Ayr / Loudon

We have something very special to say about our trip to Scotland. As we planned this trip early in 2005, we played a round of golf in our Arizona 5G's league with a special person - Norm Duncan. Norm is from Scotland and retired from Motorola - he lives in the US in the winter to enjoy Phoenix weather and lives in Scotland in the summer to enjoy his homeland and the cooler temps. While we played at Maryvale in February, 2005, Norm graciously invited Ang and I to play his home course in Loudon (about 15 miles from Ayr)- based on our intinerary, we picked Friday, July 22 as the date - and Norm arranged for a golf outing for himself, his girlfriend Jessie, Ang, and myself. We were honored to be hosted by such a fantastic couple. We played 18 holes at their Loudon Gowf (yes, spelled G-O-W-F) Club with Norm and Jess. It was a great day that was highlighted by the fact that Norm tied his record round at his home course with a 75. We want to take this moment for profusely and graciously thanking Norm and Jess for the wonderful hospitality, friendship, and comraderie.

While we ate in the clubhouse after the round, Norm and Jess recommended that we take a drive to Troon Country Club (also of British Open fame) also very close to Ayr and our way home. We took their suggestion and parked right next to the famous course and took several fantastic pictures on the course (you can actually walk across it during the day) - and a couple of great shots on the beach adjacent to the course (including Bob's favorite "art-sie" pix of the trip).

As we walked the beach back to the care, we ran across up to 50 jellyfish that had "beached" themselves. They looked gross, but they were dead (even though we couldn't hardly bear to touch them). We came back to Ayr after the glorious evening for another dinner at the West Kirk and a sunset.