What a lovely course. I still cannot believe that I didn’t score much better than I did. I hit the ball as good, and as straight, if not better, than I have ever done, yet looking at my score I am bewildered. Two pars to start, then I missed the the 3rd and 4th greens from under 100 yards and failed to get down in two. I did manage a par at the 5th, but at the 6th hole, having less than 60 yards to the flag, I managed to hit the ball so heavy that it barely reached the bunker in front of the green. I was in shock, obviously, because I then bogeyed the 7th, 8th and 9th for an outward 40, six over par. My playing partners John MacKinnon and Douglas Gorman from Windyhill must have been bemused by my efforts which looked to continue as I bogeyed the 10th, again after missing the green, this time with a sand iron. Then as if by magic I made par figures at the 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th. I was on a roll and began to believe that I could make the buffer zone. However, a poor drive at the 16th saw me finish in the left rough, from where I hit a great shot right over the pin and, unfortunately, right over the green from where I made a six.

At this point I managed to hold back the tears and went on to par the downhill 17th. But life, and especially golf, can be cruel, and a final bogey at the 18th saw me miss the buffer zone by one stroke. However, there is always good news, and the good news here was that my nephew Billy won the competition and secured his second win of the season. Yes, the course was fun, and I will be back.  Another gem to test all levels of golf, and if you haven’t played here then: Telephone: 01505 872139 or e-mail: secretary@kilmacolmgolfclub.com