5 of the Hardest Tee Times in Golf
By Graylyn Loomis Some of the most exclusive courses in the world are also the most famous. Think Augusta National, Cypress Point, Shinnecock Hills, and others. Thanks to “best lists” and hosting major championships, those courses are well known even if extremely difficult to get on. But then there’s another level of exclusive courses—those so […]
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 […]
13 International Golf Trip Planning Tips
By James A. Frank Arranging a golf trip here at home is pretty simple, usually requiring no more than inviting some friends and making a couple of phone calls or clicks on the internet. Trying to put together a buddy trip abroad, however, is a very different animal, requiring superhuman organizational and diplomatic skills as […]
Who’s Buying in Golf Communities Now?
There’s no such thing as typical anymore, whether you mean the buyer or what it is they’re looking for One of Jack Nicklaus’s most unusual course designs—and he’s laid out more than 400—boasts the snow-capped Wasatch Mountains as a stunning backdrop. But rather than building a course that would play fast and firm, Nicklaus went […]
How McConnell Golf Saved Some of the South’s Oldest Clubs
By Erik Matuszewski The Country Club of Asheville has a rich history as one of the first 100 private clubs founded in America and lays claim to be the oldest of its kind in North Carolina. It’s anchored by a championship Donald Ross golf course and boasts a bucolic setting in the Blue Ridge Mountains. […]
Pinehurst No. 4: Reimagined and Reborn
“Innovate or die” is a common business axiom that readily applies to the ever-changing golf resort landscape. It would have been easy for the iconic Pinehurst Resort to stop innovating after the Coore & Crenshaw renovation of its famous Donald Ross-designed No. 2 course and the 2014 U.S. Opens—men’s and women’s—that followed. Instead, owner Bob […]
Testing Bridgestone’s TOUR B JGR Woods
By Graylyn Loomis A few months ago, a box of clubs arrived at the LINKS office. Not an unusual occurrence, but this package contained a driver, 3-wood, and 5-wood from Bridgestone’s new line, the TOUR B JGR Series. Right now, if you’re like most golfers, you’re thinking, “Bridgestone makes woods? I thought they only made […]
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 […]
It’s All About the Greater Golf Lifestyle at The Cliffs
By James A. Frank The Cliffs provides endless opportunities and expert instruction, exposing mind and body to a world of new experiences __________________ The first few casts were clumsy, lucky to hit the water and not Nick’s boat or worse Nick, my fishing guide. But after a few pointers and watching the expert do it […]
Gracefully Growing Older with Golf
Tired of watching his game decline, this golfer of a certain age found there’s still lots of golf life in the old boy yet A man’s relationship with his golf game is a lot like a marriage: When things are going well, you love the game with all your heart. The birdie putts that topple […]