Summer Travel

As my wife and I awaited our first child my travel schedule has been significantly curtailed but I did manage to play Butler National Golf Club in Chicago. Recently lengthened to 7500 yards with a slope of 158 and course rating of 78.2...she is a monster. While the course sits in the midst of suburban Chicago with office buildings and roads alongside the course, I thoroughly enjoyed the venue. Unquestionably difficult, but very fair. The club is an all-male bastion which has a terrific ambience. The service & food are excellent...it all just feels right. It would be quite easy to envision the course hosting any golf event (membership policy excluded) and provide the sternest challenge to the finest golfers in the world.

In terms of new golf development, Scotland has taken a back seat to some other nations over the last 10 or so years. Doubtless, there have been some terrific courses added to the landscape, principally Loch Lomond & Kingsbarns come to mind. In addition, there have been a number of other courses that provide an excellent experience. Looking forward I am very hopeful that Scotland will add some very good new courses...and possibly some great ones. Developments currently under construction and in varying stages;

Machrahanish Bay - alongside Machrahanish Golf Club on the tip of the Mull of Kintyre, a new course which has been the passion of renowned Scottish golf course photographer Brian Morgan. This area of Scotland is rather remote but an additional course provides greater incentive for travelers to make the effort. Realistically 2007 opening.

Carrick on Loch Lomond - Located just to the south of Loch Lomond Golf Club, on the shores of Loch Lomond, it has the potential to be one of Scotland's very best inland courses...opening in 2006.

New Course in St. Andrews - The much discussed 7th course for St. Andrews. Construction is now underway with a projected 2007 opening. Over the last 5 years we have seen St. Andrews emerge as more than just "play the Old Course" and move along, but more people now spend 4 or 5 days around this delightful town, playing a range of courses, including the Old Course. Doubtless #7 will only add to this trend.

British Airways...the recent, much publicized challenging strike at British Airways, was in my view handled as well as could have been expected by the airline. They were thrown a difficult set of challenges when their principal catering supplier went on strike and then some of the ground staff walked off the job in sympathy. An airline is an incredibly complex logistical operation with planes, crews, maintenance, landing slots, etc, etc. British Airways stepped up to the plate in this instance and did virtually everything within their power to address the issues. The media (principally British) had a field day with the stoppage but I am exceptionally confident had a similar scenario played out at a US airline and the response would have been much different. Certainly passengers were adversely affected, but British Airways deserve respect for their handling of the situation...the people that deserve scorn are the relatively few BA ground staff who walked off the job and their responsibilities.