Karen made us a full Scottish breakfast at 8 am. And the tea… she makes the best. We talked the morning away while I took breaks to track the missing bag (still at the airport) and make one call to the British Air who reassured me that they were doing all they could.
Karen and I walked the farm, from the donkeys (each with a name and a different age). From there, we could see the Suffolk sheep who are all pure bred and raised as show sheep. Yes, that’s a thing! They were beautiful, but marked in blue to indicate mating status. Go sheep! Then, to the goats (Norman grew up under Karen’s desk four winters ago and then moved out— as all kids do!) Finally, to the horses across the road that needed to be brought in. Lomond is the highland pony that Karen bought from the Queen a few years ago. It was quite a big deal then— so fitting that my gift to her was a crown! So this a working farm with lots of action, indeed.
Karen assured us that she would be home to accept the clubs and that we should just go have fun. So, like kids ourselves, we went in North Berwick and shopped, then had lunch at the Westgate Gallery—lovely art while we dined. Then to Gullane Golf Club—without clubs. I had to rent. There are three courses at Gullane. No. 1 is the slightly more elevated course that is used as a qualifier and for the Ladies Scottish Open (2018). It’s a great course, but Gullane No. 2 is the real peach. It has fabulous views and does a bit of climbing, but the roll and reach is so much more. A 150-yard shot will easily go 180 downwind (it was blowing out there) and then just 120 the other way. Great fun to hit the driver downhill, though! The views were so gorgeous that I had to stop and take photos in every direction on every hole! But I was glad to have every jacket and pullover with me. I wore them both. And a borrowed hat (mine are in the golf bag) from John, the one I gave him recently—ironically, it’s a bucket hat (not a Burberry!) I never knew how perfect a bucket hat behaves in the wind! It made the weather a bit easier for sure!
Finally, on the 12th hole, I checked my phone and had momentarily good news. My bag had moved from the airport—hurrah! It was now at a warehouse—boo! And it didn’t move again. Without that bag, our plans tomorrow might have to change.
After a lovely game (John lost 7 balls, but all were beautiful shots caught by a breeze!), we had dinner at The Old Clubhouse, a big favorite. Back in 2018, when we attended the Scottish Open here, we had dinner with Jenny Shin and her friend, and then met Laura Davies in the adjoining room—big party. And it was bustling again with golfers of all kinds, even a few Americans and a barking dog! True. I had my first haggis of the trip and maybe the best I’ve ever had. (Haggis, Neeps, and Tatties is a very traditional dish here.) John had a meat and veggie pie—how Scottish of both of us. Good night!