7/19/24

The Conductor

A train conductor, his view of the Open Championship, and golf culture in Scotland

by

Every trip across the Atlantic Ocean for the Open Championship is a reminder not only of the brilliance of links golf, but of the golf culture in that area of the world.

American golf culture tends to be obsessed with destination resorts that are way off the grid, forcing you to immerse yourself in golf and golf alone. And while places like Bandon Dunes and Sand Hills and Streamsong are terrific, they are isolated experiences. There are very few places in the United States where you can take the train directly to and from the golf course, or walk to the course from the town center. If you live in a major metro, you’re allocating six to seven hours of your Saturday for a single round, returning after to a home that is, for all intents and purposes, a world away from the golf course.

While I’ve never been to Scotland, it’s plain to see that the way they approach the game is healthier and more sustainable. It’s woven into the fabric of daily life. Your day job may not be on the course, but you likely aren’t far away from the first tee. Whether you’re working at a shop in town or shepherding a line of train cars, golf is readily accessible.

Maybe this train driver doesn’t play golf. Maybe life on the rails is enough for him. But if I know that wistful stare like I think I do, he has standing Tuesday afternoon and Saturday morning games with some of his best pals. He’s not the best player in town by any means, but he’ll put his handicap up against anyone and his game travels better than most. At the end of a round he gives the bartender a nod and they bring over the usual for the table, as they do every week. He’s a reminder that golf doesn’t need to be an overly expensive, time-consuming endeavor. It can be simple and pure, as the original links were designed to be.


For more coverage of the Open Championship, visit our Open hub.