There’s no denying the subject of golf and marriage will long be the butt of many jokes.
However for a first occasion in more than 25 years reporting on golf around the world I came across a scenario where golf and marriage are joined in harmony.
Earlier this year (2013) Tour Miss and myself, along with neighbour, Mary Heal and very good friend, George Morris set out on a trip to the Scotland Western Isles of Lewis and Harris.
However rather than be delayed in any traffic we made the decision to stay overnight in Uig from where would be on time for the early morning ferry.
Skeabost’s first hole – a result of 25 years marriage. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
Tour Miss and myself had been to Skye before and visited Skeabost or to refer to the course correctly – Skeabost House Hotel Golf Course – but unaware on closer inspection the tie between wedlock and a game that can so often leave you in locked in handcuffs.
So while the ladies enjoyed a late afternoon aperitif, George and I headed back along the A87 and turned right on the A850 to find the Skeabost House Hotel Golf Course. In fact, the course is just six miles from Portree, and Skye’s main town.
With the generous approval of the staff of the Skeabost Country House Hotel, George and I made our way to the first tee, and it was here the ‘marriage’ connection was revealed.
The course itself was opened in July 1984 by Andrew Rome or wee Andie as the plaque says. However the first tee was reconstructed in the winter of 1988-89 to celebrate the 25th Golden Wedding Anniversary of Mr and Mrs I.C.D. Stuarts on 20th April, 1989. It was also the Stuarts first son, John who assisted in the construction of the tee.
Now the next part of my tale is not too clear.
The first hole at Skeabost House Hotel is named Wee Andie’s and measures just 103-yards. ‘Easy enough’ I hear you say’.
Well, in my quarter of a century reporting on golf I can’t recall a first hole as intimidating than the first hole at Skeabost.
Impressive-looking Skeabost Hotel = Image GolfByTourMiss
Maybe Mrs. Stuart had something to do with the design, or maybe it was her way of a payback on Mr. Stuart for all those years he left his good wife at home while he darted off in search of the shortest route around a golf course.
Who knows!
Skeabost Country House Golf Course is not your Celtic Manor or Gleneagles hotel golf course, and nor does it pretend to be. It’s fun test of golf where you need to hit your irons straight and confront the conditions of the course facing you.
And while Wee Arnie’s is a surprise start to the nine holes, the 121-yard ninth hole named The Pier is a fantastic closing hole where you have to cut the corner of Lock Snizort to reach the green. It’s a good enough par three that would not be out of place at either Celtic Manor or any of the three courses at next year’s Ryder Cup host venue.
Indeed the last two holes at Skeabost are divorced from the other seven and command excellent views of the loch with the stately-looking hotel as a backdrop.
Skeabost GC on the Isle of Skye – Photograph GolfByTourMiss
So if you thought there was just one golf course on Skye, there is in fact two, and could there be a more perfect spot for that Golden Wedding Anniversary weekend break.
And if you should bump into Mr and Mrs Stuart you might ask Mrs. Stuart who had the say in the redesign of the first.
* Special thanks to Skeabost Country House Hotel General Manager, Shaun Sim and his superb staff. (Click on photographs to enlarge – all photographs copyright – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
