Every Presidents Cup Course—Ranked
With the Presidents Cup celebrating 30 years, we wondered how each host course compares. Here are the nine host venues, ranked top to bottom.
The 9 Greatest Royals Not on the Open Rota
Royal Liverpool’s turn at hosting its 13th Open Championship in 2023 marks yet another auspicious occasion for golf clubs with “Royal” connections. More than 100 clubs worldwide have been granted “Royal” status from a reigning monarch, beginning in the 1830s, when Royal Perth and the Royal & Ancient in Scotland earned the honor. Royal Liverpool, […]
Golf’s Boldest Bunkers
Golf’s boldest bunkers belong to Royal Melbourne A bemused smile would crease my face every time PGA-Championship-winner-turned-broadcaster Dave Marr described a par four or par five on TV as “a good driving hole.” What exactly did he mean? The same goes for an expression: “Bold bunkering.” Does that infer the most artistic bunkers? The most […]
Best 36-Hole Complexes in Golf – LINKS Golf Podcast Ep. 123
On the Season 12 debut of the LINKS Golf Podcast, the hosts discuss which 36-hole facilities (offering exactly two 18-hole regulation championship courses) are the “best of the best” based on rankings, tournament history, environment, every day appeal, and other factors. You can subscribe to the LINKS Golf Podcast in iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you listen to […]
Composite Golf Courses: A Long, Odd History
Ben Crenshaw has consistently ranked Royal Melbourne’s Composite course among the top two in the world. He’s not alone. Greg Norman and Nick Faldo have expressed similar sentiments. Unquestionably, the Composite is Australia’s best golf course. What can be questioned is whether Royal Melbourne’s Composite course is an actual golf course. Or should it be […]
Golf’s 18 Most Famous Holes (Front Nine)
Over the years, we’ve all seen a thousand lists ranking golf’s 18 “best” holes. But seldom have we come across any naming the best-known holes in the game. Whether it be by TV exposure, social media fandom, or just plain old reputation, certain holes acquire a measure of fame over time. They may not be […]
My Courses: Greg Norman
From Australia to Hilton Head, Greg Norman has played courses all over the world. The Shark gives us his answers in this edition of “My Courses.” MY FAVORITE COURSE: The Composite Course at Royal Melbourne—one of the most natural courses in the world. Alister MacKenzie didn’t move any dirt. The flow of the course, the […]
Golf’s Greatest Trees
No part of the golf course has come in for as much stick in recent years as its trees. Until around 2010, trees enjoyed a healthy-enough reputation, but over the last decade golfers have gotten wise to their shortcomings—impeding views, blocking sunlight, restricting air movement, sucking soil nutrients the turf needs, and hindering strategy. Actually, […]
Royal Melbourne—The International Team’s Only Hope?
By Nick Edmund According to the form book and every available statistic, this week’s 13th rendition of the Presidents Cup was unlikely to be a close encounter. Here’s the proverbial case for the prosecution: the International team had triumphed in only one of the previous dozen matches and that was more than two […]
I Was There – 1998 Presidents Cup
Royal Melbourne Golf Club holds a special place in my heart. It’s where I’ve won tournaments, shot my lowest round, and celebrated the International team’s lone triumph at The Presidents Cup, in 1998. In December, I’ll captain our side as we attempt to regain the golden trophy there. For four years, beginning in 2002, this […]
