ON FAMILIAR TERRITORY (and a new venture)

1988. Balcomie, Lundin Links, Elie and Newbattle.

The first day was close but Robbo edged ahead at Lundin Links and held on. Dave blew up over Elie whereas Tommo played very well (85 v 59) but Robbo held his own over his new home course of Newbattle and regained the trophy.

1989. The tenth year of the Bears and so a new venture. Put in Loadsamoney, go to a new part of Scotland. So off we went to the Caol House Hotel, just outside Strathpeffer, north of Inverness. The hotel was five-star, ‘Taste of Scotland’ and we’ve never eaten better. A great huntin’, shootin’ and fishin’ place with wall-to-wall Tories. Vast breakfasts, cocktails before dinner, drinks to drown an army. But we managed a lot of golf too, with free play all week on Strathpeffer and a golf ticket for other worthy courses in the area. We played on Tain, Fortrose, Strathpeffer and Royal Dornoch, all good or great courses.

We toured the area. We saw the Clootie Well, a visitor spot with loads of cloots and old y-fronts tied to trees (it reminded me of sharing a room with Robbo for a week, as it gradually becomes festooned with his smalls hanging on radiators, chairs, sinks, windowsills, etc.). Other sights: the Strathpeffer Spa; killer whales jumping out the water at Fortrose; salmon/trout nets on the beach there; and every day was rounded off by a slap up feed with Lord Snooty and his chums.

Robbo was disconcerted to see that the local Tory party met at the hotel every Tuesday night. As well as the Bears, we took part in the Strathpeffer Open, which was a good day out. But the drive across the valley on the first hole was a bit disconcerting for Tommo, whose start in the medal was 10, 9.

The first round at Fortrose was a 2+2 job, to speed up play. Four of us playing Stroke play seemed to take an age, so off went Duncan and Dave, with John and Gordon bringing up the rear. All went well until the 18th ‘Fiery Hilloch’ – and so it proved. Dave was stung by a bee and had to seek First Aid. He was also in semi-shock and spewing up. John and Gordon had finished, as did Duncan. We gave Dave some time to recover, which he did after a while, and he then finished off with a 5. (Tommo and Robbo had a 7 + a 6 respectively, so perhaps bee stings can have their advantages...) Robbo 74, Tommo 75, Dave 66 and Duncan 84.

Round 2 – Tain. A roasting hot day and the midges were out in force. All sorts of ideas were used to ward them off – towels, caps, water, midge repellent. We did just manage to get round. Scores were Robbo 72 (146); Tommo 71 (146); Duncan 73 (157); Dave 74 (140). Round 3 – Another tough course: Nairn West, used for the Walker Cup on occasions. We had quite a tough round and the course was quite busy but we finished. Tommo managed an 11 at the Par 3 hole – I think it involved lost balls into woods; Duncan had an 11 on the first, where it was quite windy. The scores were Robbo 83 (229), Tommo 86 (232), Duncan 88 (245) and Dave 63(!)(203).

Dave had played very steadily and so carried a well-earned 26 shot lead into the final round. Just enough to see him through, we suspected.

Played at Royal Dornoch, one of the best courses we’ve been on, the weather was very damp and misty. There was hardly another soul on the course, or so it seemed. Dave’s lead was never threatened and he finished with a 74 to take the Bears 10th Anniversary trophy. The scores were Dave on 74 (277), John on 80 (309), Tommo on 80 (312) and Duncan on 84 (329). Pretty respectable.

And so to another slap-up…

1990 A new improved Bears event with a novel addition ...photos! Back to Fife for the last time. The East Neuk was now jammed with foreign tourists on the St. Andrews trail. Green fees soared, bookings were hard to get. We played two rounds at Leven and then two at Balbirnie Park Country Club. We watched the Open qualifying at Leven too, and an American called…Gil something? .We also watched a rather grumpy Corey Pavin, if memory serves??

Dave 63, Duncan 77, John 74, Tommo 75. Scores on Leven 2 were Dave 76, Duncan 73, John 79, Tommo 81. Round 2 totals were Dave 139, Duncan 150, John 153 and Tommo 156.

Dave was well in the hunt at the half way stage. Tommo was struggling though. The last two rounds were at Balbirnie where we’d seen Lee Trevino arrive by helicopter in previous years (A helicopter would be useful to find Tommo’s ball on occasion). Balbirnie is heavily wooded and provided ample scope for a Teddy Bear’s picnic in the woods, for Tommo certainly. David kept it together again to claim victory:-

Duncan did very well getting within 6 shots of Dave at the end, with a closing 64.