Scottish Golf Trip 2021 – Borders

Well it was with great anticipation that I set off to pick up Ian for the Scottish Golf Trip for 2021. The 2020 trip was cancelled for the obvious reason and it was touch and go for a while if this one would go ahead. Once we were on the M6 past Preston and the traffic thinned out I knew we where on our way. This years trip would be based in Peebles which is a wonderful little town, that has every amenity a group of golfers could require. Pubs, Hotels and access to golf courses. Perfect.

There was confusion on the morning of breakfast for the first time, the hotel (The Tontine)had brought in “sittings” to ensure distancing and we all mis read the information sheet. So Ian and I went for a walk out of the back of the hotel. The river tweed as you can see from this image runs through the town of Peebles. The town is surrounded by hills and rests in a valley, but there are some lovely landscape shots to be had. I didn’t have my camera with me as we walked but the best camera for the job is the one you have with you when you find a scene. This image was taken on my iPhone 11 Pro Max, and edited in lightroom. This is the story of an image I took air each of the courses we played over the five days of the trip.

Day 1 – Loch Maben

This is a course (Loch Maben) that we have played before a number of years ago, but I’m buggered if I can remember it. Its not far from Lockerbie and therefore not much over the border into Scotland. It’s set on the lovely Lock Kirk (not sure why) and the course works its way around the Loch. To be fair I was surprised how good a course it was considering I couldn’t remember it from our last visit.

My iPhone 11 Pro Max has a lot of uses and it does a marvellous job with my Apple Watch at providing course and yardage information for all golf courses in the UK. So my phone was in my bag as we approach the banks of the loch. There was a 2 ball behind us and we decided to let them through. So I took the opportunity to take some images of the loch and the surroundings. I love the reflections in this image along with the grasses in the foreground and the moody big sky in the background. The mood in the sky wasn’t just mood, thoughout the round we did get soaked (and I mean soaked) on at least 5 occasions. The good thing was that the warm weather soon dried us off after each deluge.

Day 2 – Torwoodlee

Torwoodlee Golf course is just outside Galashiels and is set in some rolling countryside, and does have a few really steep hills on the opening 5 hills. It’s fait to say I was huffing and puffing, when we got onto the tee for the 6th hole, but what a view when you get there.

This is one of those holes where you really feel like you can open your shoulders and let rip. This image is taken in landscape mode from the front of the Tee box with my iPhone 11 Pro Max. I’ve done some basic editing in Lightroom but essentially this is out of the phone image. As you look at this image the green is behind the 3 trees at the bottom of the hill just on the left. If you move to the right you can see 2 further trees, the ground slopes all the way from those tress onto the green. My Tee shot was just beside the first of the trees in the middle, a gentle 8 iron took the ball right into the heart of the green but the firmness of the green meant it ended up green side. A chip and a put and I bagged my first Gross par of the day. Glorious hole.

Day 3 – Roxburgh

This is one tough course, The Roxburgh. They play the Scottish Senior Open at this course a few times and you can tell. It’s a blooming long way, but this was aided by all the group having buggies. Thats a god send as its a long way round and there are some going walks between green and the next Tee.

This is the sight you are greeted with as you make your way to the 14th Tee. It’s a steep drive down the cart path but one worth the wait. This image was again taken on my iPhone 11 Pro Max, with some editing in Lightroom. I’ve flirted with the River many times at this hole but the drive this time was into the middle of the fairway if a little short. A nice 3 hybrid got me to within 70 yards of the green and a good chance of a decent haul of stableford points. I like how your eye is down through the image and through the hole. Lovely hole.

Day 4 – Peebles

This was a delight of a day. The course (Peebles) is 5 minutes from the hotel and we could be incredibly lazy instead of having to drive for an hour as we had each day before. I’ve lost count of how many times we have played this course but its still well worth it, some great holes and great scenery.

This is a par 3 and looks very innocuous but believe me its not. Feeling buoyed after my great back 9 at Roxburgh the previous day I fancied a go at the flag. Well lets just say my ball didn’t trouble the flag in anyway. a reload was required. This image is of the side of the Tee box at the first hole and uses the arc of the small wall to move the eye onwards into the hole and up towards the green. Again taken on my iPhone 11 Pro Max with some minimal editing in Lightroom. It was such a glorious day on the course and work seemed a million miles away, days like this day are why I play golf. Not the best day golf wise but a great day to be out on the course.

Day 5 – Jedburgh

An hours drive from Peebles, and not exactly on the way home is the wonderful town of Jedburgh. There is a wonderfully preserved castle on the road up to the course, and it again is set in rolling countryside. As we ate breakfast Ian checked out the course website and he said the website described the course as “challenging” he wasn’t wrong.

I love these smaller courses. There is no frills about them, wonderful hospitality and a good well maintained course. Let’s just say they don’t always have the amenities of the bigger courses. Luckily there was an old trolley they lent me or else id have been staying in the clubhouse, as there was no way I was carrying my huge bag around that course. I’m sure it was an illusion but it felt like we walked up at least double the amount of uphill holes as we did the downhill ones. The sun shone and it really was a lovely day. All I could think about on the 18th tee was the prospect of a cold pint awaiting me once we’d finished the round. It wasn’t the favourite course of the week as the lads discussed it in the clubhouse, but lets see.

This image is again taken on my iPhone 11 Pro Max and edited in Lightroom, it just goes to show that its right place right time, not right gear all the time.