Most years we can look back and say, “What a Year". Just making it through another rotation is a win, even if you experience a few setbacks as we travel at 67,100 mph on a planet floating in the universe around the sun 93 million miles away (don’t think about that too hard).
If you found yourself over the holidays saying to a friend, family member, or even a stranger in an awkward setting, like an elevator, bathroom, or boarding line, “What a Year”, conveys you are subconsciously reflecting on the good, the bad, and the sad times experienced during your last calendar trip around the sun.
The good times rise to the top and preferably the setbacks and losses are demoted. The key is to reflect on the highlights and remember whatever intentional position you put yourself and your family in that year, was a conscious decision to make the best of the time you have together with the people you love most (floating in space, at a very fast speed around a fireball in the sky).
Our family adventures in 2024 were awesome and took us again overseas to Scotland where we are making an honest attempt of playing all the incredible courses there. We introduced my 76-year-old father-in-law, Dave, to those majestic links and the places he’s dreamed about for decades.
While Dave didn’t get to play the grandaddy (Old Course) on this trip, we teed off at the North Berwick West Links approximately 5 hours after landing in Manchester a day late after a cancellation (thanks Delta) into our original destination of EDI. After a 4-hour drive and quick shower in the clubhouse (as a member for the day), it was time to roll.
(#1 Green - North Berwick)
(Dave at North Berwick)
(Harvey Pollock at the famed 13th - "The Pit" North Berwick)
A duffed iron off the first tee was so brutal and a little rain starting on the 14th tee slowed us down but what an incredible place. The course is as fun as it looks on socials with Spieth and JT and the rest of the YouTubers who play and document their visit. Our boys, 8 and 11, powered through and got in some great practice before the European Championships later in the week. The North Berwick junior green fee is 50% of a full green fee, an incredible nod to junior golf.
Dave and I booked a risky last-minute tee time at Gullane No.2 (incredible course) where I played lights out for 5 holes in a solid downpour. The rain stopped, the sun came out and I immediately double bogeyed and then continued the bogey highway to hell until the next round of rain. It was so wet even the locals walked off the course to a warm fireside seat at The Bonnie Badger.
(Gullane #2, Sun and Rain)
(Hanging at The Bonnie Badger)
Dave is a Vietnam vet, who was drafted out of college in 1969. He is the epitome of a “Warrior” but we both knew our round was coming to an end. The rain and lightning finally circled back, and we called it after skipping a few holes, but got to finish on 18. Gullane is on the replay list for another time.
The adults took a few days off to watch some great junior golf where the kids competed and battle tested themselves for the third year in a row on some of the less famous links of the Golf Coast, Craigielaw, nick named “Crazielaw” and the quaint Longniddry. It’s a blast to watch all the kids play these courses where traditional target golf strategy transitions to creative shot making with low running 8-irons from 50-yards out.
(Harvey Pollock at Craigielaw)
(Competition Round at Longniddry)
We bookended the trip with our favorite course, KingsBarns. It was my 3rd time back, Harvey’s 2nd, and Jack’s first pure walk of 18 holes. It’s debatable to say KingsBarns is as good as it gets in Scotland, but arguably it is as good as it gets anywhere in the world. Everything about the experience is top-notch and their offered junior rate would make most high-end courses in the US nauseous to honor, but they do it right and have incredible hot chocolate. We also linked up with one of the best golf photographers in Scotland, Ryan Caven, to follow us for the day. Highly recommend doing this at least once.
(Harvey Pollock at KingsBarns)
(Jack Pollock at KingsBarns)
(Dave Hendrickson at KingsBarns)
We hung out in St Andrews for another day and departed EDI for home, at least that was the plan. Our flight was canceled so we hung out in Edinburgh for an extra day (thanks Delta). We took advantage and hiked Arthur’s Seat and ate a giant sandwich from “Oink: Delicious Hog Roasts.”
(Hiking down Arthur's Seat)
(Edinburgh Hog Roast)
We all have our golf stories from 2024 and golf means different things to different people. Some folks believe the game is a divine intervention and a significant part of life’s journey. Some choose to take it very seriously and some don’t. Some love the game, and some love it so much they forget to have fun. Some simply just like it and a lot of folks couldn’t care less about golf. Whatever the game means to you, harvest the goodness and accept whatever journey it puts you on. We are discovering so many incredible paths and most will not lead to a green jacket, but undoubtedly something more realistic and fulfilling down the road.
From our family to yours, we wish you the best in 2025.
Ben