Day 6 – Sports-Filled Day in Glasgow

I’m writing this only an hour or so after the final whistle of the Celtic Champions League match so I’m still on a high from the game.  Actually, I’m more on a high from the crowd and stadium than the actual match.  I’ve been to a few sporting events in my day but I’ve never seen or experienced a crowd like this before.  One fan next to me said, “The crowd is better than the team” and I’d have to agree.  Celtic won the match 2-0 and advanced to the knockout stages of the Champions League, but if the competition was based on fan support, Celtic might be ranked among the top clubs in the world.

More on the Celtic v. Helsingborg match in a second.  My first sporting escapade today was a round of golf at HAGGS CASTLE.  It’s a historic golf club just outside of Glasgow that was started in 1910.  The Scottish Open used to be held there in the 1980’s before it was moved to King's Course at Gleneagles Golf Club (today the Scottish Open is one of the richer golf tournaments on the European Tour and it is currently played at Castle Stuart Golf Links in Invernes in the North of Scotland).  Fees are around $90.  Everyone I told about my round at Haggs Castle said it was a great course, lots of history, really nice scenery, etc., so I figured it’d be crowded and I’d be in a traditional foursome, but when I arrived there was only a couple people out on the course; I guess that’s what happens when you tee off at 10am on a Wednesday on a slightly overcast day.  So, it was a group of one…”now on the first tee, Mr. Dianella.”  I took my rented clubs and hit the links…solo. 

Haggs Castle Golf Club - Glasgow, Scotland.

Haggs Castle map.

The first tee.

My rented clubs...they do have carts, aka "buggies," but you only use them if you have some sort of handicap.

 

Storm clouds were teasing all morning, but no major rain came.  The course was very damp and soft all day though.

 

 

There were flashes of drizzle here and there, but it stayed clear for the most part.  I started with six balls and was down to one by the 11^th hole – the 9^th and 10^th were tough Par 4s.  From that point on if I shanked a shot into the trees or put a 7 iron over the green into the water it would be the end of my round…the pressure was on!  Fortunately, I stepped up and made it through the final eight holes with just one ball.  I ended up shooting a respectable 95 (that included the penality strokes for the lost balls).  I didn’t have the course completely to myself, but with no one in front or behind me, I might as well have.  It was a beautiful round of golf and I can check “Golfing in Scotland” off the bucket list. 

Lots of lush green foliage all around.

Par-3 third hole.

Nice slow back swing... and...shanked into the woods on the right.

 

The course had several old stone houses lining the greens and fairways which added to the old Scottish vibe of the course.

The walk up to 11th green.

More scenic views

 

Having the course to myself for the most part allowed me to stop and pose for pics.

 

Final hole.

The 18th fairway.

Post-round pint in the clubhouse.

David Feherty won the 1986 Scottish Open at Haggs Castle.

 

 

One of the reasons I decided to play golf at Haggs Caslte is because a 10-minute walk down the road from the clubhouse is Glasgow’s finest 18^th-century domestic building called the Pollok House.  Along with being a gorgeous and tranquil Scottish estate it also houses one of Britain’s best collections of Spanish paintings.  After my round of golf I took the scenic walk down the road and explored the estate a bit.

The walk from Haggs Castle to the Pollok House.

The entry gate to the Pollok House.  The house is not in use by the family; instead it is used as a museum and an event venue.

 

The view from the back patio looking into the estate's backyard.

The landscaping on the estate was immaculate. As you can imagine, they have dozens of maintenance workers manicuring the premises each day.

View from the back patio. In the distance is the back part of Haggs Castle golf course.

A view looking back up to the house from the yard.

About 200 yards from the back steps was a creek and a beautiful stone bridge.

A view of the back yard and house from the stone bridge. The estate is so large that locals often use it as a park and bring their kids to run around the grounds and families will bring picnics.

Hanging on the stone bridge.

 

 

 

After I explored the estate I went down to the kitchen and had an apple and rasberry crumble with ice cream. Delicious.

 

Now back to the Celtic FC experience.  Kickoff was at 7:45pm local time (11:45am PT) and I arrived at the stadium around 6:30pm.  I went to Will Call and grabbed my tickets and then explored the outside food vendors, team shop and general surroundings.  I finally went inside about 30 minutes before kickoff and you could instantly sense the energy and tension.  This was a big match for Celtic.  If they won, they qualified for the Champions League of Europe, which is the highest level tournament in Europe (it means lots more money and exposure for the team). 

Celtic Park is about 10 minutes east of the city center.  It cost about $15 by cab.

Most European soccer stadiums have been significantly revamped to accomodate larger crowds and  modern day technology, but just about all the stadiums leave one side or wall or even one stand from the old original grounds.

Walking up to Celtic Park.

The club was established in 1888 so they are celebrating their 125th anniversary. 

I made my way to the seats which were spectacular.  Again, in soccer you don’t want to be too close because you can’t see the other side of the field.  You’d rather have a little height so you get a full perspective.  My seats were “35-yard line” and in the front row of the second set of field-level seats, basically prime real estate.  Plus, I had a little cut-out area of the stands (see photo for better visual) so there was plenty of space. 

A view from my seats.

Fans showing their pride by raising their scarves.

This was my little alcove.  You can see how it's slightly separated from the other seats.

I was row B, seat 26, but no one else was sitting in this "box" so I had it to myself.

 

Enjoying it.

Within seconds of sitting down the chanting started.  And I don’t just mean one section of passionate fans in the corner; the entire stadium of 60k+ in unison chanting, singing and waving their arms.  It was an amazing site.  It was so synchronized that it appeared as if they all went to a rehearsal and worked on their cheering together.   On top of the chants, various songs were played throughout the match that got the crowd even more electric.  By far my favorite was when the crowd broke into song with Depeche Mode's "Just Can't Get Enough."  I don't have video from my game, but here is a video from a match last season that shows the energy and enthusiasm these fans have - Check it out.  Another goosebump moment was when the one-and-only Susan Boyle, a fellow Scotsman (or Soctswoman) sang “You’ll Never Walk Alone” before the match and the entire crowd sang along and held their green and white striped scarves in the air. 

Susan Boyle singing "You'll Never Walk Alone" before the match.

 

During "You'll Never Walk Alone" all the fans raise their scarves.

 

 

There was some excitement on the pitch as well.  Celtic scored late in the first half to go up 1-0 and then added another goal late in the game to make it a final of 2-0.  Huge win for the Hoops.  After the match, I met up with Iain Jamieson, the press manager for Celtic who gave me the tickets, and I was able to attend the manager’s press conference as well as walk on the field and sit in the team dugouts.  Needless to say, it was an experience for the ages.  It definitely goes down as one of the best sporting events I’ve been to. 

Kickoff!

Game action.

Celtic started poorly, but were able to secure the 2-0 victory.

 

Iain Jamieson and I on the field after the match.

Post-game press conference with Celtic manager Neil Lennon.

Celtic team dugout.

 

Sitting in the manager's chair.

 

Celtic Football Club is all about the fans and the fans are some of the best in the world.

 

 

 

The song I’d like to share is without a doubt Depeche Mode’s “Just Can’tGet Enough.”  Not only did I coincidently download this catchy 80’s tune prior to the trip, but it also has become a major battle cry for the Celtic supporters.  They play it before the match, at halftime and after goals and to hear 60k+ rabid soccer fans singing “I just can’t get enough” all at once is pretty spectacular.

 

Thursday, my last day in Glasgow, is TBD at this point.  I might venture outside the city to see some castles and old historic battle grounds, or I might just recoup and relax.