"The Best 19th Hole" - St Andrews Edition

            A pint after a round (or 19^th hole) can add greatly to the overall experience. Unfortunately, in a new place, it can be a complete shot in the dark when choosing a place to enjoy the post-round pint. In this post, I will do my best to shed light on the pubs of St Andrews and the best place to relax and reminisce over the round! 

Whey Pat Tavern (#5)

11. Rascal’s

            Rascals Bar is the newest bar establishment in St Andrews. It is located on North Street next to the cinema. Rascal’s doesn’t fit into the “19^th hole” niche. It is more of a bar / night club hybrid, and despite decent prices, it wouldn't be the first place I would choose for a post-round pint.

**I recently went back to Rascals and had a very good lunch consisting of their hot wings and "French Burger." A new, extensive, and inexpensive burger menu along with pint / burger deals have bumped up Rascals in my book. My last visit changed my view on Rascals, and I will definitely be going back soon. They have the best prices in town as far as I know! 

10. Greyfriar’s

            Greyfriar’s is located on North Street and has the potential to be an excellent pub. Unfortunately, the management has made no effort to appeal to students and is solely interested in being a hotel bar. Prices are not exceptional and the bar staff were flat out unfriendly. The pub has multiple large TVs, which unfortunately face none of the seating. Despite comfortable couches and booths, if seated, there is no way to watch the game, match, or tournament! One positive is a great choice of beers from all around the world.

A cold Old Course stop halfway through the crawl!

9. The Rule & 8. Westport

            The Rule is a spacious and nice pub. Despite the top floor being closed most of the time, it has very comfortable couches. Great food and drink deals found at the Rule can’t be found elsewhere. The positives being said, the location on South Street and distance from the courses hurt The Rule’s “Best 19^th Hole” chances. Although it serves as a nice pub to have a meal or drink, the Rule simply doesn’t meet the criteria for a good 19^th hole.

            Westport has many of the same pitfalls as the Rule. Despite good food, good downstairs seating, and good drink prices, the poor proximity to the golf courses hurt its eligibility for victory.

7.  Criterion, 6. Drouthy Neebor & 5. Whey Pat

            These three pubs cater to local and older St Andreans. It is rare that you will see a group of students enjoying pints in any of these locations. Their distance from the course rules them out as excellent post-round pint options, but if looking for a nice quiet nightcap before heading back home, these are good options! The Whey Pat also does excellent nachos. They are inexpensive and include massive servings. A must-try if craving chili or nachos!

4. Dunvegan

            The Dunvegan is perhaps the most well known 19^th hole in St Andrews. They are famously “only a 9-iron from the 18^th green of the Old Course.” The atmosphere is unique with photos of famous golfers in the Dunvegan or meeting the owners. The owners are typically sitting in the bar talking with patrons connecting and making relationships. The only negative to the Dunvegan are some high priced items. During our visit, we had Irish coffees priced around 6 pounds 50 pence which hurt our pub crawl budget. When it comes to food and pints, the prices are competitive with other St Andrews establishments and overall, the banter and location of the Dunvegan are hard to beat. 

Inside the Dunvegan with tons of autographed and famous pictures

3. The Keys

            The pub-crawl was the first time I have ever visited the Keys. I hadn’t previously entered the Keys purely out of fear... It is unarguably a local’s pub and students are not welcomed (or so we thought). Immediately upon our entering, we found everyone to be extremely nice. The bartender let us try 4 glasses of whiskey before eventually buying a glass. The pub is small and warm. If the pub isn’t overflowing with St Andrews caddys and other locals, stop in for a post-round pint!

2. One Under

            The One Under Pub is directly beneath the Rusacks Hotel adjacent to the 18^th fairway of the Old Course. The atmosphere, prices, seating, and location are all excellent. The only reason the One Under Pub isn’t busier is the fact that it is literally in underground beneath the Rusacks.

1. Jigger

            The Jigger Inn is located just short of the 17^th green of the Old Course. It is the only pub that could beat out the Dunvegan in terms of fame. The Jigger has a very unique feel, and the outdoor seating directly beside the 17^th fairway is unbeatable (and also in danger of big hitters on 17 tee!). Prices are not great in the Jigger, but the location and atmosphere are second to none. It is a cozy warm pub where you want to settle in and spend all afternoon! Helpful tip: Order a burger if you go to the Jigger. It is expensive, but is the best burger in town and will take two people to finish! The Jigger Ale is also a great option for ale lovers.

Honorable Mention: (ie. Pubs we didn’t visit on our pub-crawl)

Blue Stane – Sports oriented, not the best post-round haunt.

