Characters: On-Course Reporter John Wood
In 20 years caddying on the PGA Tour and now as an on-course reporter, John Wood has been in the right place at the right time John Wood has been observing greatness in one form or another his entire life. At six, he talked his parents into taking him to an Elvis Presley concert in […]
Great Courses of Britain & Ireland: Ballyliffin
Side-by-side courses at the very top of Ireland present two contrasting versions of links golf In his marvelously evocative book, The Magic of Ireland, H.V. Morton ventured: “Donegal is surely the most enchanting place in Ireland. Connemara is tribal and epic; Donegal is softer. If anything lies buried beneath the stony acres of Connemara it […]
Classic Courses: Newport Country Club
The U.S. Senior Open will be played on this historic New England gem this summer. It may feel more like a “British” Open. As you turn into the more-than-700-foot-long driveway that leads to the Gilded Age clubhouse standing watch over Newport Country Club, it’s hard not to feel transported to a bygone era, one that’s […]
Fred Corcoran: Golf’s Most Successful Impresario
“Mr. Golf” was responsible for much of how we enjoy the game today A popular story from the early days of the PGA Tour has it that Sam Snead, shortly after winning his first event, was shown a photograph of himself in The New York Times. “How come they got my picture in New York?” […]
5 Reasons to Love Streamsong Resort
New amenities, including a dynamic short course, have this Florida gem poised for a second decade of success Since its debut 10 years ago Streamsong Resort has continuously expanded, and the property’s fourth layout, a 19-hole short course designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, opened for preview play in March 2024. 1. Small But […]
First Peek: The Keep at McLemore Resort
The second course at this Peach State resort/community promises an unparalleled mountain golf experience Already equipped with a layout that offers one of the game’s best finishing holes—a 435-yard par four with a stunning green perched atop a mountain precipice—northwest Georgia’s McLemore Resort is upping the ante and betting big with its second 18-hole design […]
Top 10 Places You Can’t Hit It at Augusta National
Augusta National has always been get-able for any player who’s dialed in during Masters week. Ben Hogan scorched the course with an unprecedented winning score of 14-under-par way back in 1953. Jack Nicklaus established a new tournament record of 17-under in 1965 (equaled by Raymond Floyd in 1976). And Tiger Woods bettered that score by […]
How the Old Course Inspired Augusta National
When Bobby Jones and Alister Mackenzie designed Augusta National, they took much of their inspiration from the Old Course. Can you see the connection? Bobby Jones and Alister MacKenzie, the original architects of Augusta National, had something else in common: The course they admired the most in the world was the Old Course at St. […]
George Peper: Rooting for the Story at the Masters
These days, it’s not so much who wins the Masters but how the victory unfolds The Masters is once again upon us, and along with it comes the perennial question we ask ourselves and others: Who are you rooting for? There was a time when that question was easy for me to answer. Back when […]
Geoff Shackelford: Imitation at Augusta National is the Highest Form of Flattery
Augusta National, which has been the inspiration for many courses built since, was itself largely inspired by the game’s classic layouts. At least, that’s what they said at the time. Augusta National started out as a concept course. A greatest hits package in spirit. Co-founder Clifford Roberts bought into Alister MacKenzie’s vision and then sold […]
