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 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.

“Scotland is notably famous for its Open Rota venues — celebrated courses where you can experience links golf at its finest and walk in the shadow of history.

“These acclaimed courses each merit high ranking on any traveling golfer’s bucket list.  But there’s so much more to Scottish golf than the courses you see on television.”

That’s how a recent Links Magazine on-line article started.  And the description reminded me of my five trips to the “Home of Golf” where I played many courses located in small towns around the country, not just the most famous venues.

More from Links:

“There are over 500 golf courses in Scotland, a country about the size of South Carolina.  So, you’re never far from a visit-worthy course when you’re touring Caledonia.  And it’s easy to combine rounds at some of the more exalted courses with visits to lesser-known but equally enjoyable ones—courses where the emphasis is on fun rather than fame.”

That was exactly my experience in Scotland.

I could play the Old Course in St. Andrews on one day (that is, if I could get a tee time) and the play Brora the next day.

I loved playing the small Scottish courses in the small towns.  Each town has one or two courses.  The proprietors welcome you with open arms and often pair you up with local residents who love to play, even as they talk you around a course using their characteristic Scottish accents.

Then, at the end of the round, it’s time for a “wee dram,” which means whiskey and, while I don’t much like the drink, it does warm you up after a round in the often-cold Scot weather.

I chose “links-style” courses in Scotland rather than the parkland courses characteristic of courses in the United States.

What’s the difference?

The main one is that, on links-style courses, you play many shots close to the ground and the ground works its will on the golf ball.  I often played a 7-iron from 50 yards or from 150 yards.  There are few, if any, trees.  On parkland courses, the challenge is target golf, with a lot of trees as you aim at pins.

Both are fun types of golf, but very different.

The Links Magazine article went on to list several small-town golf courses in Scotland that are worth playing.

• Crail Golfing Society (Craighead Links)—Crail, Fife [I have played this course, which features knee-high fescue rough.]
• Gleneagles (Queen’s Course)—Auchterarder, Perthshire  [I have not played this course, which is listed as, perhaps, the toughest par 68 course in the world, but, of course, I have heard of the several Gleneagles Courses.]
• Gullane Golf Club (No. 2)—Gullane, East Lothian  [I have played this course.  Actually, there are three courses at Gullane, which lies close to Open-Rota Course Muirfield Links.]
• Kilspindie Golf Club—Aberlady, East Lothian  [I have played this course, which lies in the first small town my wife and I visited in Scotland, Aberlady.]
• Panmure Golf Club—Carnoustie, Angus  [This course lies almost adjacent to Open Rota venue, Carnoustie.  It’s worth playing, as is, of course, Carnoustie, which is as difficult as any course I have played in Scotland.]
• Prestwick St. Nicholas Golf Club—Prestwick, Ayrshire  [I have played this course.  At one time, it was part of the Open Rota, but these days it is not long enough to accommodate pro golfers.  It accommodated me just fine.]

That’s enough for now. 

Suffice to say that golf in Scotland is a pleasure.  You relive history every time you visit a course, even a small one in a small town.

Great golf.  Great country.