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Monday, September 1, 2014

TRUMP INTERNATIONAL GOLF LINKS SCOTLAND

TRUMP INTERNATIONAL GOLF LINKS
ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND

TRUMP INTERNATIONAL GOLF LINKS
MENIE PARK LODGE, MENIE ESTATE
BALMEDIE, ABERDEEN, AB23 8YE,
UNITED KINGDOM
+44 1358 743300
HOURS: 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM (Summer)

What do you do when out of the blue a vendor that I do business with invites me on a week long golf outing in Scotland.  Not just any golf outing but one that includes the best courses in Scotland, great food, transportation, green fees and caddies.  Well...after careful thought I decided to go for it and booked my ticket to Edinburgh.  Due to flight times and varying ticket costs to Scotland I had to arrive two days prior to official golf tour starting.  Lucky for me a buddy of mine was on his own Scotland golf adventure and I was able to hook up with him for rounds of golf at Trump International Scotland and Turnberry.  I literally got off the plane in Edinburg and jumped in a pre-arranged van that was scheduled to take me to the Scores Hotel in St. Andrews.  My tee time at Trump was at noon and we had less than three hours to get to Aberdeen and my driver was only supposed to drop me at St. Andrews.  I asked the driver if he could stop at my hotel in St. Andrews so I could check in and shower and then drive me out to Aberdeen.  He got on his phone with his thick Scottish accent and called his boss to explain that I needed to continue on to Aberdeen after a stop at the hotel.  They gave me a price for the additional drive in pounds.  I about died.  Somewhere around $300 or more American dollars.  We arrived in St. Andrews and I quickly checked into the Scores Hotel.  Ran to my room and jumped directly into the shower.  I had been traveling for 24 hours and really needed a rinse.  I put on my golf shorts and shirt and headed back downstairs to find my driver ready to go.  We booked it to Aberdeen where I found my friend waiting in front of the Pro Shop.  We were on the tee box now.  No time to chat we had to get out to the first hole.  So after flying 24 hours and then rushing three hours to Aberdeen I was now on the tee box with my driver playing Trump Scotland.  I played like shit but did not care.  I took in every hole at Trump and just smiled the day away.  As tough as this course is....and it is really tough, I was the happiest lousy golfer in life.  Here I was golfing in Scotland at Trump.  A shot in the bunker.  No problem.  Lose a ball in the thick rough.  Who cares.  I am in Scotland man!  Golfing one of the best courses in the world according to Donald Trump.  I had a great young Caddy here.  He was young but understood the course and really helped me out with hitting out of the rough and putting. We laughed throughout the round and I think we both enjoyed the day together in the rare Scotland sunshine.  One of the things that surprised me at Trump is that the Pro Shop and Restaurant are like a double wide trailer.  Nothing fancy here.  I can tell you that the staff was highly professional and friendly.  Was a great experience having a drink after our round.  Just wish we were not rushed and could have hung out longer.  Great people working here.  They understand customer service and really showed us that they cared.

TRUMP INTERNATIONAL GOLF LINKS SCOTLAND

ENTRANCE TO TRUMP INTERNATIONAL GOLF LINKS IN ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND
YOU PASS A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING WHERE WE WERE TOLD IS LIKE A HOTEL
PRO SHOP AND RESTAURANT AT TRUMP SCOTLAND
READY TO GRIP EM AND RIP EM AT TRUMP SCOTLAND












JUDGING FROM THIS BACKSWING, I PROBABLY DID NOT MAKE IT OUT



CADDY WAS A YOUNG BUCK BUT HE KNEW HIS STUFF
BLESSED TO GOLF WITH MY BUDDY CHRIS TARR PLUS MADE TWO NEW FRIENDS AT TRUMP




SMALL RESTAURANT AND BAR WITH FRIENDLY AND PROFESSIONAL STAFF


UNITED AIRLINES - CHICAGO TO EDINBURGH

UNITED AIRLINES
CHICAGO TO EDINBURGH

Cashed in a bunch of miles to enjoy United Business Class from Chicago to Edinburg, Scotland.
Seats were very comfortable and service was good but does not compare to the level of service experienced on Lufthansa Airlines.  Traveling internationally you will find that the American carriers (Delta, United, American etc) do not have the same high standards for service as the foreign carriers. There is a huge difference in professionalism, training, food, beverages and customer service.  The foreign carriers win all categories hands down.  Seems that the American carriers are just too comfortable in their old ways.  The American crews are "senior" and seem to be burned out while the foreign crews are fresh, well trained and dedicated to providing a higher level of service.  

