As part of the tour we must play all courses in Scotland and it just so happens that Leith Links the where the first rules of golf originate from just happens to be open once a year to allow golfers to come and play across the most historic links in Scotland.  We are invited to play in the 8th Annual Hickory Championships and we even get the opportunity to tee off first.

We arrive on a rather miserable Sunday morning although it does brighten up just as we tee off.  The course is 5 holes which you play around twice making the course a par 36 810 yards.  The competition is alternate shot with hickory clubs and the old golf balls for the tour we must play each shot ourselves so we were very kindly let out to lpay across the links again with our own clubs (or technology).  Before we start we are allowed to pick some clubs to play with we manage to pick up two putters bizarrely, a 3 wood, 1 iron, 3 iron, a niblet and a mashie.  Rules are we must tee off of sand as well so buckets of sand are provided at each tee.  Craig starts of the round by hitting a 3 iron out of the screw to the 185 yard (par4!) and manages to leave it 30 yards short!!! – We then proceed to make a seven and for the next few holes we make a bit of an arse of it.  However after Stu managed to knock the ball at the 4th into the school grounds we then finish in level par for the last 6 to shoot a very reasonable 41.  We had the privilege of playing with the organiser of the tournament and his Japanese visitor (ive no idea how to spell his name or pronounce it) but this guy takes it seriously and if he duffs it just laughs away to himself just a generally happy guy!

So we are back out on the course with our own technology and Craig with his trusty 7 iron and Titleist Pro V manages to hit the 1st green…how’s that for technological differences! – Stu is also happy he can get back to his clubs however there is no difference ar ar ar!! – We are pretty much held up all the way round for the five holes and the only thing that was exciting was Craig’s ball being pinched by a Jack Russell on the 4th who ran away around the corner into the Links with it.  Craig was inconsolable as it was a Pro V however on the last hole the owner returned it!!!

Craig managed to par all 5 holes and card a 18 (level par) and Stu a 22 (four over) and all in all enjoyed playing over the Links.  We look forward to playing again next year when hopefully we can play a bit better with the old hickory numbers!

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