Creating context for conversation

For the next few days, I’ll be using this space usually reserved for curling to talk a bit of golf.

I am currently in Troon, Scotland with my 18-year-old son Patrick on what will be a once-in-a-lifetime golf tour of some of the greatest courses in the world.

Why am I playing in the home of golf this year?

I’m lucky enough to work for McDonalds, (yes, the home of the Big Mac) which offers, as one of its greatest perks, a sabbatical. For every 10 years of service you get two months off—with pay—no questions asked.

It is a forced escape, a chance to reset and remind yourself of what matters in life. Truly a gift.

I’m using the time to travel with my kids, and my first trip is with my son. For Day One, my Titleist gets marked with the Golden Arches (I don’t have a yellow Sharpie, so red will do) to say thanks for this opportunity.

The agenda for the week is a golfer’s fantasy.

We play, in order, Western Gailes, Dundonald, Prestwick, Turnberry (Alisa), Carnoustie, St-Andrews (New), and Kingsbarns. Big thanks to my friends at Golf Away Tours for helping me put this trip together.

If you’re a golfer, you know there is nothing like links golf. It’s hard to explain to the casual weekend player, but it just feels different. The shaping of the land, the hills, the pot bunkers… they all make for such an interesting and fun game.

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Getting my son to play golf has been a journey. My father was my introduction to the game 40 years ago (I will talk a bit more about that later this week) so I did want to give my son the chance to play if he liked it.

We started at a young age. I took him to the driving range, which he enjoyed. Then I took him to a Par 3 course a few times, and he loved it. Then when he was 11, we joined a small 9-hole course in Senneville, Quebec called Braeside.

Braeside is one of the oldest courses in North America on its original location. It’s an old-style Scottish style links course, with tiny greens and blind shots, and very few members.

We played a lot of golf there together. And then during the summer of Covid, we pretty much played every day. It was the only thing we could do. And it gave us something to do together.

Golf is something you can share. It is an activity that creates a context for conversation. It creates something to do together. There are precious few activities that you can share with an 18-year-old that present opportunities for conversation. Golf is amazing, and I am overjoyed to be sharing this trip with Patrick.

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DAY 1: Western Gailes Golf Club

The weather was very Scottish for: 14 degrees celsius and rainy to start, and a pretty constant 2-club wind … then sunny for the last three holes.

Western Gailes is spectacular. A classic seaside links course nestled between the train tracks and the Firth of Clyde.

Patrick struggled in his introduction to links golf. The swing was a bit loose in the wind, and he discovered thistle and gorse. I played pretty well and shot a pretty controlled 81—finishing with the same ball I started with, which is pretty amazing on a course like this.

We are also fortunate to be in Scotland for the European (football) Championships. At time of writing, I am on my way to a pub to watch Scotland play Germany. I suspect some Scottish beer will be consumed.

Tomorrow: Dundonald