American in Spain

In June, 2011, I’m going on a golf vacation to Ireland with three of my best friends, Paul (my father), Jeff, and Jacob. Six years ago, we took a similar golf vacation to Scotland. At the time, I posted photos and commentary to a website that predated this blog. In preparation for our trip this year, I’m re-posting my commentary on that trip in October 2005.

On Friday, October 14, 2005, we played the final round of the Kingdom of Fife Championship at Balcomie Links, part of the Crail Golfing Society.

I was 6 strokes ahead going into the final round, and won by 9 strokes by the end. I had the best three consecutive holes of my life: birdie, birdie, out-of-bounds bogey.
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In June, 2011, I’m going on a golf vacation to Ireland with three of my best friends, Paul (my father), Jeff, and Jacob. Six years ago, we took a similar golf vacation to Scotland. At the time, I posted photos and commentary to a website that predated this blog. In preparation for our trip this year, I’m re-posting my commentary on that trip in October 2005.

On Thursday, October 13, 2005, we played the most beautiful golf course any of us had ever played: Kingsbarns. Built in 2000, it has the look and feel of an ancient links course. There is a view of the sea from every single hole!
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In June, 2011, I’m going on a golf vacation to Ireland with three of my best friends, Paul (my father), Jeff, and Jacob. Six years ago, we took a similar golf vacation to Scotland. At the time, I posted photos and commentary to a website that predated this blog. In preparation for our trip this year, I’m re-posting my commentary on that trip in October 2005.

On Wednesday, October 12, 2005, my 27th birthday, we played the Jubilee Course at St. Andrews. Unfortunately, it rained. Hard. After four holes, we decided to hop over to the back nine and play 15, 16, 17, and 18 back towards the clubhouse. You can’t play just nine holes on these ancient golf courses because the ninth hole doesn’t pass back by the clubhouse like newer courses do.
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In June, 2011, I’m going on a golf vacation to Ireland with three of my best friends, Paul (my father), Jeff, and Jacob. Six years ago, we took a similar golf vacation to Scotland. At the time, I posted photos and commentary to a website that predated this blog. In preparation for our trip this year, I’m re-posting my commentary on that trip in October 2005.

On Tuesday, October 11, 2005, we played the New Course at St. Andrews. It rained steadily for the entire round. Such is my excuse for no in-round pictures. Boy the shower in the St. Andrews Links Clubhouse felt good!
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In June, 2011, I’m going on a golf vacation to Ireland with three of my best friends, Paul (my father), Jeff, and Jacob. Six years ago, we took a similar golf vacation to Scotland. At the time, I posted photos and commentary to a website that predated this blog. In preparation for our trip this year, I’m re-posting my commentary on that trip in October 2005.

On Monday, October 10, 2005, we got up early and drove to St. Andrews to play the most famous golf course in the world: The Old Course.
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In June, 2011, I’m going on a golf vacation to Ireland with three of my best friends, Paul (my father), Jeff, and Jacob. Six years ago, we took a similar golf vacation to Scotland. At the time, I posted photos and commentary to a website that predated this blog. In preparation for our trip this year, I’m re-posting my commentary on that trip in October 2005.

On Sunday, October 9, 2005, the Kingdom of Fife Championship was officially begun. In an unbelievable display of daring, defiance, and bravery, Jacob proposed a (gasp!) change to the itinerary which involved playing a course at Carnoustie instead of playing the Anstruther Golf Club again. After much discussion, several whiskies, and minimal name-calling, it was decided to drive to Carnoustie, without directions, and try to play golf there, without a tee-time!
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In June, 2011, I’m going on a golf vacation to Ireland with three of my best friends, Paul (my father), Jeff Fitzgerald, and Jacob Pittman. Six years ago, we took a similar golf vacation to Scotland. At the time, I posted photos and commentary to a website that predated this blog. In preparation for our trip this year, I’m re-posting my commentary on that trip in October 2005.

On Saturday, October 8, 2005, we arrived to the Captain’s Hoose in Anstruther, Scotland. It’s the house with the purple door. There is a spiral staircase from the front door to the attic.
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The following is a document written by my father, Paul Rasmussen, about a recent golfing excursion to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA.

John arrived Wednesday morning and loaded his stuff into my Odyssey. I had hurt my back three days earlier doing side-to-side squat jumps in front of my television set, so John loaded most of my stuff into the van too. I wasn’t sure I would be able to compete in the thirteenth Myrtle Beach Classic, but I thought I might try. John drove us to David’s lovely new house and David and Amy gave us a quick tour, but soon we had David’s stuff loaded and were back on the road. Except for discovering that I had left my iPhone home, the drive to Myrtle Beach went smoothly. Time just seems to slip by unnoticed when friends are telling stories to each other. I still had my iPad, and I checked my email every half-hour, answering some questions from work. The highlight was an email from the Director asking if it was OK for him to accept the invitation of an old friend and join Facebook. After considering possible answers for several miles, I wrote back that he could, but only on his own time.
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Occasionally a set of photos that I really want to publish get lost in a sea of other interesting content. When my parents were visiting one year ago, we noticed a giant lemon in a local bar and asked if we could pose with it for a few silly photographs. The bartender, who got to know me during a USA v. Spain fútbol match a few years ago, was happy to oblige. So here’s a giant lemon…
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The following is a document written by my father, Paul Rasmussen, about a recent golfing excursion to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA.

On Monday Erik decided to fly to the States and join the fun known as the Myrtle Beach Classic. Betsy picked him up at the Charlotte airport Tuesday afternoon, and I fed them both tacos and Rioja when they arrived in Morganton. On Wednesday morning, Erik and Betsy went to Grace Ridge so Erik could visit with his Grandfather, and a little before noon on Wednesday, Erik and I climbed into the well-loaded van and headed for Myrtle Beach. On the way, we picked up Jeff in Hickory, along with his clubs, his suitcase, his guitar, his sleep machine, a case of beer, and his bongo drums. Jeff took his normal position in the van’s driver’s seat, I moved over to shotgun position, and with Erik in the back, we had a pleasant and uneventful trip to the ocean.
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