The 10 Best “Hills” Courses in American Golf
In Alister MacKenzie’s Golf Architecture, published in 1920, he espoused 13 General Principles of Architecture. Number four stated: “The greens and fairways should be sufficiently undulating, but there should be no hill climbing.” Yet, he also preached about the necessity of variety and placed great emphasis on utilizing natural features. In diametric opposition to what […]
The Five Greatest U.S. Open Moments
The U.S. Open—the national championship of the United States—has witnessed more than 100 years of pulse-quickening drama. Combine the most challenging course setup conditions in golf, with the emotion of competing for such a prized title and it’s easy to see why lasting memories, both good and bad, resonate with such intensity. As always, to […]
8 Prominent Courses That Once Went by a Different Name
Marketing pros explain that there are various reasons a business should change its name. Among them are to freshen the brand, to attract next-generation customers, to avoid brand confusion, or even to escape PR disasters. Golf courses are no different. A surprising number of today’s heralded layouts once went by a different name. Here are […]
Golf’s Ultimate Tests of Precision
Chasing bullseyes: Harbour Town Golf Links is golf’s ultimate test of precision Swing from the heels. Grip it and rip it. Let the big dog eat. Not at Harbour Town, you don’t. A bomber’s paradise? Harbour Town is anything but. “I get angrier here than anywhere else,” said Jack Nicklaus back in the day. “This […]
The Five Greatest Masters Moments
Extraordinary stories and lore practically define the Masters. Any listing of the top 10 moments might well include tales of Jones, Sarazen, Hogan, and Palmer—or perhaps the Watsons (Tom and Bubba), Faldo and Norman, Player and Mickelson. To narrow it to a top five, however, we employed a single criterion: To what extent did the […]
Top Epic Masters Meltdowns
Bold risks, dramatic comebacks, Amen Corner roars, and heroic victories are integral parts of the Masters Tournament’s lore. Unfortunately, so are splashed approaches, missed putts, Amen Corner groans, and titanic tumbles. Over the past 89 years, Augusta National has seen it all. Here are the seven most unforgettable Masters disasters. 7. Rory McIlroy’s prayers go […]
The Seven Best Golf Courses That Tangle with Train Tracks
A little more than a century ago, riding the rails was the preferred mode of transportation to reach golf clubs situated in the countryside. In fact, the building of golf courses often went hand in hand with where the railroad stopped, making it a leisure-time marriage of convenience and enjoyment. While passenger train travel has […]
Golf’s Most Beautiful Courses
Incomparable eye candy: Cypress Point reigns as golf’s ultimate beauty queen In 1920, architect Alister MacKenzie articulated 13 essential features that define an ideal golf course. Number seven stated: “The course should have beautiful surroundings, and all the artificial features should have so natural an appearance that a stranger is unable to distinguish them from […]
Home Game: Phoenix
Mountain panoramas, cactus-studded terrain, diverse experiences, and don’t-forget-the-sunblock winter days make Phoenix a one-of-a-kind draw
Six Tough Questions for Six Top Architects
A half-dozen of course design’s finest practitioners share their thoughts about dream collaborations, underrated architects, and plenty more The Cast DAVID MCLAY KIDD In a career spanning 25 years, the Scottish-born Kidd has earned every honor possible for designs that include Bandon Dunes, Mammoth Dunes at Sand Valley, Nanea, and the Castle Course at St. […]