Favorite Golf Destination #3- Cruden Bay, Scotland

I usually don't return to a region more than once because I have too many courses on my bucket list yet to play. Cruden Bay is one step from heaven and a destination that I immediately fell in love with. It has one of the all time amazing views from the clubhouse overlooking the Cruden Bay and St. Olaf (9) courses, 1597 Slain's Castle (Bram Stoker's novel Dracula), and the North Sea.

Cruden Bay is one of the most unique, unforgettable designs, fun golf experience in the world. Old Tom and Tom Simpson are credited for most of the original design with a redesign of #9, 10, and 16 coming in 2014. If you love blind holes, #3, 14, and 15 will be some of the best you will ever play. After your round be sure to stop by for drinks and dinner in the club's dining room. We ate most all of our meals here, as the food is delicious and the service wonderful especially if your server is the delightful Irene B. On my first trip we stayed at the Kilmarnock Arms Hotel, most recently we stayed in a nice, sleeps 8 home across from the clubhouse.

Within a 30 minute drive South you can play the magnificent Trump Scotland course, Royal Aberdeen, Newburgh-on-Ythan, and Murcar Links- one of my least favorites with some of the narrowest fairways ever. To the North 35 min is Fraserburgh and Peterhead. Cruden Bay is a laid back town, with very friendly people, and sensational views. You can easily spend a week here golfing and recharging your batteries. Call +44 1779 812285 for tee times.

"The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time."- Mark Twain

#874 The Links Club at Spruce Creek South

Located in Summerfield, FL this 1995 Terry Doss design was one of the better courses I have played regarding risk/reward. His dogleg designs are 90 degree so you can bite off as much as you want, some will require you to take on treelines. On the F9 I liked #4,6,7,and 9. My favorite was the straight away 487 yd par 5 #6 which has a large pond that comes into play on your second shot with a light house to the its right. The B9 starts out with a blind tee shot, short, DL 290 yd par 4. If going for this big risk/reward green you have to take on a small cattail area on the left side of the hole. I played it safe to the right and made an easy par. The 370 yd 12th, if you are JD, you could try and go for the green on this sharp DL right. Fall short and you will be in heavy grass in a depression. Again, I played it safe to the left of the treeline and made a birdie. #17 was my favorite hole on the course. A long 417 yd challenging DL left protected by trees on the left to a tiered geeen. I got stuck under the trees and was happy with a bogey to this back pin. #18 is a very challenging, serpentine par 5 which I usually like strong finishing holes. Except, I HATE to layup off the tee on a par 5. I hit driver, instead of 3W, trying to negotiate a narrow isthmus and ended up left into a heavy grass depression losing my yellow Chrome Soft. That shot screwed up a good B9. Conditioning was good except on 3 or 4 greens and it was a fun course to play with the risky holes. With the $25 coupon I had it was a great value and I will return again. White+

"Every day above earth is a good day."- Ernest Hemingway

Return to County Donegal and Rosapenna 2022

After over 2 years of Covid craziness I am hopeful of finally getting out of the country and returning to Ireland for the third time this Fall. On my 2011 trip I started in Dublin and went across the top of Ireland ending up in Carne. 23 rounds in 18 days and 10 lbs lighter I felt like I could have played golf forever. On that journey I had one stretch of real bad weather and it was in the NW Donegal region. At Ballyliffin Old it rained non stop the whole round (no Photos), next day was Sandy Hill and it snowed (would have frozen to death if Frank didn't make me take a buggy which allowed us to come back in and warm up), the third day was Cruit Island which I could not find so I headed south to Nairn and Portnoo where the winds were 45 MPH sustained and my traveling partner threw up on the way due to the winding roads. Can't get much worse than that stretch so I am returning with high hopes of sunshine and dry September weather.

I just confirmed the trip plan which is 12 nights and 12 rounds of True Links golf all in County Donegal. The highlight will be playing the new Tom Doak, St. Patrick's design at Rosapenna Resort twice. Below are my scheduled rounds:
Gweedore(14)
North West
Dunfanaghy
St. Patrick's x2
Coastguard Nine(9)
Sandy Hill
Old Tom Morris
Cruit Island (9)
Bundoran
Narin and Portnoo
Donegal