NOTE: Before I carry on, I had a link on the Scotland 2017 1st Page to "the St Andrews Legacy" web page. It will take you there but let me emphasize that it is only through the hard work of the Legacy patrons and those who work tirelessly for the Legacy program that we were able to do what we did. It does/did "improve the lives of others, through golf, education and life changing experiences". On a personal note, I met people from the Wales that have the same issues as I (we) have and deal with the same discussions we go through in our personal lives. This experience made me realize that there are things that I can do and accomplish, it did improve my life...gave me a week of no phone calls and it was stress free. I can not thank Soldier On and St Andrews Legacy enough for all they have done for me, and for others like me.

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Machrihanish Golf Club, the 8th and 9th of June (Day 1 and 2)

I do not normally start my pictures with Facebook reaction, but in this case I thought I would give it a try, there are some nice comments from fellow competitors about the course and the members of the club with whom we played. It was an experience to be remembered.

Graham (the tallest guy there-and our host) was trying to herd us into some semblance of a commonwealth golf combination...the genesis of the St Andrews Legacy June 2017 edition. We had just arrived from Glasgow airport (the Canadians) and were transported to Machrihanish for a two day golf event that would be the beginning of a life changing experience.

Campbeltown : The Royal Burgh of Campbeltown, the principle town of Kintyre, sits on a small sea loch and is the home of Springbank, Scotland’s oldest independent distillery. The town attracts many golf tourists in the summer months, who visit to play the world famous Machrihanish Golf Course.

We stayed at the Ardshiel Hotel

If ever someone was wondering what a golfer's room looks like, well, here is a glimpse of what happens when you try and throw things together and get out for a round of golf

The transportation we had was a great van with a trailer. It held 8 golf bags and an equal number of suitcases and, I might add, 8 passengers plus driver.

The Legacy event began at Machrihanish Golf Club, one of the finest in the world. The members welcomed veterans from Canada and Wales over two days, showing tremendous hospitality and good will. We will go to North-east Fife for the rest of the week, to visit The Duke's, Crail Balcomie Links, The Kittocks, and St Andrews Links the Old Course. But I get ahead of myself, for the 7th and 8th we are at the Machrihanish Golf Club.

Here I am with the Machrihanish Golf Club sign and also with a small stone which states "Best Opening Hole in Golf in The World". I second that statement.

We can not forget that we have done this since we support and are supported by Soldier On. We are all so grateful to have been selected from amoungst so many more deserving candidates.

Graham talking strategy....

Something different? Well here is Derek Spracklin hitting some practice balls into the water behind the club house. It seems this is something that the regulars do here.

We had our first team photo with the members of Machrihanish on the 8th of June. I played with a guy named Finley (3rd from the right) and his son Cameron (last on the right). Let it be known, they were all club champions.

The first tee shot off the 1st tee is nothing but daunting. The water (Atlantic Ocean) is low tide right now but the beach is no prize if your ball goes there. I was able to par it the first day but a missed putt caused a bogey the second day. Fantastic golf hole.

On one of the holes there is a tombstone (or just a place mark) with the following inscribed and a small bottle of whiskey.

Notice how level the terrain is, and how beautiful the surrounding area is in the background.

I await my turn to putt.

Did the putt go in or not? Doesn't matter, I am in Scotland!!!

The beauty of this tee shot. Such magnificence that can not be replicated anywhere else but Scotland

An unpaid caddie

It may look obvious to a lot of members, but the line to take when trying to make a blind shot, is not as obvious as it may seem. Finely was showing me where I should be aiming.

Neil and I watching and paying attention...Neil is a Welse guard (retired) and a great man to have a round of golf with.

Nice even ground again....I personally do not like my low finish to my golf swing...but then again...there is always something.

Better swing Pierre!!

You can tell be the contours of the land that nothing, and I mean nothing, is level. Here I was way below where the green was located and just pitching it on towards to pin

At the end of the round and on our way for a drink, we noticed that the club house to the right has a "Ladies" designation.

Here we are trying to figure out how we lost on that first day

On the 9th of June, we got to play the Club Champions-again-as if we had a real chance at beating them

If you wonder how I did, well, here is a picture with Stuart Campbell consoling me.

Why did I lose? Check the stats below and you'll see that this gentlemen was a very very good golfer. I count 16 times club champion.

We were all invited to the Scotch Whiskey Factory

The big thing during this tour was to look at the way the whiskey was made. In this big barrel you looked inside and the aroma was strong. The funny look that people were giving was the result of smelling the aroma. You had to place your face deeper into the barrel to get that smell. It is very strong. They asked me if I wanted to do it and I explained that I was a very trusting individual. When my wife would taste something and it was bad, when she offered it to me to taste as proof, I always declined, trusting her taste buds. In this case, the face made by my fellow golfers, was enough for me to believe them.

Here the tour guide was extracting samples of Scotch from different barrels that have been aged. Some were from the early 1980's.

Those who know me know that I don't drink Scotch and I gave mine to...."what happens in Scotland stays in Scotland"...hahah

This is Finley whom I played the first day. I had just given him a Soldier On coin. What a nice person.

The last night we had a great meal and hosted by some Machrihanish members

Our introductory plate

A Stew that people are still asking for the ingredients for the sauce

Along with a small bottle of their Scotch...which I brought back with me

Oh ya, and before leaving, I went to visit Lady Linda McCartney's Memorial Garden-it was locked

So just before leaving, Jim and Derek just had to stop and buy some Scotch...so I had to follow and take a picture of them buying it...just what I like doing. They wanted Springhill 15 (if memory serves me right) and they did not have any in stock. Even I liked the one Stuart gave us during our round of golf...smooth does not begin to describe the taste.

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