University of Tennessee Athletics
Curtis Cup Wrap Up: Popson's Journal
June 20, 2012 | Women's Golf
June 20, 2012
Popson's Journal
Get the inside scoop from Lady Vol golf's Erica Popson about her trip to Scotland, Team USA and her experience at the Curtis Cup.
Curtis Cup // Day 1
June 1,2012- the day we all leave for an experience like none other. Little did we know we would meet so many amazing people and develop new friendships that will hopefully last a lifetime. I left Knoxville around 1:30 in the afternoon and headed to Newark to meet the rest of Team USA. When I was checking in I kept getting these crazy looks because I was in the United Priority line because we flew First Class to Scotland and I guess I don't look like I should be in First Class or something. I got to Newark around 4 p.m. or so and our flight to Scotland didn't leave until around 10 p.m. so I went straight to the United Club and hung out there until everyone got to Newark. I must say that the United Club was really awesome! Once everyone got to Newark we went to dinner in a steakhouse in the airport and then headed to our gate to board the plane. I was so amazed when we got on the plane because First Class was unbelievable! The chairs reclined all the way into a bed and they had everything you would ever want and more. First class is the way to travel I tell ya!
Curtis Cup // Day 2
The next morning we arrived in Edinburgh! Once we got our luggage and everything, there were people waiting to pick us up at the airport in vans with the American Flag and Curtis Cup logo on them. That was really cool! We left the airport and headed for Carnoustie. On the way we took a slight detour and went to St. Andrews. What an amazing place! We went and took pictures on the historic bridge and then went shopping. St. Andrews was a truly amazing place and a fantastic experience. After St. Andrews we went and played Carnoustie, which is one of the hardest golf courses I have ever played in my entire life! We stayed the night at Carnoustie and then headed to Nairn the next morning.
Curtis Cup // Day 3
We got up early and had breakfast at the hotel which was really different. They don't have the same breakfast food over there as they do here so I stuck to the cereal and toast. After breakfast we got in the vans and headed to Nairn, which was about three hours away. On the way we stopped at a castle and explored around it for a couple hours. It was absolutely amazing and we got a bunch of great pictures. After our pit stop at the castle we got back on the wrong side of road and headed up to Nairn to get there in time for the caddy draw. Just outside of Nairn we saw a sign on the side of the road that said "Don't do Drugs and Drive." That was absolutely hilarious! We got to Nairn just in time to check into the hotel, take showers, and then head to the golf course for the caddy draw. The Caddy draw was where they pulled names out of a bucket alternating between Team USA and Team GB&I to determine the caddies. My caddy's name was Munro and little did I know at the time that I would have such a hard time saying goodbye to him and his family at the end of the week. He was awesome and so much fun to be around. After the caddy draw we go to see our locker room for the first time. It was so cool to see our names on lockers with the American Flag on it. We had everything we could ever want in our locker room. Our amazing team manager Donna shipped a bunch of American snacks and things over for the locker room so we had a bunch of food that we would for sure eat. The food was really different over there. They served chips (French fries) with everything. The seafood was really good though!
Curtis Cup // Practice Rounds - and More!
Monday through Thursday we practiced a lot at Nairn and had a bunch of functions and social events to go to. This is the time that we spent a lot of time working with and getting to know our caddies. My caddy Munro had a super nice wife and really cute seven-year-old little girl. His family came out on Saturday and followed us around for 18 holes. They were so nice and I really had a hard time saying goodbye to them at the end of the week. This part of the week was not only about golf though; we did some tourist things and had many functions to go to at night. One of my favorite things we did during this time was a cupcake competition at a local bakery. We got to decorate cupcakes that would be sold at a party the next day. I found out that I am really good at icing cupcakes and the whole experience was just a ton of fun! Another part of the trip that I really enjoyed was our team meetings. We had a team room in the hotel that was all decorated in USA stuff and had all of our team values and goals posted on the walls. Our team meetings were very interactive and supportive. At the end of each team meeting we read letters that people had sent wishing our team the best of luck. We got letters from some pretty amazing people like Stacy Lewis, former President George W. Bush, and many more. Nick Saban sent Brooke a letter which I thought that was really cool! I got a letter from Bill Haslam and Jimmy Cheek, which was such an honor. Then the night before the first day Carol Semple Thompson came and spoke to us which was absolutely fantastic! It was such an honor to get to meet so many wonderful people throughout our trip.
Curtis Cup // Competition & Goodbyes
The Curtis Cup officially started with the opening ceremony. That was something I will remember for the rest of my life. It was such an incredible feeling getting to walk out as a part of Team USA and represent my country. I got chills when the American Flag was raised to our National Anthem. The next morning the matches started. I didn't play in the morning but went out and watched my teammates play. I got to tee it up in the afternoon and there was no better feeling than when they said, "Now representing the United States of America, Erica Popson." I got chills and was so nervous! Thank goodness I hit it straight. Playing over there was so different with the wind, rain, and fog. In Links golf you have to hit it low and play the bounces, which don't always go your way. Playing in the Curtis Cup was such an amazing experience and I will have those memories forever. After play was over there was a party for all the players, families, caddies, and supporters. They had bag pipers, which were very entertaining and a night full of dancing and having fun with the friends that we made throughout the week. I danced with my caddy, neither of us really wanted to but we had a blast doing it once we did. Once the night came to an end it was really sad that it was over and we had to go back home the next day. I for sure didn't want it to be over! It was heartbreaking to lose but I made so many new friends and have so many wonderful memories from that week. It was an experience that I am so grateful to have gotten and one that I will remember for the rest of my life.
