A Gathering Storm

It was nearly one year ago that a plan was born in the 19th Hole of LCCC. Resonating with all the force of a loud fart off a wooden church pew, it was a plan of such audacity that it succeeded in bringing a sudden hush over the large faction of our membership assembled in the 19th Hole, watching the final moments of the 150th Open Championship from St. Andrews.

"It's not the Carpenter Cup, but it'll do"

As Louis Oosthuizen's final putt dropped on 18, capping an unexpected runaway victory that earned him the coveted Claret Jug, a lone voice with a distinct Tony Soprano accent was heard to say: "Hey, we ought to go there some time."

Stunned, all heads turned in unison toward Gil Hollander, who was spooning a Twosome Salad into his jaws with all the precision of a man tossing mulch into a wheelbarrow in high winds. Pausing momentarily to wipe a bit of chicken salad from the ceiling fan above his head, Gil said "I'm serious. We should go. It'd be freakin' oo-ah-some."

Editor and Son - Swilcan Bridge, 2006

Faster than you could pronounce "Oosthuizen" (Note - as this story went to press, Mike Withrow is still trying), an acclamation spread like wildfire through the 19th Hole, with man after man pronouncing himself ready, willing, and able (pending permission from his wife) to make the trip to the birthplace of golf.  Having made the journey for the first time in 2006, your humble editor offered to take on the job of coordinating the trip, with the initial cattle call going out that night to all LCCC members interested in getting on the list.

Dates were soon identified, tour operators vetted, and pro forma financials subsequently confirmed. When a U.K.-based tour operator was selected in late August and initial deposits requested the following month, a total of 20 hardy souls had signed on to make the trip to Scotland, dates set for July -13, 2011.  The group subsequently and unfortunately shrunk by four due to unanticipated conflicts by:

• Rick Smith (wedding)
• Wes Hameline ("He doesn't look good in a kilt. I had to put my foot down." - Elizabeth Hameline)
• Todd Wilson (new job with Constellation Energy; overseeing construction of world's first Vespa-powered nuclear plant in Waxahatchie).
• Mike "Button" Bowers, whose abstract: "Personal Injury Lawyers: Objects Aren't The Only Things That Are Closer Than They Appear" was selected as the keynote address to for the 2011 American Ambulance Driver's convention in Bossier City, LA.

And so it was after nearly a full year of planning, the august group of Chris Allen, Frank Carter, Blewett Gardner, Troy Good, Gil Hollander, Jeff Holshevnikoff, Mike Jackson, Tom Keffer, Danny Lowry, Matt Miller, Jim Milligan, Ty Underwood, Tim Unverzagt, and Scott Wenning will depart this Thursday for The Old Sod (not to be confused with Bob Dray's yard), accompanied by the father and son tandem of Bob and Brian Birt.

"Where's Chris A-a-a-a-a-llen?"

The group will arrive in Edinburgh, Scotland on Friday, where we'll be whisked to our accommodations off the 18th fairway of The Old Course in St. Andrews. From this base of operations, we'll mount our assault on some of the most historic courses in Scotland (including Carnoustie, Kingsbarns, Crail, and The Old Course), while also terrorizing pub owners, restaurateurs and sheep (Chris Allen) by night.

Tune into THR each day for the highlight's of that day's events (which may include some golf), delivered via the miracle of the worldwide web direct to your PC!