hitting the little white ball across the pond

My son Brandon and I just got back from one unbelievable trip!!! He was lucky enough to be chosen on a Hilton Head all - star junior golf team of 8 golfers that were invited to compete in a "Ryder Cup" format event against 8 junior golfers from Dornoch, Scotland. It was the 3rd annual Morcott Cup Challenge.

For the 1st time, the Scottish boys squeeked out a very close victory. The venue rotates back and forth each year between Dornoch and Hilton Head. The next event will begin April 1, 2009 in Hilton Head. The golfers competed at the prestigious Royal Dornoch Golf Club as well as Andrew Carnegie's Skibo Castle (where Madonna was married). Royal Dornoch is the 13th most prestigious golf course in the world. The British Open would definitely be here except it's so remote - way up on the North Sea.

I even got to sneak out on both courses and "hack and wack" the little ball around. Nothing like links golf to make a lousy golfer like myself even more humble. The courses may never be the same.

Another highlight of the trip - our lives passed before our eyes as I drove 80MPH on the wrong side of the road with the steering wheel on the wrong side of the car following a crazy Swiss dad (father of one of the other junior golfers) from Edinbergh to Dornoch for several hours - white knuckles the whole way. Thanks Ernst.

The scenery was spectacular, the village of Dornoch so quaint. It was such a treat to get away for a week with my son. And yes, we did get down to St Andrews in the rain. If you ever get the opportunity to go to Scotland and especially Northern Scotland, jump on it.