Golf’s Most Exhilarating Courses
Ireland’s Old Head is golf’s most exhilarating experience There are moments in golf that you wish could be frozen in time: Stepping onto the first tee of the Old Course at St. Andrews; emerging from the trees to greet 15, 16, and 17 at Cypress Point; staring down the daunting approach over the Pacific at […]
Golf’s Best Rain Gear
As a wise Irish caddie once told me when I was waffling on whether to bring my rain gear to the course: “I’d rather have ya looking at it than looking for it.” But where to turn for truly good waterproof golf rain gear? A recent buddy trip to Bandon Dunes—and ill-advised choices by several […]
Legends: Richard Tufts
This scion of the family that owned Pinehurst dedicated his life to the game he loved Credit 18th-century Boston businessman James W. Tufts—who made a fortune inventing the automatic soda fountain—with two significant contributions to American golf. First, the creation of Pinehurst, widely acknowledged as the first golf resort, which he founded in 1895. Second, […]
The Legacy of Sand Greens
Donald Ross’s original greens for Pinehurst No. 2 lacked one critical component—grass Only a dozen years old yet already a burgeoning golf mecca, the Pinehurst Resort saw its reputation soar soon after Donald Ross expanded and redesigned Pinehurst No. 2 in 1907. Dozens of golf ’s most influential figures praised the layout in reverential terms. […]
Characters: Pinehurst Caddie Thomas Trinchitella
After a tumultuous introduction to golf, Thomas Trinchitella has carved out an unlikely career as Pinehurst Resort’s most trusted caddie Few people would develop into avid swimmers if their introductory lessons included being thrown into the deep end of a pool and being told to figure it out. But that was how Thomas Trinchitella learned […]
Best Public Golf Around Pinehurst
Come for one of the country’s premier golf resorts—but stay (or come back) for the incredible collection of public courses around Pinehurst Let’s cut to the chase. There’s one reason every golfer wants to haul their sticks to the middle of North Carolina: taking on Donald Ross’s “Mona Lisa,” Course No. 2, and the rest […]
A Chat with Putter Boy
After holding the same pose for 112 years, it’s no surprise golf’s eternal child has become a little bent One of the game’s oldest living statues, Pinehurst’s iconic Putter Boy turned 112 this year. Despite his advanced age, the lad’s mind remains sharp—indeed acerbic—and he was gracious enough to grant LINKS Magazine a rare interview […]
First Peek: Pinehurst No. 10
Pinehurst Resort’s first new course in nearly three decades is part of a property that will redefine the Cradle of American Golf There’s not much out at the Pinehurst Sandmines (yet), the 900-acre, mostly wooded parcel of land in development at Pinehurst Resort about four miles south of the main clubhouse. But there is a […]
Top 10 Kentucky Courses You Can Play
Unfortunately for visiting golfers, 2024 PGA Championship host Valhalla in Louisville, Ky., is private, as are most of the region’s top courses. However, the Bluegrass State boasts a slew of value-oriented, scenery-soaked, public-access layouts. Here are the 10 best courses you can play in Kentucky. Lassing Pointe—Union Long heralded as one of the nation’s top […]
The 10 Greatest PGA Championships
Golf’s oldest professional major, the PGA Championship, dates to 1916. Compelling storylines and dramatic finishes define the PGA, both during its match-play years (1916–57) and since. However, a few PGA Championships have proved to be truly memorable. With apologies to the Gene Sarazen/Walter Hagen duel in 1923 and the Byron Nelson/Ben Hogan clash in 1940, […]
