Expectations

Juvie was recently interviewed by Amanda Balionis leading up to the old man trip to Scotland.  Below is the edited transcript.

Amanda:  Tell me about your expectations leading up to the trip?

Juvie: High...that should be all I need to say.  Last trip to Scotland we had tough conditions....this time the forecast looks like southern CA.  DP told me that when he meets each course's starter he's going to ask, "what's the course record?"  

Amanda: Your thoughts on how you expect Neal to play?

Juvie: Last trip to Scotland Neal's caddie was giving him putting lessons...this time Neal will be telling him to pick his birdie putts out of the hole.  

Amanda: You're the third member of the group who has golfed in Scotland before.  Do you expect to play well?

Juvie:  I've been living large on the presitgious PHAT tour this summer...as the kids like to text, IYKYK.

Amanda: But what about the rookies?  

Juvie: Heil hasn't thought much about the trip 😂.  He's been mentally preparing for 18 months so I know he's ready to go low.  

Amanda: And Jenson?  

Juvie:  He never touches his golf clubs but you know how every year when you live in the north somehow you come out firing in April after a six month layoff?  'Nuff said.

Amanda: What about PJ?  

Juvie: He's a chameleon.  He said it himself.  "I can be Asian...I can be Irish...."  The same is true on the golf course.  Links, parkland, desert...it doesn't matter.  See ball, hit ball.  Fun to watch.

Amanda: And then there's Nix?  

Juvie: Clean living and a buttery swing is a recipe for success!  So smooth the Big Easy and Fred Couples are jealous.

Amanda: Thank you for the time this afternoon and enjoy your time in Scotland.

Juvie: Thank you, it's been a pleasure.

Edinburgh T-Minus 1 Day

Today was a long day for Ryan Neal, Eric Jensen, and Jeff Heil as they traveled across the Atlantic to Edinburgh for some sightseeing.  We had an hour to kill before we had to meet our tour guide to show us the famous Edinburgh Castle.

After a 25-minute drive from the Airport to the heart of Edinburgh, we took in the sights and sounds of the famous Royal Mile. We were greeted by some bagpipe music to get us in the mood. We eventually learned from our castle tour guide that this upcoming week will be talked about for the next 100 years because of how hot it's going to be.  The all-time high in Scotland is 90 degrees, and today was close to 85.

Before the castle tour, we swung in for a brew and some nachos.

The Edinburgh Castle was impressive, to say the least. It's the most attacked castle in the world, and yes, William Wallace (not Mel Gibson) once set foot on the grounds. 

 Here is the sculpture of William Wallace that is off to the side of the main gated entrance.

Impressive Gate entering the Edinburgh Castle.  

This part of the castle is where the Scottish Army would hold any captured prisoners at the top of the castle.  The prison cells were outside, and the prisoners were exposed to the harsh winters. They could choose to live but eventually die a slow death, or choose to walk out a door that was left open to allow anyone to jump to a sudden death.

Panoramic view of looking down from the top of the castle

Jensen is pondering the meaning of life while at the top of the Edinburgh Castle

Getting ready to fire some cannons off in the distance at the top of the castle.

The oldest building in Scotland that sits at the top of the castle.  This church is over 900 years old

After our tour, our castle guide recommended we go to Howies if we wanted to try good Haggis. Haggis is the national dish of Scotland, a type of pudding composed of the liver, heart, and lungs of a sheep (or other animal), minced and mixed with beef or mutton suet and oatmeal and seasoned with onion, cayenne pepper, and other spices. The mixture is packed into a sheep’s stomach and boiled.

Howie's Menu

Tomorrow, Thursday, is Zero Day. The rest of the crew arrives, and we make our way from Edinburgh to the West Coast to begin our golfing adventures. We start by playing Royal Troon, a historic course. At the time of this post, Jeff Jiovanazzo's flight in MPLS is delayed, and he will be close if he can make his connection in time to be in Scotland in time for the round. Fingers crossed!

-JH