BUSINESS CLASS ON UNITED 
COMFORTABLE SEATING WITH PERSONAL ENTERTAINMENT CENTER
POWER OUTLETS COME IN HANDY TO CHARGE PHONE AND LAPTOP
PREFLIGHT REFRESHMENTS
APPETIZER
MAIN COURSE SELECTIONS - I HAD THE FILET OF TURBOT AND IT WAS DELICIOUS
I WENT FOR THE CHEESE PLATE
CHAMPAGNE SELECTIONS
OLD AND NEW WORLD RED WINES
WHITE WINE SELECTION
INTERNATIONAL WINE SELECTIONS

LAYOVER IN CHICAGO O'HARE AIRPORT

CHICAGO O'HARE AIRPORT
LAYOVER TERMINAL 1

CHICAGO O'HARE AIRPORT
10000 W. O'HARE AVE
CHICAGO, IL  60666
773-686-2200

If you are going to be stuck in an airport for 8-9 hours, Chicago O'Hare Terminal 1 is not a bad place.  There are dozens of restaurants, lounges, shops and bars.  I mixed up the day by hanging out in the United Lounge in the morning and then having pasta for lunch and sushi for dinner.  Glad I walked around because there were so many different places that I would have not discovered if I would have just stayed in the lounge.  Lunch at Tuscany was really good.  To start the service was excellent.  The staff was polite and attentive with several employees and management checking to see if I was enjoying my meal.  High marks for service.  The food was also excellent.  I enjoyed the Linguine Scampi Alla Vodka ($23).  While a bit expensive the dish was prepared perfectly.  Love the Vodka Cream Sauce.  Great food and service here.  Would definitely return to Tuscany at Chicago O'Hare Airport.  After lunch I went back to the United Lounge to check emails and work on computer.  Decided to take a long walk around every inch of the terminal.  Walked a bit and made a few turns before finding Wicker Park Sushi and Seafood.  Wow..what a cool place this was.  Great Sushi and Wine Bar in the middle of the terminal.  Great service by bartenders and servers who really seemed to care and incredible Sushi that was nice to look at and even better to eat.  You will be surprised by the countless options you have to eat and drink at O'Hare.  From Hot Dogs to Popcorn, Mexican, Asian, Italian and dozens of other things to enjoy.  

CHICAGO LAYOVER

PACKED MY CLUBS (IN RED) AND HEADING TO SCOTLAND VIA CHICAGO
HONOLULU TO SCOTLAND VIA UNITED AIRLINES
ARRIVED IN CHICAGO ON CLEAR AUGUST MORNING
CHICAGO NEVER LOOKED THIS GOOD IN WINTER
MAKING THE TURN AND HEADING FOR CHICAGO (ORD) 


FOUND TUSCANY CAFE NOT FAR FROM THE UNITED LOUNGE





A LITTLE ITALIAN CHIANTI
LINGUINE SHRIMP ALLA VODKA
SPENT A FEW HOURS IN THE UNITED AIRLINES LOUNGE
COMFORTABLE SEATING, SNACKS AND BEVERAGES IN THE UNITED LOUNGE
WICKER PARK SEAFOOD AND SUSHI BAR
GREAT SUSHI AND WINE BAR IN THE AIRPORT - THIS PLACE ROCKS!
A GLASS OF CHAMPAGNE ALWAYS CALMS ME BEFORE A FLIGHT
I WANTED A LITTLE SPICE AND THIS SUSHI DELIVERED IT!
MAYBE NOT THE BEST IDEA TO EAT ALL THESE JALAPENOS BEFORE AN 8 HOUR FLIGHT TO
SCOTLAND.  WHAT THE HECK, I LOVED THIS!