Golf Cruises Are Growing in Popularity
The day Ernie Els captured the Claret Jug in the gloaming at the 2002 Open at Muirfield, he’d barely tipped his cap before my wife, Sue, and I were making our way back down the 18th fairway to the beach. “Hurry,” I said. “Our hotel’s leaving in 30 minutes.” At the shoreline, we stepped into […]
Book Review: “Golfing the British Isles” by Peter Gray
On the back sleeve of Peter Gray’s Golfing the British Isles, it says that, although he is a middle-handicapper, the author, “has played many of the world’s top 100 courses.” It’s an interesting statement to make because while a majority of golfers (including LINKS readers) will know that’s perfectly possible, many will wonder how an […]
Most Memorable Golf Bars in the British Isles
You can go anywhere for a cold beer or a cocktail after a round of golf, but that doesn’t mean that just any bar can be a 19th hole. The best golf bars bring a sense of the course inside, they embrace the lifestyle and the passion that golf enthusiasts have for the game, and—yes—they […]
The Best Blind Shots in the British Isles
Golf is a hard game—a ruinous game. Making a 1.68-inch ball arrive somewhere near its intended target is often an exercise in futility even for the best of players. When you can’t see that target, or even if it’s just partially obscured, your task can become that much more unnerving. Some golfers accept the challenge […]
Great Holes of the British Isles: 11th, St. Andrews (Old), “Eden”
Bobby Jones is widely regarded as one of golf’s foremost gentlemen. The stories of Jones’s sportsmanship and convivial manner are legion, and the reverence with which he is lauded seldom flags. But there was one hole that caused the good Mr. Jones to completely lose it: the 11th hole of the Old Course at St. […]
Great Holes of the British Isles: 17th, Prestwick, “Alps”
The story of Prestwick Golf Club begins in 1851, when a group of friends gathered at the Red Lion Inn decided to create a golf club. Old Tom Morris was hired to be its first greenkeeper, and he competed in the first 12 Open Championships held on his then 12-hole home course, winning four times. […]
Great Holes of the British Isles: 15th, North Berwick (West), “Redan”
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, the 15th Hole at North Berwick’s West course has much to be proud of. The original “Redan” hole has been copied dozens of times, and wherever this hole’s unique design appears, it’s always a highlight of the round. No one’s 100 percent sure who created the original […]
