Charley Huldal - Keeper of the Inn

Cleveden House

Hello friends and welcome to the latest episode of The Story Forge podcast where we collect and share the stories of people who make things that matter.

This is an episode I’ve been sitting on for quite some time. It’s a conversation I had with an old friend awhile ago and I think I’ve delayed it just because of how much it means to me personally. I met Charley Huldal on my first trip to St. Andrews. 

With my dad.

We played golf.

We sipped whisky. 

We saw a couple of celebrities and paid homage to the home of the game we loved more than anything. The game we played together. Before with my grandfather. After with my son. The game connected us deeper than I can probably describe. And his place we’d never been meant more than either of us could say. And Charley and his wife, Ray, welcomed us home.

And for that, we, I will be forever grateful.

A lot has changed since our first trip there. And our first, “once in a lifetime journey” turned into a multi-trip adopted family reunion of sorts.

Charley and Ray ran a guest house, a b&b called Cleveden House on Murray St. in St. Andrews. Across the street from a restaurant called Ziggy’s. If you’ve ever been there, you’ll know where it is. Less than a 9-iron from the 18th green of the Old Course.

They’ve retired. Sold Cleveden before the pandemic hit. They’re fortunate that way. And the business in town has changed significantly since then. Largely because of the pandemic. But Charley has so many fantastic stories of their experience and what makes a good inn.

And that is what they made that matters for this story.

There are times in your life when you meet people who you instantly recognize. People you think you must have known in another life. Charley and Ray are two of those people for me.

I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did.

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