Golf in Cape Breton

by Jeff Durborow
(Vernon, VT)

A dream came true when my wife took me to the Highlands Links course in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

Nancy rode the cart and I played with a threesome.

One was a doctor and the others were his niece and her fiance from their home in France.

However, they could not marry unless the young man passed the uncles muster.

Needless to say, it was not the young man's day for golf and he was having problems.

The doctor observed his anguish and turned to me after about 4 holes and said "my great great grandfather burned your white house down."

Odd statement but I thanked him for the opportunity to rebuild after the war of 1812.

I also acknowledged our congressional and started with the 4 books Dolly Madison took from the building before it was burned.

It was the British who announced their intent to torch the white house.

The fiance's golf didn't get any better but the doctor loosened up and told my wife and me about life in Sydney, Nova Scotia.

He also shared a history of the clans from Scotland who settled in Nova Scotia.

It was a grand round of golf, very scenic looking at the Atlantic and listening to the stories from the good doctor.

By the way, the cost for the round and a cart was about $40 US.