AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2007 > July > 21 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USLonging for old Carnoustie
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Furman Bisher
Given where I’d prefer to be, make it Carnoustie. That’s a village in Scotland, built around golf, hard by the North Sea. In fact, Scotland used to export golf professionals to the United States like the Japanese ship cars. The Smith brothers, Alec and MacDonald, Tommy Armour, George Low (the original; Junior became known as “America’s Guest”). All but Armour came from Carnoustie. Ben Hogan went to Carnoustie and won the Open in 1953, then never went back.
Not that Carnoustie was much to look at first time I was there. The clubhouse could have played the central role in “Caddyshack.” Rodney Dangerfield would have been the pro. Daily food fare featured two thin slices of bread with a hint of something or other between. The lone hotel looked like a Super 8 somewhere on a farm road in Kansas. I lucked out. I couldn’t get a room. I think the capacity was eight.
Tom Watson won the 1975 Open at Carnoustie, and for 24 years it never came back. When it did, you never heard such howling. The Royal & Ancient thought they wanted a golf course, not a feather bed. You know how the pros always say, “We are professionals.” When they saw Carnoustie in 1999, they still howled, “We said a golf course, not a pasture.”
Nobody could break par. Winning score was 290, 6-over par, setting up a playoff that a resident of Aberdeen, Paul Lawrie, won over the Frenchman, Jean van de Velde, and forgotten American Justin Leonard. If you have been watching televised golf the past few days, I won’t go into more of that.
Spoiled Americans raise all kinds of gripes about Scotland. I’d have loved to get up and had a Scottish breakfast this morning — hold the blood sausage. They get confused at roundabouts. All you need to know is who has the right-of-way. Americans make their own rules. We need roundabouts.
If you’ve been watching, you’ve heard whistles in the background. Scares you. You think a storm is coming. Play stoppage. (I’ve never seen lightning there.) It’s just the trains flashing by, honking their horns. Train travel is big over there, and convenient. Beats interstates and traffic clutter.
Once I was driving two ladies to the rail station at Leuchers, on the outskirts of St. Andrews. Turning around, I saw golf traffic for miles and decided to seek another route. I saw a bus leaving the station and decided to follow, figuring a bus driver surely knew his way back to St. Andrews. We wheeled merrilly along through the town, then the bus slowed for a turn. I slowed and followed right behind. It was his driveway. He was going home for lunch.
Bathing has never been overdone over there. My first time at an Open I was booked in a room no larger than a Pullman space. Facilities were down the hall. Flomax hadn’t been discovered yet. You get the rest. Now, you may think such 19th century accommodations were a hardship. Oh, you grumbled, but that was part of the game. Get home and make folly of spoiled Americans. Besides, the Scots have found that a belt or two of double malt tames the mood, taken with a dollop or two of haggis. Ingredients uncertain.
This time the Open returned to a cozier Carnoustie. It was as tame as a pussy cat. As if it had been gelded. No rough to speak of. Somebody turned the wind off. A little rain fell, just enough to remind you of Scotland. Scores ran 10 strokes lower, nothing as soft, though, as at Hoylake a year ago where 270 won for Tiger Woods.
Europeans had a home team to cheer about on a rare occasion. The British had adopted Seve Ballesteros in his prime as a resident favorite, and it so happened that on the occasion of his official retirement, here came another Spaniard to take his place. Sergio Garcia came dressed like a paint salesman Saturday, but he finished the round looking fully armed to move in for Seve. He was set up to pull the trigger.
You grieve at not being there. You miss the Scottish inconveniences. You miss the little hotel in Montrose, and the quite civilized evening meals. You miss the drive through the countryside down to Carnoustie. On the other hand, you’d be relieved to be out of range of the turmoil of Michael Vick. Memories came flowing ever so sweetly, until blocked out by return to reality.
Permalink | Comments (10) | Post your comment | Categories: Furman Bisher
Comments
By Leroy Rogers
July 21, 2007 7:37 PM | Link to this
Great memories Mr. Bisher. Thanks as always. {I would love to see Scotland.} I told my brother, Bill, a while ago; now retired in your fair state, near Cleveland, that the past two days Tiger has seen more of Scotland than my wife’s sister, whose son married a lady from Scotland! Of course her sis visits as often as possible, but looking back at Tiger’s two rounds, only HE would be under par! He is wilder than a Jack rabbit. When he hit the lady today, which required two stitches, then gave her an auto golf glove; by comparison, I thought of Gentleman Phil M. who gave a member of the gallery he hit two BILLS. Just the difference in the two multi- millionaires! Just maybe Rory Sabatini, the South African, made the right call: he likes the New Tiger Woods! All remember Tiger blew him away in the finals that tourney, but check out Tiger’s run in the majors since. Just pondering
By latisha
July 21, 2007 7:37 PM | Link to this
You had to mention Vick you old fish eyed fool!!! Leve that man alone! It just dogs! This is a typical case of the white man commin down on the black man!
