Template Holes: Golf’s Most Mimicked Designs
“But don’t let famed holes…such as the ‘Alps’ of Prestwick and ‘Redan’ of North Berwick, lead you into attempting to reproduce them. In trying to make your course fit certain famous hole treatments, you are certain to be doomed to disappointment.” —DONALD ROSS, Golf Has Never Failed Me Sorry, Don. They didn’t listen. The idea […]
Ranking the World – United Kingdom and Ireland
LINKS presents the start of a four-part series in which we’ll be ranking the nations of the world (outside of the U.S.) according to the quality of their golf. First up: the nations of the UK and Ireland. By Darius Oliver In the first of our four-part LINKS Magazine series, Scotland has emerged as the leading country in […]
New Wines to Know Now
If you collect wine as a business proposition, then playing it safe with Barolo and Burgundy makes sense. If, however, you’re into wine for the simple enjoyment of drinking delicious things that connect you to time, place, and culture, then it’s worth looking beyond the usual, toward up-and-coming regions and undersung grapes. If you collect wine as a business proposition, then playing it safe with Barolo […]
Great Courses of GB&I: Notts Golf Club
London is rightly lauded for the wealth of marvelous heathland courses— Sunningdale, St. George’s Hill, Swinley Forest, et al.—that lie a short distance to its south and west. But southern England doesn’t have a monopoly on the country’s outstanding “sand, heather, and gorse”-type layouts. Ganton and Woodhall Spa are two of Europe’s finest inland courses. […]
A Long Golf Weekend in London
At least once a year, I visit my in-laws in southern England. Along with seeing family and catching up with friends, I try to squeeze in at least a few rounds of golf. I like to think I’ve nearly perfected the “long UK golf weekend” and a few things about the greater London area make […]
LINKS Golf Podcast Ep. 22: 54 Holes in One Day on Three Open Championship Venues: The Hagen Trophy
The hosts discuss Graylyn’s recent trip to England where he played in an event that tracks the footsteps of Walter Hagen. The story goes that Hagen played 54 holes in one day across Prince’s Golf Club, Royal Cinque Ports, and Royal St. George’s—three courses that almost touch one another on England’s southeast coast. You’ll love […]
Great Courses of Britain & Ireland: Lindrick
There are two golf clubs in England that will be forever linked with the Ryder Cup: One is The Belfry, the other is Lindrick, and they couldn’t be more different. The Belfry (or more precisely its Brabazon Course) was “purposely built” in the 1970s to host important tournaments. In human terms, it is a big strapping youth, […]
Great Courses of Britain & Ireland: Burnham & Berrow
Burnham & Berrow. It’s a quintessentially British name, tripping off the tongue all toffee, treacle, and tweed. It could be—should be—the name of an elite firm of London barristers or perhaps the official haberdasher to the Royal Family. Instead, it’s a golf club, nestled in a quiet corner of southwest England and blessed with a […]
LINKS Golf Podcast Ep. 1 – A Golf Trip to Southern England
In the first episode of the LINKS Magazine Golf Podcast, we dive into a recent trip that Graylyn took to a golf-rich part of the UK after a strong recommendation from Tom Doak. That area was the southern coast of England where Graylyn played St. Enodoc, Saunton (West), Royal North Devon, Prince’s Golf Club, Royal […]
Hiding in Plain Sight: Golf on England’s South Coast
By Graylyn Loomis I was once on a golf course with Tom Doak when he told a story about a trip he’d taken with one of his clients. The man asked Tom to plan a trip to the UK with no constraints on cost or time. The group would fly private from the states […]