Oak Rooms – Located on Market Street with good meal deals, but bad pint prices and few choices!

The Central -  An “English Pub”... Prices are not good and the pub is personally not on my list of favorites.

The Vic – The Vic has recently been re-done as a sort of night club / gastro pub... Not the best 19^th hole genre. There is no comfortable seating and the bar staff are rarely friendly.

Golf Place – Golf Place is the best-located pub in relation to the golf courses. It was one of my personal “go-to’s” but has recently changed ownership and the ambience and food have suffered... Not a favorite anymore.

Ma Bells – Ma Bells used to be my favorite pub in St Andrews. Unfortunately, the “cave” feeling with little-to-no natural light or cell service is a turn off. Prices and very mediocre food don’t help their case.

Biltmore Forest Country Club

For a post of Biltmore Forest Country Club photos, click here.

           The history between Scotland and North Carolina, USA is undeniable. Not only was North Carolina the immigration destination for many Scots, but it also attracted one of the best-known Scottish golf architects, Donald Ross. He was born in Dornoch, Scotland before eventually moving to St Andrews to serve as an apprentice to Old Tom Morris. After completing his apprenticeship, Ross moved to the US where he eventually became the professional at Pinehurst Golf Resort in North Carolina. From this point on, his career as a golf course designer began to bloom. Although his work can be seen at great courses all over the east coast, North Carolina has some of Ross’s greatest gems.

            My hometown is Asheville, North Carolina and it is one of the few places I would love living other than my current residence, St Andrews, Scotland. After recently reading an article in the Scotsman Magazine on travelling in North Carolina, I became inspired to write a blog post on my NC home club, Biltmore Forest Country Club. The course, built in 1922, is a Donald Ross design and was a product of the massive Vanderbilt family fortune.

            Biltmore Forest Country Club (BFCC) is a private club located in South Asheville. It is consistently ranked among the top 10 courses in NC, falling behind the likes of Pinehurst #2 and Wade Hampton. The course highlights many of Ross’s best-known course design attributes: his use of the land, “naturalness” of the design, and the major role of the courses greens. As the course at BFCC currently stands, it has differed relatively little from Ross’s original design. An extended and raised “championship” tee box on the second hole along with new bunkering on the 11^th and 12^th holes are some of the biggest changes the course has seen.

            Typical of Ross, it is a short course measuring about 6,650 yards with a par of 70 from the tips. It has not been stretched and lengthened like many newer course designs. This means that big hitters can overpower areas of the layout, but unbelievably quick and sloping greens protect the course from being dominated.

1st hole standing at 150 yards out

            The second hole at BFCC is considered by many to be the strongest hole on the course. Ben Hogan is quoted saying, “The second hole at Biltmore Forest Country Club is the strongest hole on the PGA Tour.” This was said at a time when BFCC hosted the Land of the Sky Open, a PGA Tour Event. The course no longer hosts PGA Tour events. It is a 450-yard, dogleg right par 4 with a creek running up the right side of the hole. From the new tee box, cutting of the corner is nearly impossible and a strong tee shot still leaves the player with an uphill, 200-160 yard approach. The greens slopes very severely back to front and anything above the hole is almost certain to be putted off the front of the green.

            The seventh is the only par 5 on the course. If played correctly it can produce an easy birdie. That being said, an awkward length, downhill lie third shot can create a difficult shot into a quick green which slopes front to back.

8th hole standing from 145 yards out

            The final stretch of holes from fifteen onward is very strong. A good score can easily slip away coming back up towards the impressive clubhouse. During one of my final rounds in North Carolina this summer, I witnessed club member Mark Hedberg shatter the course record by shooting 61. He achieved the incredible score by birdying both the 16^th and 17^th, which is something very rarely seen.

            As stated earlier, the protectors of Biltmore Forest Country Club are the blazingly fast, incredibly conditioned bentgrass greens. During season, namely during the Sweetser Memorial Tournament, they are the best greens in Western North Carolina. During the season, the greens can roll anywhere between 10.5 and 13 on the Stimpmeter with barely any imperfections. Depending on pin positions and the speed of the greens, the course can be made incredibly difficult.

            Having said all of the previous positive aspects, BFCC does have weaknesses. The bermuda grass fairways leave lots to be desired. They are patchy in areas and are only in good condition during the peak of summer. The fairways need to be re-done and the club membership cannot agree on a course of action. Another weakness is the two par 3s (holes three and nine) on the front side. Both are around 155 yards, and require similar shots and the same club selection.

