My duel in the sun at Turnberry, Scotland

The above is a view of the newly remodeled Trump Hotel at Turnberry, Scotland, which is located about an hour's drive from our apartment in New Galloway. It was pouring rain all the way from home to the course, but began to let up as soon as I arrived. I checked in early, and had some time to get in some practice putting and chipping, and hit a couple of small bags of practice balls. By the end of the day, it would be sunny and warm and very, very beautiful.

I could imagine the venue as it existed when golf was born in Scotland. The rolling hillsides covered with grass that grows naturally, the clumps of gorse bushes, the breeze coming off the Firth of Clyde filled with the gentle scent of seaweed and saltwater, and the natural bunkers of sand. There is so much sand under the course, that it can be pouring rain in one minute and still be very playable a minute later. In fact, they say in Scotland, "If there's nae rain, there's nae golf"...meaning that without the rain, the course would quickly die.

I had the great privilege to play with three very nice gentlemen from St. Louis, Mo., in the good old USA. Since recovering from my bout with cancer, I have not been hitting the ball with any consistency, but they were very patient and kind as I duffed my way around the course.

This is the view from the tee box on number one. The fun begins! Watch out for the bunkers!

I managed to avoid this bunker guarding the first green, scored a bogey 5.

Teeing off on number 2! The caddies wear white overalls! One caddie shot a 7 under par on his home course the week before, and holds the course record.

Here are my playing partners! Great guys. I hope I get to see them again sometime..

That's me in the bunker..got up and down in two!

This one is a little further from the hole..took me three to get down from here.

The group in front tees off on number 9, with the iconic lighthouse in the background.

Me standing on the tee waiting to tee off on the par three number 9 hole.

This is so beautiful, I feel I need to keep taking pictures to save the memory.

Here's the lighthouse from the number 10 tee looking back. The lighthouse has a snack bar, and restroom, and you don't have to be playing golf to visit and eat lunch with this view!

Here is the plaque that gives the history of the lighthouse. One of my playing partners had played this course before, and he went on and on about how much Trump has improved the course and the hotel. Apparently it had been allowed to get pretty run down since the famous "Duel in the Sun"..the classic Open Championship between Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus in 1977, but has now been restored to its former glory. It is truly magnificent!

While we were on the 15th green, three helicopters arrived, dropped off their guests and then departed. Was it Trump???? No one would say.

Nice approach, John!

The stone bridge..looks old, but is a new addition.

Getting ready to tee off on the 18th.

The final hole..I made a 60 footer to save a bogey! They don't ask you in the clubhouse how..they only ask how many..but I'm not telling.

By the end of the day, the sun is shining on #18.

The caddy helps line up a putt.

All in all, it was a most awesome experience..even though I wasn't at my best, I would gladly love to do it again..but alas, with green fees above $300, it is not likely. Hope you enjoyed the journey..I surely did.