Day 7: The Unexploded Bomb!

Troon Portland was a very nice course, running right alongside the championship course.

Directly behind this green is another bunker… where the bomb exploded just a little after we finished the hole!

Does anyone remember the British show from the ‘70s—“Danger UXB”? It was short-lived but certainly had a catchy title. Well, today we met up with a possible scene from that old show!! But back to the beginning…we started the day early because our starting time was 9 am at the Troon Portland course, their second course across the street. The championship course was busy with buses and big guys—who all showed up again today (Troon is open to the public on M, T, Th only.) The Portland Course has a ladies’ club that cannot play the championship course. In fact, Troon decided to “allow” women to play the championship course only because they wanted to host the Ladies British Open, and to do so meant they had to open the course to women players. So lucky me. Anyway, when John saw that we had groups of ladies in front of us on the Portland Course, he said, “Uh oh. Fast players. I hope they’re all in front of us.” Indeed, they were. We kept up but felt it was a bit more leisurely than the championship course had been.

Charming paths behind the tees.

For us, the Portland Course was both a rest and a test. The first fairway was so damaged by the Open support tents that the tees were moved up close to the green, for a Par 3. We decided to play Stableford today, so we could add points rather than add up a big score, ha ha. I’ll give away the ending— we tied. John had a lovely game and felt at home again after too many stressful rounds. Anyway, the humor was that I always ask the starter about “toilets” on the course because there was one time when there weren’t any! Little did I think to ask about the combinations to the locks today!! And they didn’t offer— so Scottish. So, after a hearty breakfast and several cups of tea, we came to the sign: “Toilets this way.” I was shocked when John said we needed a code. I called the shop and got the wrong code! Luckily, I recognized the location from the big course and remembered the code from last week— but I would be talking to the pro shop after the round about this!!

The course was lovely, mostly flat, which was a break, but with punishing rough. Some holes had raised greens and tricky bunkers, but it was a most relaxing course. The rain held off until just a few minutes after we finished, when it came down in buckets without stopping. We felt all the cozier for missing the deluge.

Don’t you love the style of rake? This is hole 18 when John hit near the pin. My shot was over this bunker on to a downhill lie and not too far past the hole.

So that’s the golf. Now, to the bomb. On the 9th green, we saw a police action off to the right on the course. There is still a lot going on as the Open stands are being disassembled and the sounds of machinery taking down the massive stands, so we really didn’t question it. When we teed off on 10, however, another police truck crossed our fairway. This one had a fellow walking beside it, so I asked, “What’s going on?” He said, very casually, “Unexploded bomb.” Because of the TV show, I knew this was a thing. They were everywhere south of London— but up here? While we finished our round and were coming back to hole 16, we heard an explosion. John said, “They just blew it up.” Ok, where in America would that happen? We were on a course full of players, and the bomb squad very nicely blew up a bomb from WWII! I love the quirky casualness of Scotland!

Number two of the Portland corset Troon. The bomb bunker was on the parallel fairway—but doesn’t John take a nice golf shot?

Back in the pro show, after scolding the starter for giving me the wrong code, we asked about the bomb. “Happens all the time,” he said. “These courses were used as a military testing ground during the War. They’re always finding stuff.” So that was it. Not a German bomb— they couldn’t fly this far and back again. It was the Scots’ own bombs that they’re still finding. I say, very cool. We were there for a real explosion!! Meanwhile, the staff did us a wee small favor as an apology.

Another charming path.

How could we do anything more to beat that? We found a castle that was falling down, but still magnificent— Dundonald Castle—and had a private tour! It was on land where three castles had once been, each taken down for a new owner to rebuild. This one was not a fighting castle, but a place of diplomacy. King Robert II, an unexpected king, lived here. Cool! I think it’s my new favorite because of that great hall and the huge bedroom.

Another claret jug, the British Open trophy. This one belongs to Troon. The list of players includes> Arnold Palmer, Tom Weiskopf, Tom Watson, Mark Calcaveckia, Justin Leonard, Todd Hamilton, Henrik Stenson, and soon to be added– Xander Schauffele!

Speaking of bedrooms, feeling sleepy. Good Night.