            Biltmore Forest Country Club is not going to be hosting any PGA tour events any time in the near future, but it has played host to the 1999 US Women’s Amateur and will be hosting the 2013 US Women’s Mid-Amateur.

            The Club facilities have anything a golfer would want. A new wing added to the clubhouse in the early 2000’s introduced a new bar, dining room, outdoor veranda, and fitness facility among other things.

View of the clubhouse from the front -
http://www.usga.org/news/2010/November/2013-Women-s-Mid-Am-To-Biltmore-Forest/

            One of Biltmore’s greatest characters is Sheila Fender, the Pro Shop Manager. Sheila has been working at the club for over 30 years and has contacts at nearly every golf club across the country and even the world. She has friends including members at Augusta National and Cypress Point to small exclusive hidden private clubs dotting the US. I have known Sheila since birth and owe her for many of my great golf experiences. Shelia’s golfing power in combination with club pro Jon Rector’s golfing influence make an extremely powerful duo to help members.

            If ever given the opportunity to play Biltmore Forest Country Club, do not turn it down. It is an example of an old traditional Southern country club and truly is one of Donald Ross’s hidden North Carolina gems.

Taylormade Driver Cracking!?

            Have you ever had a poor experience at a restaurant that was so bad you never wanted to eat there again? Apply that same idea to what has recently happened to my Taylormade R9 460 driver. During a normal round of golf, the clubhead cracked upon contact with the ball. What has followed the incident during past few weeks has led to an abandonment of my love for Taylormade woods and the purchase of a new Titleist driver.

            Here is some background to my story: I used to love Taylormade woods. I have played the Taylormade R580, the Taylormade Burner, the Taylormade Superfast, and the Taylormade R9 460. I have loved each driver and was giving thought to purchasing a new R11 before this debacle.

            Before heading home to North Carolina before Christmas, I was playing one of my final rounds here in St Andrews. I was out on the New Course on a cold December morning. My first driver of the day came on hole number two. Immediately upon contact with the ball, something didn’t feel right, and the sound produced upon contact was terrible. I looked down to realize that the head of my R9 460 had cracked right down the top of the driver. I was shocked to say the least! I finished up the remaining sixteen holes teeing off with my 3 wood.

            My disappointment with Taylormade didn’t emerge from the failure of the driver, but how they have since handled the issue. Post-round, I took the driver up to Auchterlonies, a golf store off the 18^th green of the Old Course. They are an authorized Taylormade dealer and recognized that I had also flattened out the face of the driver! They called Taylormade to ask about the issue. Their answer was along the lines of, “Driver heads crack on occasion with heavy use. This driver is outside of its 2-year warranty, and therefore we can’t do anything for the customer.”

            Is it acceptable that a well-kept, non-abused driver should crack after a mere two years of use? If it does crack, isn’t it reasonable to think that the company would replace the driver even if outside of the coverage? Taylormade’s warranty states: “This warranty does not cover normal wear and tear. All cosmetic and other repairs not covered under this warranty may be made for a fee.” Is the driver head cracking during a round “normal wear and tear”? I may be off the mark, but I don’t believe it is.

            Unfortunately, Taylormade has lost a loyal customer from these interactions. Has anyone else experienced a driver head cracking? How did the company handle it?

2012 Golf Plans:

            As the cold weather passes, I will be getting back out to play some great golf. I’m going to get my fill of St Andrews golf in late January. I’m also planning on making a trip down to play Muirfield in late March in addition to an English golfing adventure at some point. I will be visiting the Masters Golf Tournament this year when going State-side over the Easter Holidays. Course write-ups and reviews will come once again when the weather is good and the courses off their winter setups. 2012 should be a great year of golf!

Best & Worst of the Courses played in 2011

In the past two days I have played what I fear might be my final two rounds in 2011. Both were incredible rounds on the New Course, and I wouldn't want to end the 2011 golfing year in any other way. A lunch in the R&A Clubhouse after one of the rounds wasn't too shabby! In this post I have rated various aspects of the courses I have played during 2011. It was a good year, and I managed to played eleven of the top 100 in the world. I have attempted to rate both typical categories in addition to some atypical areas of rating. If there is another category of particular interest not mentioned, please comment with the question!


Best Shower: Prestwick
     -The showering experience in the Member's locker room at Prestwick is second to none. This may be difficult to gain access to the Member's locker room, but if you can, the best shower of your life awaits.


Best Meal: Muirfield
     -Calling the lunch meal at Muirfield a "feast" would be an understatement. The amount of food and quality is unmatched at any other course I have been to (including Prestwick's fabled lunch). Visiting Muirfield without having the lunch would be on the same level as going to Paris and not visiting the Eiffel Tower...

