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Writer's pictureHatsuo Yamada

⛳️Endangered Golf Clubs: Turnberry Ailsa Course.

Updated: May 29, 2022


The master who has to make my club and see the swing runs a Hummingbird Sporte (HBS) shop in Oyabe, Yokosuka.


Agony had already been going on for six years.

one day I told my teacher, "I want to stop using this club."


The answer returned was, "Youcan't go back anymore."

 

When I played golf with my friend at Higashi Fuji Country Club the other day, the grip of the pitching wedge of the agony club broke.


The grip is covered with rubber. I just replaced the rubber grip a few months ago, so the appearance hasn't changed, but the rubber's carbon shaft inside is broken when I take it.


When practising in the driving range, I practice the approach most often on the pitching wedge, so I think I can't stand it at last.


Immediately I reported to HBS, the creator of this club and my golf mentor.

He said, "Don't use the club (because it's dangerous)."

"It's not very usable." "More than that, when will the new club I ordered the other day be ready?" (I wanted to hear this and called. 😉)


"We haven't received any parts yet, so please wait for a while," HBS said.


Unfortunately, it will still take 1-2 months.

The club I'm using now is seven years old, so I can't wait for a new club.


The last time I used the pitching wedge was from the side of the green in the hole before I noticed the club broke.

I remember that last approach shot was a great touch.


Since it is a running approach, it is used as a putter, but by lifting it from the right elbow to the upper part and moving the grip first toward the ball, a comfortable hit is created. At this time, I was able to pull the ball up to about 5 inches from the hole.

It was a good touch.


I've been playing golf today as I write this blog. There are 12 clubs in my caddy bag. Unfortunately, I feel the size of the club that I used to break the grip once again.


 

The Summer of 2018. The golf trip in Scotland Irvine will also be the last. The final day was scheduled to end with Turnberry. Turnberry was owned by Donald Trump a few years ago.



A luxurious hotel is adjacent to the hill above the course, a wonderful place.

Unfortunately, I remember reading the news that the Open will no longer be held at Turnberry.





I made a reservation on the internet from Japan, but it seemed that staying at the hotel was a condition, so I booked several cottages lined up on the slope leading from the hotel to the clubhouse, not on the hill.


Across the road from the clubhouse parking lot, my room is in front of the clubhouse.


It's been about three months since I booked, so I forgot to book the cottage. At that time, I misunderstood that I was staying in a guest room in the hotel building.

I asked the location at the front desk, "Does my room need to use that elevator?"

I also made a funny story that the explanation "Your room is not this hotel. It's under that cliff" wasn't immediately understandable.


This episode is because my unconscious thought that I would stay in a hotel room.


Turnberry has three courses: the Ailsa course and the King Robert the Bruce and Arran courses. Ailsa and King Robert the Bruce are Champion Courses.

I booked Arisa from Japan.


He sent him from Harbor Light in Irvine to Turnberry in the morning.


After checking in at the hotel's front desk on the hill, the hotel staff will drive you to the clubhouse.


We still had time to start, so we searched for souvenirs at the shop and enjoyed coffee at the restaurant.



A tremendous wind is blowing today.

I called out to the starter, "It's a terrible wind!"

"It's better to make three clubs longer."

"What? Three clubs?"


While spitting on my eyebrows (I use this expression for things that I can't believe in Japan)

I thought, "It's an exaggerated guy".


No, what he said was not exaggerated, but just the right advice.

In the wind of the against, three clubs longer In the following, it is three club minus.


I played slowly to avoid getting too close to the previous player with parents and children.

If you look toward the sea, you will see a small island like an upside-down bowl.

This island is Ailsa Craig Island. Ailsa is the name of the Turnberry course. The name of the course I am rounding.


When I was playing golf, I just thought it was a cute island, but when I looked it up later, it seemed that the stone that is the raw material for that curling stone is mined from this island. It is. The whole island looks like curling stones.


It's an uninhabited island now, but I never thought that the industry of sailing across the island to mine curling stones had something to do with it.

You will gradually approach the white lighthouse as you enjoy playing golf and progress through the holes. While playing golf, you can see the lighthouse that can be seen and hidden.


Finally, an uncle is waiting when you play the hole in front of the lighthouse and hole out.

I'm not watching my play, but it still looks at me.


From the green to the next hall, go to the right, but on the other side is the white lighthouse.


Now that I've come this far, the uncle calls out to me when I want to look inside.

"Why don't you have a good night at that lighthouse?"

Inside the lighthouse, there was a counter that looked like a snack.


As I entered, the people in the group were resting while talking happily.

In addition, some people seemed to stop by during the walk, and it was a peaceful atmosphere.


I got some wine, drank a glass of it, greeted them and headed to the next hall.

In the strong wind, the sound of the wind was go-going in my ears, and I enjoyed a moment of relaxation.


After finishing the round, I took a shower at the cottage and took a break.

After this, I hadn't set a schedule for tonight.


What to do?

You have two choices: a hotel restaurant on a hill or a trip to the city of Girvan.


I was interested in the city near Turnberry, so I decided to take a walk in Girvan.

I asked for a taxi and decided to go south from the golf course.


If you are familiar with the land, I don't think you will make this choice.


I imagined a bustling city with pubs and restaurants, but one restaurant was closed in a residential area by the sea.


When I walked around the city, one pub seemed to be vacant, so I went in, but I couldn't communicate with my English, so I drank a beer and smiled at the people around me. I sprinkled and left.


It was the last night in Scotland of the summer. But it ended with a stroll around the city of Girvan and a stick in my leg. I regret that I should have investigated a little more.


The next day, the schedule is to round the King Robert the Bruce course and fly from Heathrow to Japan.


The following day, I made a record of playing 18 holes in 2 hours 07 minutes with a playful caddy named Frank on the King Robert The Bruce Course. Enjoy this story on this blog.








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