Sunday we were back on the train to St Andrews.  The weather was calling for off and on rain but at least it was looking like they would get the third round in.  We got to the course and walked all the way down to where the holes turn back to the clubhouse.  As soon as we got there the rain started up.  But luckily we were prepared and our rain gear served us well.  The Scots take the weather in stride and we quickly learned to as well.  If it starts to rain up pop the umbrellas and for the most part play continues.

Another family proud to be at The Open.

For the morning we sat in the stands down at the end of the course. You could see play on 4 or 5 holes from this one place.

We had a nice afternoon watching round 3.  You can believe everything you have ever heard about Scottish weather.  You may experience torrential rain, gale force winds, heat, cold – all in the span of an hour or two.

Watching from the stands as the players come down 18 you can hear bagpipes faintly in town. Behind the surf crashes on the beach where they filmed Chariots of Fire.  And of course everywhere are storied pieces of the history of the game. The Roadhole, Swilcan Bridge and the marvelous old buildings of St Andrews topped by the crown jewel itself, the Royal and Ancient Clubhouse.

One of the Old Course’s traps.  If you look closely the walls are actually tiny terraces of sod and earth. Really cool how they do that!

In the afternoon we found seats in the stands across from 18 fairway and watched the groups come in. It’s like watching a golf tournament in a football stadium but somehow it works.

The beach where the opening scene from Chariots of Fire was filmed.  I took this from our seats.

Smith at Swilcan bridge

I must say the folks who put of the tournament do a great job of it.  And the Old Course itself serves as an especially grand stage for a tournament.  Combine the two and a British Open at the Old Course is quite the spectacle.

By the end of the trip of all the places we would see each of us voted our number one place to return would be to an Open at St Andrews.