A day at St. Andrews was a day at the beach

Let's get this admission out of the way before someone yells bogey.

I am not a golfer.

Granted, I've actually played the sport at various times, mostly during charity scrambles when I had three real golfers on my team to carry us and prevent embarrassment. Such as the time I tripped over myself while teeing off on the first hole. On the other hand, I once helped my scrambles team make birdie by chipping from about 25 feet and watching in awe as the ball rolled INTO THE CUP.

Then again, I also recall playing 18 holes during a bachelor party and having my partner record every stroke ... 115 ... 116 ... 117 ... until we were still on the course, it was getting dark and everyone else was in the clubhouse partying.

So I almost feel guilty watching the British Open at St. Andrews this weekend and knowing that I actually have stood and walked on the Old Course.

It was May 1999 and a vacation to Great Britain included a stop in Edinburgh, Scotland where I discovered that the birthplace of golf was only a 2-hour bus ride away. The bus (Stagecoach Fife Line x59/x60) even left from Edinburgh Station ... located just east of  St. Andrews  Square.

Just a short walk from the bus station in the real St. Andrews, The Royal Ancient Golf Course sent shivers down this non-golfer's back because we all have seen the 18th green, clubhouse and the Swilken Burn bridge. I walked around part of the course - without getting in the way of any golfers or getting yelled at by any marshalls - noticing things like the 1st and 18th holes sharing the same fairway and the absence of any golf carts. I later toured the British Golf Museum and learned a lot about this sporting endeavor that has vexed millions through the years.

I had a cheeseburger and fries at The Scores coffee shop inside the Best Western Hotel that overlooks the course. I even bought a St. Andrews golf shirt that I still wear proudly today (one of the few shirts from my single days that my wife has not thrown out).

I did not attempt to inquire about playing a round of golf because ... well, see above. Also, you apparently have to apply well in advance, and provide a handicap certificate or letter of introduction. They take golf very seriously over there.

Of course, the conditions were very St. Andrew-like. it was windy, overcast, windy, cold, windy, damp. Did I mention that it was windy?

As I was walking along windy West Sands beach later in the day, the scenery also seemed quite familiar. I quickly realized - about the time I saw the info plaque - that it was the beach from the famous opening scene in "Chariots of Fire."

I hummed the Vangelis tune all the way back to Edinburgh.