The History of Royal Titles in Golf
In 1833, the Perth Golfing Society, located in the heart of Scotland not far from St. Andrews, became the Royal Perth Golfing Society. King William IV conferred the title and so began a new honor system for golf clubs.
More than 180 years later, 66 clubs bear the royal title as granted by the British Royal Family (eight clubs so dubbed no longer survive). Stretching from Royal Dornoch in the Northern Hemisphere to Tasmania’s Royal Hobart in the Southern, the royal title has been conferred on some of the game’s most prestigious bastions, but also on lesser-known clubs with modest facilities and small memberships. What all these clubs have in common is a distinct history, often a direct link to the growth or spread of golf, and always a veritable royal connection.
The Top 10 Courses in the Scottish Highlands
High times in the Highlands! The Scottish Open will conclude this weekend at Royal Aberdeen, one of many splendid links that rim the shores of firths and bays in the north of Scotland. A golfer’s education is not complete until a sampling of these remote gems are explored and savored. Venerable classics dominate our list, […]
Cruden Bay, Scotland
Great Scotsmen from Old Tom Morris to Paul Lawrie have left a mark on this quirky gem beside the North Sea
Swinley Forest, England
A century later, one of Harry Colt’s first designs remains very much the way he and the club members planned it—a haven of tranquility
Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club (Deal), England
An early Open Championship venue, the club known as Deal is looking to be dealt back into the shuffle of major courses
Moortown Golf Club, England
The site of the first Ryder Cup played in Britain, this English beauty has recently had many of its MacKenzie charms restored
Nefyn & District Golf Club
This spectacular layout atop a cliff draws comparisons with Pebble Beach for its unique setting and unmatched views
Askernish Golf Club
Uncovered and restored after 70 years, a links course designed by Old Tom Morris on the remote Scottish island of South Uist offers a raw, rugged golf experience
The Nairn Golf Club, Scotland
An unsung links along the sublime shores of northern Scotland’s Moray Firth
Royal Dornoch Golf Club, Scotland
Life in 17th-century Britain was once described as “nasty, brutish and short.” It was never dull: In England, there were the Gunpowder Plot, the Black Death and the Great Fire of London; the Pilgrim fathers set sail on the Mayflower and King Charles lost his head because he ignored Parliament and because he had […]