Most Enjoyable Course: North Berwick 
     -The layout of North Berwick is extremely enjoyable. It is not an overly challenging course. The 15th "Redan" hole is the most replicated hole in all of golf. The quirkiness of ancient stone walls snaking throughout the course leaves the golfer wanting more at the end of the round.

Overall Experience: Pine Valley
      -Merely being on the Pine Valley grounds creates a surreal feeling. Playing well during the round further instils an incredible feeling. You realize another visit to the course will most likely never come, and you try to soak in every single second in hopes that it will last forever.


Best Clubhouse: Kiawah Island (Cassique)
     -The Cassique Clubhouse on Kiawah Island has facilities that cannot be found on other courses. The food is amazing, the locker room massive and accommodating, and the setting beautiful. It is a private course, hidden behind a guarded gate, but if ever given the chance to visit, do not pass it up.

Most Challenging (Conditions Considered): Muirfield
     -Muirfield is a challenging course. Factor in 40 MPH prevailing winds and gusts over 60 MPH, it was nearly impossible. I hit driver - driver - bump & run into a 360 yard par 4. I have never been happier shooting 93 as a 3 handicap....


Best Caddy: Carnoustie 
     -When I played Carnoustie, the caddiemaster of 37 years caddied for me. His knowledge of Carnoustie surpassed any golfing knowledge that I have ever encountered. The rest of the caddying staff is rumored to be impressive and extremely knowledgeable.

Rudest Pro Shop Staff: Machrihanish 
     -The staff member running the pro-shop at Machrihanish made Matt and me leave our golf bags and overnight bags in a torrential downpour outside while rudely checking us into the course. The pro-shop was empty and in everything she did, she acted as if we had just asked her a huge favor. She was also wearing a Loch Lomond sweater... No pride in your own course? It left a bad flavor in our mouths.

Worst Greenskeepers: Gleneagles
     -I don't doubt that Gleneagles can be in excellent shape, but on each of my visits, the courses were very rough. If there is a rough winter before the 2014 Ryder Cup, it will be very interesting to see how the course holds up.

Best Greenskeepers: St Andrews Links 
     -The St Andrews Links Greens Staff do an incredible job of keeping all seven courses in championship condition year-round. They should be an inspiration to other courses in Scotland. I have yet to see another Scottish course which is in equally good condition mid-winter.

Most Underrated Course: St Andrews New Course
     -The New Course at St Andrews would be ranked highly and considered one of Old Tom Morris's jewels if it didn't live under the shadow of its older brother, the Old Course.

Most Picturesque: Kingsbarns
     -Kingsbarns is very picturesque. Kyle Phillips did an incredible job of turning farmland and cow pastures into one of the best new Scottish courses. Until I play the likes of Pebble Beach and Cypress Point, Kingsbarns will remain the most picturesque course I have played.

Overrated Setting: Kiawah Island Ocean Course
     -When I arrived at the Ocean Course, I expected to see some of the most impressive seaside holes in the world of golf. I was disappointed at the scenery. This doesn't speak to the strength of the design, merely the impressiveness of the setting.

Favorite New Course: Castle Stuart
     -Castle Stuart should be played on any UK golf trip. It is an incredibly strong and impressive design which sits firmly in my top five favorite courses.


Best Bacon Roll: Turnberry
      -This is perhaps the most important rating category (other than the showers) mentioned in this post. A good pre-round bacon roll is paramount to a good round. If you don't serve a good bacon roll, what's the point of even having a kitchen? I had to have two pre-round bacon rolls at Turnberry... very telling of my experience.

A Picture Says 1000 Words (2011 Summary)

As the golf season has slowed down to a crawl here in St Andrews, I decided a year-end golf summary was in order. I have assembled a small album of assorted pictures from some of the rounds that I have played in the last year. Enjoy! (Clicking on the photos will enlarge them)

Champion Hills

Old Course

Castle Course (Other St Andrews Courses)

10th green at Turnberry

17th hole, "Alps" at Prestwick Golf Club

Matt in an unbelievably small and deep bunker at Dundonald Links

Gleneagles (Centenary)

North Berwick

Cruden Bay

Worked as a green side marshal on the 18th at the 2011 Open Championship!

Cold, wet, but what an awesome experience!

Visit to the "Oa" on Islay after Machrihanish

Machrihanish Dunes' small golf shop, rural?

Machrihanish GC (#93 in the World)

 Can't wait for the upcoming golf in 2012! With an England and Ireland trips in the works, it should prove to be a great year. More posts to come in December!