Huttonian has been enthusing middle daughters American father in law about the joys of the Royal County Down (PBUI). No 2 in the UK; No 8 in the World. Staggering views, wide heather bound vistas, massive towering sand dunes, rain forest size Gorse. This morning I took him out on a glorious early summer day to play a round on the Annesley Course (MPBUI) which marches with the championship circuit but not quite so devastatingly challenging. Glorious summer in Bath Lane was visibilty of 50 yards on the first tee. Vistas off. Surprisingly the green keepers had not closed the course for safety reasons so were able to cautiously drive off and be swallowed up into the swirling sea mist. For five holes we played through old movies of Dickensian London or the Raspberry Blower of Old Scotland Yard. More by feel then by anything else. The greens were only just visible from fifty yards out. No one else on the course probably, but hard to be sure. The only other living thing was a Hound of the Baskervilles (
enough literary allusions-Blog ed)) which on closer inspection turned out to be Allie the Ball Finding Alsation. His master was no where to be seen like most every thing else.
Then dramatically the mist lifted, the Mournes reappeared. And all the things every one has ever said about the RCD (P etc) were seen to be true. Vista as advertised, Gorse ditto, and strangly enough having survived the whiteout without losing a ball I immediately lost one in the long range visiblity. A good one. One I was saving for the autumn and my old age, which ever is to come first. B~*#&r!
I may find it tomorrow. More fog forecast. Good
