| Golf a wonderful game, giving you a great day | | | | land that links the beach the fertile land. Links |
| out in lovely countryside, and a tussle with nature | | | | were used for golf because they were no use for |
| and your opponent. And you can play it almost | | | | anything else - and now many are popular for golf |
| anywhere in the world! Why not take a golfing | | | | vacations. |
| vacation soon and explore some new and | | | | We all stand on the first tee and look down |
| challenging courses? | | | | towards the green, take in the green fairway, |
| If you do not play golf you might ask what's so | | | | maybe a few trees, or the distant sea, and |
| great about golf. You might even think golf would | | | | prepare for another game. Often, on a golf |
| spoil a vacation. Not a bit of it! Golf vacations are | | | | vacation you will wonder how you will ever hit the |
| huge fun. | | | | fairway and then keep out of the rough! |
| Golf provides pleasure on so many levels, | | | | Even so, we hope that today, we will score |
| whether playing on your home course or on a | | | | better. No one says it standing on the tee, but |
| golf vacation. You get: | | | | everyone hopes so. This is golf: a microcosm of |
| The challenge of the course; | | | | golf, we start off with hope, just as we do each |
| The test of co-ordinating your mind and muscles, | | | | we get out of bed. |
| even when the pressure is on; | | | | One of the good things about golf vacations is |
| The pleasure of the company of friends;and the | | | | that you play every day, and get better as the |
| beauty of the countryside you are playing in - | | | | week goes on. |
| even if it is surrounded by tall buildings, a golf | | | | Often we don't play well, but ... |
| course can be beautiful. | | | | Mostly, we get down the first fairway well |
| You'll see straight away that I don't agree with | | | | enough - even on a golf vacation - and maybe |
| Mark Twain that golf spoiled a good walk - great | | | | play the first hole well. But somewhere out there, |
| writer, but he lacked imagination when it came to | | | | the course will suddenly jump up, grab your ball |
| golf. Obviously, he never went on a golf vacation! | | | | and hide it in a bush or a pond, or it will blow it |
| Golf vacations in many countries | | | | over a fence so you are out of bounds. Or just |
| We all enjoy playing on our regular course, but it | | | | as you are putting, the hole will mysteriously |
| is also very exciting and enjoyable to play on new | | | | move aside a couple of inches so your ball goes |
| courses in fine resort areas. Take a golf vacation | | | | past! Well, that is what it seems like sometimes, |
| somewhere interesting - could be in the USA, | | | | especially on a strange course that you might find |
| Canada, Ireland, England, Scotland, Australia or | | | | on a golf vacation. |
| many other countries - and you will have a lot of | | | | Sometimes we play very well |
| fun. | | | | On other days, you can play really well. You are |
| Of course, most vacations are fun, but golf | | | | like a king, majestically travelling past all the |
| vacations combined the best - a relaxing vacation | | | | dangers and you just hit the ball into the middle of |
| and great games with your friends. | | | | the fairway, into the middle of the green, and into |
| Scotland is a great place for golf vacations | | | | the middle of the hole. |
| So whom do we need to thank for this great | | | | "Easy, this game of golf", someone might remark, |
| game of golf, now played almost all over the | | | | but you remember the last game when it was so |
| world, including in the desert? No one knows for | | | | hard. This might happen one day on your golf |
| sure, but we do know that the game was well | | | | vacation, but not the next. Golf humbles us, even |
| enough established for Mary Queen of Scots to | | | | on vacation. |
| have played golf - quite often, it seems - on the | | | | Golf is about enjoying the countryside, it is about |
| Links around Edinburgh in the 1560s. | | | | learning to co-ordinate your muscles,and enjoying |
| The Scots have enjoyed golf for many, many | | | | that mastery - and you can have mastery at |
| years, although they have so many fine courses | | | | many different levels. Then, there are two or |
| they don't need a golf vacation to enjoy new | | | | maybe the games in one. A lot of the time you |
| courses. | | | | want to hit the ball a long way, such as when you |
| There are many courses near Edinburgh that are | | | | are driving off the tee, or when playing a long |
| great for a golf vacation: Dunbar, Gullane (three | | | | shot from the fairway. |
| courses), Longniddry, Luffness New, North | | | | But then, you need a delicate touch to hit the ball |
| Berwick, and Muirfield to name just a few. | | | | from 50-100 yards from the green. Finally, you |
| You can play golf on any piece of land that is big | | | | need the ability to 'read' the slopes of the green, |
| enough for 18 holes, or even 9 holes. It can be as | | | | and hit the ball with precision of length and |
| flat as a pancake or up and down - you can still | | | | accuracy of line to get it into the hole. When you |
| enjoy your game. But the best golf courses has | | | | can do that well over 18 holes every time you |
| slopes and curves, but not steep hills. And they | | | | play golf, "Well, you're a better man than me |
| are difficult - a challenge to the golfer. | | | | Gunga Din - or should I say Tiger." |
| You will find plenty of interesting courses for your | | | | Get more enjoyment from your golf by taking a |
| golf vacation inland, on heathland, or links - the | | | | golf vacation! |