Golfers visit Scotland - The Birthplace of Golf

8/21/2024

Head Coach Tyler Goulding: The overall experience was incredible. The golf was amazing and combined the history of Scotland being the origin of the game itself it made for a great trip. The variety of courses and shots required to play them was even better than I expected and should reap dividends for our team.

Senior Cameron Kahle: The team had a great time in Scotland. We were able able to experience the cultural and historic background of the game of golf. Seeing the game at its roots allowed us to understand how the game was intended to be played, not always hitting a high ball, but using creativity to get the ball in the hole.

Sophomore Carson Baker: I thought Scotland was awesome. Being able to experience a different culture of how golf is enshrined with everything over there and part of the history of the county was incredible. The courses are much different than here in America and lead to playing golf a little differently over there which was very fun to play that way.

We began discussing a foreign trip prior to the pandemic, with Scotland being the obvious choice as the “home of golf”. After things started getting back to normal, we got serious about planning and fundraising for it. We cannot thank everyone enough for giving us this incredible opportunity. The experience that our team was given has created memories for a lifetime.

Head Coach Tyler Goulding

Memories that Matter

Goulding: I think the different style and challenges of links golf will be incredibly beneficial to our golf games. Links golf makes you think and hit shots in ways you don’t have to when playing in the U.S. But our main goal with the trip was creating a life long memory and friendship that comes from sharing an afternoon on a proper golf course.

Baker: I think the experience will help us in a golf sense since we played so much golf, but also you have to hit so many different type of shots when playing links golf that will help us. Also, just the whole team being there and doing everything together and all the stories we have will really help the team in the long run to be able to look back at the all of those memories. I also think playing over there brought out some competitiveness when playing against each so hopefully we can use some of that during the season when competing against other teams.

Kahle: I think this trip brought our team closer together. We only have one incoming freshman, so we will have a more mature team than we have had in the past. This trip also helped us understand that there are so many ways to play the game and we should be creative when out on the course.

Favorite moment from the trip

Goulding: My favorite moment was either getting see the old course and some of its famous features in person or playing Royal Dornoch on an absolutely idyllic day.

Baker: My favorite moment was on hole 18 of Carnoustie. We were playing an intense match and it came down to hole 18. We ended up winning the match and it was cool to end the match on 18 with the grandstands up.

Kahle: My favorite moment of the trip was going to see the Loch Ness Monster after playing at Castle Stewart golf club

On the Links

While in Scotland, the Falcons played Nairn, Cabot Highlands, Moray Old, Moray New, Royal Dornoch, Carnoustie, Fairmont St Andrews, Castle Course and Gleneagles Kings course.

What's Next

Air Force opens the 2024-25 season at the GCAA/Folds of Honor Collegiate, Sept. 9-11, at the American Dunes Golf Course in Grand Haven, Mich. The annual Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational will be Sept. 21-23 at the Air Force Academy Eisenhower Golf Course.