It's heart-warming to hear that there are some civilised folk still about. That was a very generous act of your client indeed, mrs_o...... Don't think that I have had anything like that happen to me, excepting for 9-11. I was caught out over here with some of my fellow Americans, there having been a global marketing and sales meeting, (fortunately with some golf attached).
With things rather slow, I phoned up the Royal Liverpool GC (aka Hoylake) and asked if it was at all possible for three of us to play. "Not normally without a member but we'll make you guests of the Club."
We paid guest fees, the shop throwing in a stack of now-ex Ryder Cup gubbings including sweaters, far exceeding the value of what we had paid.
A wonderfully windy day (30mph+), I had to teach one of the Americans how to hit a stinger (low bullet like shot, keeping the white ball under the wind). As we walked back to the first tee, then right in front of the club house, a member passed us, the three of us standing out like sore thumbs with no member with us. "Morning gentlemen, a mere zephyr today...." Well the two Americans, now totally bemused.
A lovely round of golf, back into the (magnificent) club house and to the bar, a couple of drinks, sandwiches and salad. I went to pay the bill. "No Sir, it's on us; a little way of helping you American based folk out."
Wasn't expecting it, very nice and appreciated, and a letter of thanks sent in - and I believe the Americans did so.
They also had the most superb life-size portrait of Bobby Jones in the reception hall (who won the then equivalent of the Grand Slam) overlooking the Dee, out at the 13th, the Welsh mountains in the background. The USGA or Augusta would give their right hands to own that pic....as well Hoylake being the inspiration for his idea of the green jacket, Hoylake members wearing 'hunting red' blazers.