I have finished the Awesome Eight Golf Challenge. My journey has only begun though… To put onto paper in letters what I experienced has taken me a couple of days to digest and to find the right words. I could dance it and I could sing it, I could yoga it, must be the feminine force that is so much easier to express.
To satisfy requirements from the masculine forces out there, I am now giving my most directive way with a woman golfer’s touch! I started the morning of the 2nd of April from my lovely bed and breakfast place. I had found out the day before that the tee time for this historic event was going to be 7.20! I wanted to be early so I could maybe hit some balls…. However I managed to get lost, there are many one way streets and my bearings were not set yet.
The car has its steering wheel on the right side and I had to work with my left hand to do the gearing and driving at the left side… It is a very interesting task and my brain and mind was not that good to me, and I wanted to be soooooooooooooo relaxed and in great demeanor for this last leg.
I did find the big St Andrews Hotel , where a nice guy helped me by taking me with the hotel van ( I parked my car there, I think he saw the panic in my eyes!) back to where it all happens, the starter. It is so different here. How important to again be reminded that there are many ways to run businesses.
I found the green fee booth and there I also found Robin Sieger the founder of The Awesome Eight Golf Challenge. How exiting to finally see him and talk to him. We were joined by 2 other guys, also from the States. The starter, a very gracious and fine man, told us about the speed and the importance of keeping up with the group ahead of us.
We got our scorecards and off we went. The first hole at St Andrews is very forgiving, very wide. The sun is shining and there is no wind. It is a miracle, this happens very very seldom. I am very grateful for this miracle, there is plenty of other obstacles to be aware of, like all the pot bunkers and the other deep and steep 6 foot wall bunkers. The fairways offered very tight lies and it was hard to get a regular 3 wood connected to the ball. I needed a hybrid, rescue club, that was obvious here! A true links course with the holes lined up after each other.
Then a hole to turn and then the holes lined up for the home stretch. I liked the famous 17 hole, it was also the most interesting I think, although I could not hit over the roof of the hotel where I had parked my car; however that was the way to go! The many hidden bunkers made the course very unpredictable and to have a caddy the first time when it’s played is a good idea. The flag is not always visible, which makes it even more interesting and for some very frustrating. To walk and to feel the energy of this 600 year old course is a amazing, The golf course was not a course a would like to play often, kind of boring, sorry!
Here comes the woman golfer’s opinion. The front tees were only 330 yards shorter than the tees where the guys played from.
When I had hit the guys were already walking towards their 250+ yard, and the time I had put my club back and started to walk they were far away and always in front of me. I felt very rushed and again I had the opportunity to reflect on how this would affect a relationship!
Having worked with those issues and gone through it I did not think it affected me, however there was one time when I shanked a 5 wood (have never done that before) and almost hit 3 of the guys ( we had 2 caddies in the group too) with the same shanked ball, I did feel some anger that they were in front of me all the time!
At the 17th green a member came up to us, Robins friend Pete and joined us for the last hole.
That was very pleasant someone who was genuinely interested in what I was about to accomplish and who walked with me. St Andrews is a very traditional course, and Pete is a proud member of this very famous place. When I told him that I was going to stand on my head at the 18th green; he very kindly said I will turn my head!
I have absolutely no doubt that the old spirit of St Andrews, I also think Shivas Iron, and the legend in the book Golf in the Kingdom would cheer me on and acknowledge the gratitude I am holding to Mother Earth for providing soil for the wonderful game of golf. My headstand is a celebration of Yoga, union of it all.
Pictures were taken and they all congratulated me. It felt unreal and my emotions were stuck somewhere. I wanted to get the book signed so I went to the starter and what this man said to me and his way of saying it, the journey the adventure the hardships, the excitements, the travel the experiences, the learning’s, the passion of golf, the people I had met the purpose of all this fell into my heart and I teared up. He said ” I have been thinking about your challenge all day and I want to say it is an honor to have had you here and I congratulate you to a splendid accomplishment, he had tears in his eye while he was saying this holding my hands and looked me into my eyes. I felt this deep love from one human to another joined in the passion of life through golf. Thank You wonderful being!
Then celebration begun, Pete the member took us to his clubhouse. There another wonderful guy met up with us, ![]()
William McCartney (william@golflinxtravel.com). He arrange both my Bed and Breakfast place Six Murray Park www.sixmurraypark.co.uk and the tee time for me. He was suppose to play with us , however he had played to many holes with new golf shoes and his feet did not agree to any more walking!. He took his time and still came to congratulate me, Thank-You William, I sure appriciated that.
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After a nap in the afternoon the whole foursome+ Pete joined for drinks in the local pub and dinner. Thank You Robin and Pete again for a memorable day and evening.
I had to tell you about my next day. I wanted of course to play more golf, once in the Kingdom of Golf. Decided to play the New Course (built 1894!) No one to play with so I went out by myself and I experienced the mystic atmosphere and the spirit of the ancient golfers. It did help that it was a little foggy; however the round was so pleasurable and so much fun. I liked the course so much more than the old course. I played 2 balls, match play with myself, Anna against Lena, Anna won with I up. The course is also a links course, however the lies were not that tight and the holes where more interesting. A great way of spending a day here where the home of golf is located.
My adventures will continue and please check in once in awhile to see what is going on and how the book is coming along.
LOVE GOLF AND LAUGH and do some yoga!
Anna-Lena
