August 1 has always been a big day in my world as it’s the birthday of my eldest brother Mike, with whom I’m traveling on this Dream golf trip to Scotland.

On this day he would turn 47 and as we woke we realized how fortunate we were to be gazing out the window at the rising sun, glimmering through the clouds upon the hallowed ground of the 18th fairway at St. Andrews.

The first round of the day was to be played at Kingsbarns, with origins that date back to 1793 and situated on the very edge of Fife. Click the above link and take a look at the view of each hole. It’s just an incredible layout and a fair test of golf at the same time.

We arrived 90 minutes early for our tee time and had a proper Scottish breakfast in the clubhouse, including some vegetarian haggis (contents unknown). Word spread quickly about Mike’s birthday and we were treated as virtual VIP’s.

I met my caddy Taylor on the first tee, a college student at St. Andrews who hails from Philadelphia, and promptly split the first fairway with my persimmon.

the view from the tee at #1 at Kingsbarns

There was threatening rain that never fell but persistent winds blowing nearly 20 mph all morning. I nearly aced #8 but missed the two-foot putt for birdie en route to erasing an early deficit against Mike.

the pin on this 125yd par 3 was right over the hump on the left

I built a 3 up lead and was dormie with three to play but squandered it, including dumping two into burn on 18 to halve the match, finishing 47-49=96 on a tough course.

Played an uneven round on a blustery Scottish afternoon

Mike and I had eyed today as a possible 36-hole day and we made the move to St. Andrews to play the New Course, starting at 5:15pm and playing alongside our caddies from the round at Kingsbarns.

This classic track was the work of golf legend Old Tom Morris, who designed this virtually unchanged layout that opened in 1895. While lesser known than the Old Course, this course is laid out on adjacent land with constant reminders of  just where you are.

a look back toward St. Andrews from the New course

The front 9 goes out downwind and despite shooting 43 I was 3 down at the turn to Mike. Into the wind proved toughter and I fell 5 and 4, coming home in 52 for a decent 95.

Playing a team match with our caddies, Mike and his guy Neal beat us 3 and 2, adding a fitting feather to Mike’s cap on his special day.

Mike and his caddy Neal won the team match, a fitting end to my brother's 47th birthday

Off to sleep after 36 holes of wind-blown links golf and it was back to the Rusacks hotel for much-needed rest.