The Old Course at St Andrews
There are some places you visit because they are on your list, and there are others you visit because they are on someone else’s. This stop was definitely for Marty.
I’ve never been a golfer, so I probably could have skipped this photograph altogether. But Marty has always enjoyed the game, and I knew that standing beside the Old Course at St Andrews was something special for him. So, I happily became the photographer while he took his place beside one of the most famous golf courses in the world.
Known as the “Home of Golf,” the Old Course has been played for more than 600 years. The game evolved on these coastal links, where the natural dunes, winds, and rugged terrain created challenges unlike any purpose-built course. Over the centuries, St Andrews became the standard by which golf courses around the world would be measured.
What makes the Old Course remarkable is that it is not simply a historic site. it is still very much alive. Golfers from around the world dream of playing these fairways, crossing the famous Swilcan Bridge, and putting on the legendary eighteenth green. The same landscape that challenged players centuries ago continues to test the best golfers today.
As I watched Marty take in the view, I was reminded that travel isn’t always about checking items off our own bucket lists. Sometimes the greatest joy comes from sharing in someone else’s excitement. While I may not have understood every nuance of the game, I certainly understood why this place mattered to him.
That is one of the gifts of traveling together. We discover places we might never have chosen on our own, yet those unexpected stops often become some of the memories we treasure most.
Read More From Nancy
Palace of Holyroodhouse
This photograph is of the historic Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official royal residence of the British monarch in Scotland. It is located at the end of the famous Royal Mile in Edinburgh and is directly connected to centuries of Scottish history, monarchy and national identity. Unlike some royal palaces that are distant, Holyrood carries the stories of conflict, […]
Ancaster Square War Memorial
During our travels through Scotland, we stopped in Callander, a small Highland town often described as a gateway to the Trossachs. In the center of town, in Ancaster Square, this tall stone column immediately caught my attention. At first glance it resembles one of the old market crosses found throughout Scotland, but it is actually […]
Swilcan Bridge
Marty and I traveled to Scotland after one of our teaching events in London, taking a few days to explore beyond the city. One of the places we knew we would visit was St. Andrews. For Marty, it was something much more than a stop on the itinerary. For me, I was honestly more interested […]