By Bob
July 21, 2007 8:53 PM | Link to this
Latisha,
You would be wise to follow some old advice. Better to remain silent and be thought of as a fool than to open the mouth and remove all doubt.
Great piece Furman. Love ole Scotland and Ireland.
By Kevin
July 21, 2007 9:07 PM | Link to this
“It Just dogs?” Your grammar matches the validity of your argument. Have you ever heard of the law? What about treating domestic animals humanely? When will you see the light (and the law), without blinding your judgement by color?
By Bill Rogers
July 21, 2007 10:21 PM | Link to this
Loved the article, Furman. Tiger doesn’t win with only two par fives! Cool the way the slipped in the line about our local thug…Vick.
By ga_tech_92
July 21, 2007 11:09 PM | Link to this
Thank god this is a Federal indictment rather then an indictment handed down by a local DA. The Feds have an unlimited budget and can afford more resources then even V!ck. I was sick of V!ck long before his latest alleged chapter, why?
Like MLK said, “they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” This issue has nothing to do with race. This has to do with the content of his character. Ron Mexico, “secret compartment water-bottle”, shooting double birds to fans (black, white and children) at a game. Look at his character. . He has shown this community that he has horrible character traits. What positive steps has this man taken in the last year of his life? What has he done to improve the quality of life of those around him? What has he done to show that he is a worthy role model to young children and to the black community? This has absolutely NOTHING to do with race. You reap what you sow.
(props r30309)
By Boots
July 22, 2007 10:24 AM | Link to this
ga_tech-92 —- How dare you question Vick’s contribution to and investment in his community. Why, he build a wine tasting cafe and liquor store just off Camp Creek Parkway. What better contribution could a man make to his community?
Mr. Bisher, pardon the digression, but thanks for your wonderful memories.
By John
July 22, 2007 10:50 AM | Link to this
Mr Bisher, I have been reading your wonderful articles ever since March 1990 when I retired from the U S post Office in Margate, FL and moved up here to my Hayesville, NC property. I have not missed very many and only disagree with very few of them. That is a good average in your favor. Keep up the good work for many more years.
By mike
July 22, 2007 3:33 PM | Link to this
how could u say this(mike vick) is not a black an white we r talking about dog fighting, not drugs or a violant crime but dog fighting. dog and c** fight have been going on in the south forever ande will still go on
By Leroy Rogers
July 22, 2007 7:45 PM | Link to this
Mr. Bisher, I would like to reflect on the British Open which you were sorry to not have been over there again. {I have seen the Masters many times, the U.S. Open in Atlanta, won by Jerry Pate in 76, also, the PGA, which I think was won by John McHaffy. My comments re: the state of the game: First, big time winner Johnny Miller is the only former pro with the guts to bash the use of the belly or “broom stick” putter! He said he believes most pros are ashamed to show the “yips” have hit them so young in life! {I got so sick of Zinger talking four long days about Serge and the putter!}Where was it when he needed it? Also, re: the hybrid clubs… I don’t think all these zillions of clubs are checked and approved for use, by the USGA or R & A either. Lastly, I lost a lot of respect for Gentleman Gary Player in his statement re: some type substance abuse. If one is told something in confidence, I don’t think it should even be mentioned all over the known world!Shame on you Laddie!!!!! Also, I think the game of golf is won between the ears, when crunch time comes! Just look at Phil M.,Stricker, Big Easy, et al that failed coming down the home stretch. I will never forget taking my binoculars to the tourneys and watching players repair “spike” marks! In fact, I wrote all three major networks; this was a long time ago and lo, and behold it finally stopped, with the exception of Woods and maybe another player or two. The worst two culprits I saw were Tom Watson and Lee Trevino. You may have noticed Serge got Paddie’s permission to repair his line of putt today. Class here. Thanks again for allowing us to express our opinions.