Tain Golf Club

The last of five rounds in three days which is quite good going for me so early in the season.  39 miles too but mostly with the assistance of an electric trolley.  The trolley not only saved my back but also helped me complete all bar one round in three hours or so.  And whilst the Struie course gave me a single figure score all the others were above my handicap.  See below.  After a week I knew more about my swing but, mental as much as physical, frailty didn’t always allow me to accomplish what I intended. It was also the first day of my 58th year so while there was an excuse there was no lack of enthusiasm.

 The main road largely circumnavigates Tain, closing only to allow close inspection of the Glenmorangie Distillery where I suspect the visitors go without tarrying in the town or the golf club.  A pity for both parties as the town and club are rather fine.  The latter was designed by Tom Morris but the views across the firth to Dornoch are heavenly.

 Compared to Brora and Golspie there are less holes along the shore but it is a lovely links with plenty of gorse and a little bit of water and being impeccably designed there is huge variety in shape and length of hole. 

 I know it isn’t the judge of a round but at the end of a game I mark how many eagles/birdies, pars, bogeys etc I have scored.  I then discard anything worse than a bogey. This produces a score which is then extrapolated across all 18 to produce a notional handicap of your better self.  This generally gives a sunnier picture requiring less mollifying pharmaceuticals and shows your potential.  The only caveat is that the minimum number of holes you can count is 12 in order to give a reasonable snapshot of your game. 

 Scoring this way will usually knock half a dozen of a round.  So if a mid handicapper has a slightly better day than normal one can look like a bandit.

 My scores were             

Dornoch Struie

6/18 Score over 12 holes min. incl. birdies, pars & bogeys

6/18 Handicap extrapolated Actual handicap; 15

6 Actual score over par   

Dornoch Championship

6/12 Score over 12 holes min. incl. birdies, pars & bogeys

9/18 Handicap extrapolated Actual handicap; 15

20 Actual score over par   

Brora

6/12 Score over 12 holes min. incl. birdies, pars & bogeys

9/18 Handicap extrapolated Actual handicap; 15

20 Actual score over par   

Golspie

7/12 Score over 12 holes min. incl. birdies, pars & bogeys

11/18 Handicap extrapolated Actual handicap; 15

23 Actual score over par   

Tain

7/13 Score over 12 holes min. incl. birdies, pars & bogeys

10/18 Handicap extrapolated Actual handicap; 15

17 Actual score over par   

I think of myself as having a top end of single figure handicap but the scorecard denies me the privilege.

 The first four holes at Tain are dog legs; right, left, left, right, but perhaps the best dog leg awaits at the ninth and is followed by three further great holes including The Alps at 11 and the littoral 12 before bending inward.  The closing holes are tough with finesse as well as strength needed at 17 and 18.  A very nice place to play golf though I would prefer to play more along the coast than inland.

 Another swift round but time to enjoy the brilliance of the day and contemplate the joys of golf and the silence.   Gratitude was the main feeling, to my wife for supporting and joining in my endeavour, to life for giving me the time to take it all in and the skill to make it fun.  Not only that but to be able to help support all those who have suffered and lived with Alzheimer’s.  A terrible disease which may evade or avoid us.  So it was very heartening that the club allowed me to pay my green fee to Alzheimer’s Society.  Thank you