I’ve been living a check-list: cameras and Gopros, passports and reservations, pedometers and sharpies and golf balls and Body Glide. Two days until wheels-up for Heathrow, and through all the preparation I’ve tried to remember that it’s all about the journey, not the destination; as much as I want to plan and predict, there’s nothing about the next two months that I can know for sure. And for that, I’m not so much afraid as I am really, really grateful.
I’m looking forward to the end of the check-lists, or to where the check-lists turn into the on-course golfing sort–target, tempo, take-away–and that time is very close. But of all the things I can’t forget to carry with me on this adventure, the most important are pockets full of gratitude–I’m the luckiest golfing bastard alive–and for the 17 rounds scheduled for the first week, I’m not leaving it to chance as to whether they sell Bengay in Great Britain.
I’ll save the thank yous for the acknowledgements — the list is LONG — and a fitting thank you to Allyson and my family is an impossible task. The only proper way to even attempt to show my gratitude to them is to make the most of every minute ahead of me, and make them proud in this book, and maybe even on the golf course. And that’s really the only part of this plan that isn’t subject to the whims of Scottish weather or the demands of lost country roads. Making my girls proud is alone on its own checklist, and it’s set in stone.
I will make one early thank you here to a new friend — there are so many of you for whom I’m appreciative — and give my warmest regards to Ru Macdonald at the Scottish Golf Podcast. Not only has he helped spread the word about this journey, but he’s been an invaluable resource and contact in Scotland. And he’s like twelve years old or something, and doing extraordinary things to promote golf in his homeland (I think he’s actually 21, but still.) Ru was great enough to put out a podcast today in which we discuss the trip, and he’ll be updating Scottish Golf Podcast with A Course Called the Kingdom check-ins as I go along, so be sure to follow his fine work. Click below:
http://scottishgolfpodcast.com/tom-coyne/
And on Itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/scottish-golf-podcast/id769012915?mt=2
Do keep following as I hope to update on almost a daily basis from the road. Be well, and fore!
Hit em well, Tom. As usual, I envy you. Need someone to carry your bag? The journalism is going, I might be looking for work. Or maybe spending a lot more time golfing!
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Be safe, have fun! I’ve got you covered! Aunt Katie
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What an incredible trip. Need a caddie? 😀
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What an amazing trip. Need someone to carry the bag? 😀
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Tom – best wishes for the road ( or should I say roads ahead!) If A Course called The Kingdom turns out to be anything near as popular as A Course called Ireland, your time pounding the roads and courses of Britain will be time well spent. Good luck from the team at Specialty Golf Trips!
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Tom-Good luck, good golf and God bless. Paddy the caddy will be representing our clan this trip.
Be safe.
Denis
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I just emailed you via your website. Please check it.
Thank you!
Stuart
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Hope all is going like a lovely walk in the park…knowing dragging buns at the end of a day is probably part of it! Do you feel like you’re cleaning a golf cart with a couple of Q-tips! I find the quiet so loud…missing words! I have not met my daily quota today….how about you? !!!!! Sending good vibes!
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Spot on with this write-up, I seriously believe that this amazing site needs much more attention. I’ll probably be back again to see more,
thanks for the advice!
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