GOLFING ST. ANDREWS - THE ULTIMATE RETIREMENT GETAWAY

by Julie V. Watson

Retiring is, to a great degree, a doorway to great new adventures.  The day we leave full time employment we receive a great gift - time.  What we do with that time determines our happiness, even our health.

Sadly for many folks time becomes a depressing burden.  They are bored, lonely and find it weighs heavily on their shoulders.  For others, though, there just isn’t enough time to do all we want in a day.  We revel in the time we now have for new experiences, new adventure.  One of those great experiences has been Rving - traveling across North American in our own home.  Another is golf.  Yup, me ‘The Uncoordinated One’ finds herself enjoying golf.

The spouse has always enjoyed golf and now goes our faithfully every weekday morning, baring hurricane, frost or travel days.  My first venture onto the course was to watch his ball.  Since I had paid for the round, I decided to whack a ball a few times and found I wasn’t the dud I expected to be.  I hit it straight, if not far, so don’t do too badly.

I love driving the cart, and the true joy of golf, being in the great outdoors at the best time of the day - and year.  As a couple with vastly different interest areas and hobbies, golf became important as time we spend together, just us with time to talk, relax and have fun.  Unfortunately our golfing faced a set back when my knees became very painful.

Now with two total knee replacements behind me I’m keen to get back on the course.

Recently we were able to enjoy on of those truly great golf experiences.  We spent an extended weekend at St. Andrews by the Sea in New Brunswick. It was with some trepidation that I stepped up to the first hole at the famous Fairmont Algonquin Golf Course and Academy. What a way to get back into the swing.  Visiting the course was a dream come true for both of us.

The Fairmont Algonquin - a renowned resort hotel once belonging to Canadian Pacific - is St. Andrews' dominant landmark and its spectacular setting, overlooking the peninsula, features a wealth of recreational facilities - including the 18 - hole seaside golf course. Golf began here in 1894 when a short course was erected on the lawns of the hotel – a nine-hole pitch and putt. In 1896 the course was expanded to 18 holes

It features a dynamic sequence of forested woodland front nine complemented by a picturesque seaside back nine.  The par 72 courses challenge golfers of all levels.  Sure did me in I put my club away on the 9th hole and just enjoyed the ride for the rest of the course.With bent grass tees, fairway and greens this New Brunswick golf course offers a manicured look that is the perfect contrast to the fescue rough and the rugged shoreline of the Bay of Fundy.  It is just plain beautiful.

The folks at the Algonquin  invite all golfers to enjoy an exciting and challenging round of New Brunswick golf on grounds over 100 years old, filled with history, folklore and breathtaking views; where moments are turned into memories for you and future generations.  I must say they made us welcome and even I, playing my first game in five years, felt welcome and pampered.  A nice way to spend a day!

St. Andrews, with its seaside, botanical gardens, wonderful restaurants, quaint downtown, fabulous wharf area and all kinds of adventures close at hand is a great place for seniors to spend a wonderful few days.  We have stayed in our RV, overlooking the bay just a mile or so from the lovely downtown area and at the other end of the spectrum bed down in a luxurious bedroom at the wonderful Algonquin Hotel where roasting marshmallows over a fire-pit set up on the front lawn with the help of a handsome kilt-clad bellman made our day.