 Now, I've always missed fairways, but maybe in a slightly different context. Come with me on a journey back to 2020 BC, before Covid. In July 2020, I embarked on a golf trip that would take me to seven regions of Scotland, 21 golf courses, lots of great people met, whiskey drank and memories created. And it all started in East Lothian and I'd be staying with an old friend, the legend that is Malcolm Duck. The camera's on, so keep that singing going. How are you doing? I'm good, how are you? Good to see you. Although golf was played on the East links as far back as the 17th century, it was the duo of Ben Sayers and James Braid, who designed and oversaw the opening of the now Glen Golf Club in 1906. And as you can see, the location is breathtaking. The 13th really is a special golf hole, with little room for error. And as you can see, don't make the mistake of coming up short. Next up, it was the house venue for Scottish Opens, Gullin, boasting three quality links golf courses. This time I played number two and took on a hickory challenge. I told you we're going to take on a hickory challenge. It's a bit of a challenge. It's 196, we just got this, and it's flagging into the breeze. But is this a driver, effectively? It's a kind of fairway wood, I'm just getting into hickories, I don't know all the bits and bobs, but Borus, who runs a jack-white shop, he clubs up in the village, which is fantastic. But a little bit of love, but the great thing with hickories is really slow your swing down, really soft hands, and let the club head do the work. A lot more whippy, a lot whippier, so you can work the ball a lot more. So we're into the wind, slow down that swing. Slow down that swing, and kind of shut your eyes. Couldn't you have picked an easier hole? I'll tell you about this ball. Do you know what? I don't care where it's finished, because that was absolutely... Perfect. Yeah, it was good, wasn't it? I know we all play golf for different reasons, but for me, this is the reason I play golf. I've just played a par three with a hickory golf club, but then I just walked down to this green, and wherever I look, it funds me right now. It's just, it's heaven. It's just absolutely stunning. So I found the bunker, you found the green. Yeah, mine's local ball. But you've got one for the definite win. One for the definite win, with my... Perhaps two for it. My old hickory putter that Marci gave me. You know Andrew Marshall? Yeah. He's a great hickory golfer. I have to confess to using the modern club out of the bunker. I forgot the rule. We never saw that. We never saw that. Oh, go on. Go on! That's good enough to take that one away. Almost. So you've got your three. Got my three. So I've got this for the half. This is quite a bit different, the putter. Isn't it? Heavy head. Oh, you like it? Whoa! Oh, I thought he had that. Well, he had that. So the hickory... The hickory championships goes to Mr. Duck. Hold on. So I'm not a great fan of very old whiskeys. I feel they've lost some of their fruits and they go more like other spirits, brandies and stuff. It might be new. Could it? Absolutely. Can't argue that one. Following an evening of talking and tasting whisky with Mr. Duck, I would take on my final course, a relatively new kid on the block with character that defies its tender years. It was time to play Craigie Law. Right Malcolm, I'm about to kick things off and he's loading on. Of course, I've never played before at Craigie Law. Anything you can tell me about Craigie Law? I love it. 20 years old. Not quite Lynx, but plays Lynxy, sitting right beside Kill Spindy. Beautiful Lynx golf course. Really nice design. I think you really enjoy it. The views are stunning. The people here are just really, really, really friendly. Scottish seniors have played here a couple of times as well. That says a lot. You'll enjoy it. The lands are owned by the early Whemes. These families have big influences on golf because he owns the land here and it kills Spindy at Long Nidry. Way back then, Mary Queen of Scots days, she would have come and stayed at the big house. This is where she started playing golf, going back to our cradle of golf. You'll enjoy it, stunning views. Well, look forward to it. I must admit, it looks impressive from up here. Some great views and not a bad day for it either. Beautiful day. I'm getting on that first tee. So you can drive the green, but if you ring off the chipper, risk an award. We shall see. Thinking man's golf. We shall see. As I say, there's a great feel about Craigie Law. It's a very welcoming club, almost a laid-back atmosphere and the golf course itself, it sits in a pretty enviable location, as you can see. It really is a joy to play and I suppose what more can you ask from a golf course? Massive slope on that. I think it needs pace online. Go on. Go on. Go on. Go on. Now I have a great affection for East Lothian. It was my first taste of golf in Scotland and remains a personal favourite, but it was time to move on. But before we do, let me introduce you to Eric Davidson with a poem that I know will resonate with everyone of you. There's a marvellous game where Scotland's its home and it's a game that is truly unique. I know it takes away your life, it gets you away from your husband or wife for at least four or five hours every week. Now it's basically simple. You have a wee ball with dimples with some clubs that you keep in a bag with the ultimate goal to get the ball into a hole that sits at the foot of a flag. But that's where the simplicity ends because as you all know, my friends, it's a game that can drive you demented. I mean, just when you've thought that you've played a great shot, next thing you're wishing it had not been invented. For example, you feel such alive and you've played a great drive and you've hit the ball square in the face with golf you feel smitten until you discover you're sitting in that divot that's not being replaced or you've had a lovely wee wedge but you're in a bunker and it's then you remember you've been in the San Mair in a French Legionnaire in fact you're an honourer, remember? But the thing is to you it doesn't matter if a dozen shots later you're trying to get out of that trap because you see, you've got the bug even though you look like a mug and the golfing world knows that you're crap. So what do you do, will you? Pay for some lessons, make colleges sessions you're determined to get yourself better pay 400 quid for a driver play with balls worth a fiver where the top of the range pringles sweater you know who you are even take the decision to get Sky Television so you can sit and watch all the golf channels you've even sued for divorce because you notice out in the course your husband or wife burnt the hole in your flannels meanwhile your mates are convinced that your head's fully mince before they've ever met the thing is, it's sad that you're true there are dozens like you who when playing the game tend to forget that golf's not about fancy waterproof suits or spending fortunes improving your game if you win or get beat to success or defeat it's about being able to treat them the same it's not the shots that you take it's the friends that you make the camaraderie with your fellow man so be it win, drain or sun just go out and have fun enjoy your game while you still can so all you golfers out there who throw your clubs in the air and are continually losing the heat if you want a quiet life and keep in with your husband or wife stay in and do the dishes instead enjoy your golf