Winged Foot’s Challenging U.S. Open Setup
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Winged Foot. The name conjures images of sidewalk-thin fairways, ball-devouring rough, and concrete-hard greens that repel approach shots—and make three-putting from five feet all too possible. In other words, it’s the perfect U.S. Open venue. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Open is returning to Winged Foot’s renowned West Course a few months later than […]
Dumbarnie and Coul Links: How Two Acclaimed Links Course Proposals Met Vastly Different Fates
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The two projects were announced with great fanfare—and had golfers salivating. In 2015, Coul Links Ltd., a consortium headed by Americans Mike Keiser and Todd Warnock, proposed the construction of a new links course in Embo, Scotland, just north of Dornoch. It was to be the first Scottish links from the esteemed design team of […]
What Makes a Putter-Maker?
In 1896, a General Electric engineer from New York named A. F. Knight excitedly took up the game of golf. He determined soon after—like many of us—that he wasn’t a very good putter. So, he took to his workshop and designed a center-shafted mallet club, a replica of which eventually made its way into hands […]
The Complete Golf Buddies’ Trip Checklist
Playing golf by yourself can be sublime—like when you’re sneaking in a few holes at sunset after work. Going out as a single with strangers can be rewarding, too, especially if you’ve queued from 5 a.m. to get out on the Old Course and exit the 18th green with three new friends. But the best […]
Maine’s Island Golf Courses
I used to live on one of Maine’s coastal islands, and one thing I learned about visiting Maine’s island golf courses is that the journey is as enjoyable as the golf. Your tour will take you to tiny harbors lined by rocky shores. Saltwater bays dotted with lobster buoys. Inland lakes where loon calls echo […]
Father’s Day Golf Gifts: Do’s and Dont’s
Two types of people will read this article. Type 1 includes everyone looking for a thoughtful gift for their golfer dad. If you’re one of those, read on—paying special attention to the DON’TS section. Type 2 are all the dads who’d like to receive one of these choice items. If that’s you, print this out, […]
Links Courses of The Americas: The Few, the Proud, and the Imposters
The British Golf Museum defines a links course as “a stretch of land near the coast characterized by undulating terrain, often associated with dunes, infertile sandy soil, and indigenous grasses such as marram, sea lyme, and the fescues and bents which, when properly managed, produce the fine-textured, tight turf for which links are famed.” By definition, there are […]
10 Ways to Make Walking the Course More Fun
Golf doesn’t have to be a good walk spoiled (if it ever was). It can just be a good walk—punctuated by moments both thrilling and aggravating. Here are a few ideas for turning your next on-course stroll into a grand tour. 1. Tune into Some Tunes Listening to music on the golf course has its […]
Northwest Ireland: The Emerald Isle’s Wild Card
Want an adventure in links golf at its full-blown, brawny best? Make your way to the Northwest Corner of the Emerald Isle. If you were to jump into a dinghy—with your clubs, of course—and row across the sea to Ireland, your nearest place to set ashore would be the wild and windswept Mullet Peninsula in […]
Golf’s Animal Kingdom of Player Nicknames
For as long as there have been pro golfers, there have been nicknames. Tommy Armour, The Silver Scot, was one of the trailblazers of the trend. Since then, golf writers and fans have coined nicknames for all of their favorite players. Headlines referred to Walter Hagen as Sir Walter because of his lavish lifestyle. Tony […]
