.  Membership also includes reciprocal courses and discounts at Castle Stuart among other perks.

Crail Golfing Society

You’re likely not going to get into the R & A, but the next best thing is this club, very close to St. Andrews, that is the seventh oldest club in the world and has two courses.  One is a charming classic links and the other the debut design by acclaimed architect Gil Hanse. 

Initiation is $207, annual dues $219, which includes a small assessment for past clubhouse renovations.  Membership also includes discounts at a number of other classic Scottish courses.

Of course, today, given the pandemic, you’d have a tough time traveling to Scotland.  So, it will have to be enough just to imagine becoming a member of Royal Dornoch or the Crail Golfing.  Then, in your mind, play those courses to your heart’s content.