The U.S. Open Returns to Torrey Pines South
It’s Torrey time again for the U.S. Open. Torrey Pines’s South course, the most celebrated municipal layout west of the Mississippi, takes center stage in mid-June for the second time. Thirteen years ago, Tiger Woods cemented forever Torrey’s reputation for tournament drama. His clutch 12-foot birdie putt at the par-five 72nd hole and subsequent 18- […]
12 Questions with “The Open Doctor” Rees Jones
The U.S. Open has returned to the South Course at Torrey Pines; however, the 7,802-yard coastal layout that will challenge the world’s best players bears little resemblance to the course that first opened for play in 1957. Twenty years ago, Rees Jones—affectionately known as “The Open Doctor” for his restorative and redesign efforts that transform […]
The Most Underrated Holes at Famous Courses
Each year when Masters week approaches, the golfing world transfixes its attention on Augusta National Golf Club. Golf enthusiasts picture the fairways and greens of Amen Corner or perhaps the club’s idyllic 16th hole. Similarly, when other widely acclaimed courses like TPC Sawgrass or the Old Course at St. Andrews come to mind, they conjure […]
Personal Bests
The big-name architects designed courses that anyone-including you-can play. Here are the best from each of them. One of the great things about golf is how many courses are open to the public. Another terrific feature is that so many different individuals brought their aesthetics and expertise to the task of designing courses. Put those […]
The Future of Municipal Golf Courses
The future of municipal courses in America is a subject of great concern with course closures on pace to exceed openings for yet another year. Many of the approximately 2,500 municipal golf facilities in the U.S. face an uncertain future despite making positive impacts with an often-conflicting responsibility—providing an affordable community recreation option while still […]
DLIII Redesigns Plantation Course at Sea Island
For the last 25 years—and largely under the radar—Davis Love III has been designing courses. With brother Mark, the Loves have done quite a bit of renovation work as well as creating some wonderful original layouts, among them Atlantic Dunes on Hilton Head Island, The Dunes Course at Diamante in Cabo San Lucas, and the […]
What Happens in Vegas… Should Include Golf
There are countless ways to do a weekend in Las Vegas. At the poker table, slot machines, nightclubs, big-name shows, whatever you like. Let me offer one more: golf. Coming from the East Coast, I found golf in Nevada a completely new experience. The stark contrast between emerald green grass and rocky brown desert is […]
LINKS Living: Haig Point
More accessible than ever, this car-free island just across the water from Hilton Head helps residents escape the hustle and bustle There has been a lot of water under the bridge since Haig Point on Daufuskie Island appeared on the inaugural cover of LINKS Magazine (then called Southern Links) in 1988. There’s still no bridge […]
What Makes a Golf Course Bad?
Golf course design is a subjective topic and opinions on layouts differ from golfer to golfer. The exception is the greatest courses in the world, which are for the most part met with universal acclaim. Those are the Cypress Point Clubs, Old Courses, and Royal Melbournes. Debating which is best is a somewhat trivial exercise, […]
Haig Point, Daufuskie Island
In a world where privacy and security are high priorities, an island without a bridge fills a unique niche. One of the many charms of Haig Point, located on the northern tip of Daufuskie Island, is that it is accessible only by a scenic, 30-minute ferry ride (18 round trips run each day) or 24-hour […]
