A break from the Tiger Woods saga: Francoeur's cool golf trip to Scotland

If you’re looking for a golf story that will warm your heart this Christmas season, I’ve got one for you, and it actually involves a positive story about a professional athlete.

Jeff Francoeur, the former Atlanta Braves baseball player, loves golf. And he loves his family. So much so, in fact, that he gave his dad and some other friends and relatives a really neat surprise this year.

After the season, Francoeur, who now plays for the Mets, treated them to a golf trip to Scotland to play several of that land’s storied venues. Except he didn’t tell that was what he was doing, at least not until the night before the trip.

According to a recent story in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Francoeur told his father David and the others in the group that they were taking a trip to Bandon Dunes so they would pack warm clothes, and that there were would be a side trip to Canada so they would bring their passports.

The night before, Francoeur showed the group a slideshow of Bandon Dunes, then later announced that the trip had been changed. They were going to Scotland.

The presentation switched to shots of the Swilcan Bridge at St. Andrews, the lighthouse at Turnberry and Stewart Cink kissing the Claret Jug. According to the story, David was stunned.

“I was at a loss for words,” he said. “When I heard Scotland, I said ?Oh my gosh, what a treat.’ But then when he started to say the courses we were playing, that’s when it really hit me.”

It would be a trip of a lifetime, of course. Included were the Old Course at St. Andrews, Muirfield and Carnoustie.

I don’t know what else goes on in Jeff Francoeur’s life, but he sounds like a pretty good role model to me. Next year, he’s planning a big trip to Italy ? for his wife Catie.

My guess is that there will still be a lively discussion of the Scotland memories at the Francoeur Christmas.

Click here to read the whole story.