Dawgs Return From Memorable Journey To Scotland
September 18, 2015 | Men's Golf
SEATTLE – Washington men's golf is just days from beginning the competitive 2015-16 season when they host the Husky Invitational at Suncadia's Tumble Creek. However, the team has already made life-long memories with a week in the Scottish Highlands, the birthplace of golf.
Utilizing their once-in-every-four-years foreign tour, the team, coaches, staff and group of Husky supporters made the pilgrimage that most golfers dream of. The Dawgs played several rounds on five world-renowned courses that each brought different challenges, beauty and history.
In between the golf, the Dawgs bonded as a team, while getting to know some of their best supporters.
“Every season starts full of hope and excitement, but after a week of golf and bonding in Scotland, we enter the season riding higher than ever,” said head coach Matt Thurmond.
The Husky group played Royal Aberdeen, Castle Stuart, Royal Dornoch, Brora and Nairn. These courses provided irreplaceable memories for each of the Huskies that were in attendance.
Chirs Babcock among the sheep at Brora.
From the front nine at Royal Aberdeen, likely the best dunes golf in the world to playing amongst the sheep and cows at Brora, the Dawgs were treated to some of the most unique and historic golf on the planet.
“We hyped up that front nine at Aberdeen and it delivered,” said Thurmond. “It was the first time we were all in the same place and those amazing dune holes on the North Sea set a perfect tone for what we were in store for the week.”
The ninth hole at Royal Aberdeen
The charm of Scotland was also evident on the trip, including meeting some interesting caddies, one a possible distant relative of a Husky supporter, along with the starter at Royal Dornoch who proved to be a real Scottish original.
Part of what makes golf in Scotland unique is the unpredictable weather, but the Dawgs were treated near perfection. The rolling hills of the Moray Firth with the sun shining on the sea was an incredible backdrop for most of the trip.
“We aren't weather snobs here in Seattle,” said Thurmond. “I think we all feel deep down a little guilty that our Scottish weather was so perfect.”
Back in the Pacific Northwest, the Huskies are now qualifying for the Husky Invitational with the top-five players competing at Tumble Creek in the team tournament, while the rest of the squad will compete at the Husky Individual played at Suncadia's Prospector.
The Dawgs begin the grind of the college season, but will have the memories of their week in Scotland in the back of their head.
“What a beautiful sport we play that can bring such a diverse group together for a week and create so many lasting memories and connections,” said Thurmond. “I hope that as time passes their fondness for those days on the links on Scotland will only increase.”
