Brown is the New Green—But it May Not Work for You
It’s early fall and it has barely rained in my hometown of Bellingham, Wash., since April. There may have been a few sprinkles under cover of darkness, but according to weather.com, a grand total of 1.05 inches fell here over a period of 84 days this summer. Daytime temperatures, usually in the mid-70s, have averaged […]
5 Most Exciting Courses in Development
In the decade since the Great Recession, the worlds of golf course construction and course architecture have undergone wholesale changes. The emphasis is now on quality rather than quantity, as well as natural over decorative, which means courses generally cost less to build and maintain and are far less harmful to the environment. A handful […]
What’s Tougher: Renovating a Course or Designing New?
When asked if they’d rather build from scratch or renovating existing courses, most architects say they prefer to build new. Some pause a moment, however, before adjusting their response. “Actually, it depends.” There’s a lot to think about. Before taking on a new course, the architect must consider the quality of the site, how far […]
A Golf Writer’s Year in Review – Tell us About Yours!
By Tony Dear Did you play enough golf in 2018? I didn’t. I probably got in half the number of rounds I’d like to have. The silver lining though was the golf I did play was really, really good. (How was your golf year? Tell us about your best courses and experiences in the […]
Three New Golf Courses Coming to Scotland
By Tony Dear Some Scottish golf is royal. Much of it is ancient. It’s the home of the game to which nearly a quarter of a million devotees travel each year in order to play the most sanctified courses in the world. To many disciples, this ground is holy. The country couldn’t be accused […]
Tom Doak’s Sedge Valley – A Sub-Par 70 Design at Sand Valley
By Tony Dear Golf course design priorities have seen a welcome shift in recent years. The emphasis on demanding, arduous golf has started to give way to fun, sustainable courses that you’d want to play again and again. The new wave is seen in the boom of short courses across the country (Pinehurst’s Cradle, […]
Arcadia Bluffs South Course – A True Modern Classic
By Tony Dear Thanks largely to social media, the names C.B. Macdonald and Seth Raynor have become familiar to more than just a small group of golf historians and architecture geeks in recent years. As their fame has grown, so has the desire to play the numerous top-100 courses they designed during the Golden […]
What Next for the Bally Bandon Sheep Ranch?
By Tony Dear It has become decreasingly mysterious with every passing article—and there have been many—but the Sheep Ranch still possesses sufficient intrigue and anonymity to ensure the golfer recounting his experiences of the place speaks mostly to a hushed audience. Images and stories have been filtering through for nearly two decades, and its […]
You’ve Got to Play: 17th at Danzante Bay
By Tony Dear As you climb the sharply uphill par-four 16th at Danzante Bay, all thoughts are on what lies over the ridge behind the green. You putt out a little quicker than normal, then drive vigorously to the crest of the hill. You’ve heard about the par-three 17th hole. Maybe you’ve watched Round […]
Carnoustie Golf Links Hosts its Eighth Open Championship
By Tony Dear Scott Dunlap tied for tenth at the 1999 Open Championship at Carnoustie. He finished five shots out of the three-man play-off contested by the hapless Frenchman Jean Van de Velde who had blown his chance of outright victory with a calamitous triple-bogey seven on the 72nd hole, 1997 champion at Royal […]
