Jeff,
First, thank you for the large font. As I've gotten older, my eyes are failing me. I don't think lowly of Americans playing golf in Scotland. I'm actually a naturalized American, I play golf in Scotland, and I like America. I also like ice-cream sandwiches but will complain about them to my wife.
As an American and NYer, I generally feel good about myself when I'm in Scotland. Playing golf or not.
You are welcome to your opinion of my comments. Below you will find my response. Moving forward, this is not the correct forum to continue this discussion. If you feel you need to continue to express your opinion(s) and/or would like to point out any false statement I've made, then you are more than welcome to PM me.
In terms of Americans playing golf in Scotland. I am indifferent where people play golf or the citizenship of the golfer. I'm pointing out a fact of golfing in Scotland in the summer. The vast majority of holiday golfers in Scotland are Americans. So statistically, if you are playing any name course in either Scotland you'll likely run into Americans - paired up or in the club house, hotel, restaurants, bars, etc. I have traveled to Scotland or Ireland 17 and 21 times, respectively. Yes, I usually run into Americans. I travel to Asia to play golf, and I usually run into Hong Kongers and mainland Chinese with a few sprinkles of Americans and Aussies. If the statue of OTM was located in Asian, then I would not have references Americans but the people I usually meet.
Example: most recent 4 week trip to Scotland this month. I'll give you 3 guesses what most of the American golfers I meet have in common. I won't bore you with the details of where and how many Americans; however, I'd be more than happy to provide you a list on request. As a side note, I can't speak as to whether the people I met are lowly or not lowly.
I admit, I don't have an advance degree in information geometry, and my sample size is small. So, my simple country boy opinion is based on my limited experience.
I digress.
My comments are in reference to a statute of OTM in ST. Andrews. If I may say Americans are the dominate golfers in St. Andrews, then I'm making an assumption the vast majority of ppl in line for a photo op of OTM statue are Americans. Example, Pinehurst & Waterville, the statues of Payne Stewart are a common photo op. And yes, most of the golfers are Americans at Waterville during the summer. For most Americans or non-UK citizen, a golfing trip to Scotland is a bucket list item. So most ppl will take a lot of photos of their trip and go home and tell their buddies, co-worker, ex-wives, lover, dog, etc about all the courses they played. So, there is nothing wrong about bragging about playing golf in Scotland. Damn, I (an American) even sent my club pro a photo of me teeing off on TOC last week.
Perhaps you are offended by my comments about Americans playing 36 holes everyday. Do you prefer Americans play more than 36 or less than 36 holes a day? I don't play 36 holes a day. Not my thing, not my style as I've older. I'm indifferent if anyone plays 5, 9, 18, 36 holes a day. My comments are based on my interactions with the people I meet while playing golf in Scotland. The majority of Americans I've engaged are in Scotland for 5-6 days, play a round of golf day they arrive, and usually play 36 holes a day. The people you engage with may do things differently when in Scotland. If so, let's pour one for diversity of thought in the universe.
As for "...jumped the shark... " the reference to Americans is related to tourists taking a photo with OTM statue. I stated I think St. Andrews is Disneyland for golf. That is my opinion, not fact. But I'll take a guess and say the most common tourist in St. Andrews, during peak season, and wanting to take a photo with a OTM statue will likely be an American. If the most common nationality in St. Andrews during peak season are Little Purple People Eaters, then they would be the one's I'd likely encounter and reference.
You are free to ask any caddy/starter from TOC, N. Berwick, Portmarnock, Kingsbarns, Lahinch, Waterville, Prestwick, Muirfield, RCD, etc.. and most will tell you Americans (a lot is relative, so the percentage can be 10, 20, 30, 50, 80) will play golf day of arrival of and likely play 36 holes a day.
I agree with Niall, St. Andrews has become something of a Disney World of golf. A statue of Old Tom Morris will be an amusement attraction with tourist and golfers waiting in line for a 5 sec photo op.
I usually run into Americans who are on a quick golf holiday in Scotland. Most get off the plane and hit the links within a few hours then play 36 holes everyday. There is a mad rush to play as many big name courses as possible, before the trip ends so you can brag to all your buddies. A statue of Old Tom would just be a check box on a golf trip to Scotland.
.
Pierre do you really think so lowly of the Americans playing golf in Scotland? It appears this board has jumped the shark in referring to Americans traveling to Scotland to play golf.