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VOLUME ONE - March-December, 1998

March - Travel to James Braid's Boat of Garten, a delightful track hidden in the Scottish highlands where every hole offers a view of the majestic snow-capped Cairngorms. Then take a ferry across the Firth of Clyde to the Isle of Arran to play the magical 12-hole course (six out, six in) at Shiskine Golf Club. Shiskine has five of the most memorable holes in all of Scotland. Willie Park, Jr., British Open champion, innovative club-maker, and entrepreneur, changed golf course architecture forever when he built two inland courses near London.

April - Nestled rather close to the Glasgow airport lies Cardross Golf Club, a suprisingly-hidden gem designed by James Braid and Willie Fernie. Next we'll visit another Braid masterpiece and one of his best legacies to golf, Blairgowrie, just an hour or so north of Cardross. Any connoisseur of Braid courses will not want to miss either of these beauties. And this month we'll shine our historical spotlight on the great James Braid, five time British Open champion, and designer of over two hundred courses in the British Isles.

May - Brora Golf Club, a few miles from the famous Royal Dornoch in northern Scotland, is one of the truly hidden gems in the world. Go back in a time warp to play a course where cattle and sheep have ancient grazing rights and you'll be amazed at the quality of this James Braid course. We move down to England in the Surrey district near London for a look at Worplesdon, a heathland course of the early 1900s. Designed by John Frederick Abercromby (our historical profile) with the help of Willie Park, Jr., Worplesdon offers a fine test of golf on a course that will challenge and delight any level of golfer. This was Aber's first attempt at golf course architecture.

June - Back in a time machine to Scotland to visit a remarkable nine-hole course nearly untouched since Old Tom Morris designed it in 1895. I consider the Bridge of Allan to be my favorite nine-hole course in all of the British Isles. You'll see why. Next, we sail across the Irish Sea to the northwestern tip of Ireland for Rosapenna - 18 holes full of Old Tom Morris, Braid, Vardon, J.H. Taylor, and most recently the venerable Eddie Hackett. The views of Sheephaven Bay from the first green are stunning. Walter Travis, the Grand Old Man of golf at the turn of the century, is our historical profile.

July - Near the very Scottish town of Macduff is the links of Royal Tarlair that, when the wind blows, can instill fear in anyone. You'll never forget Clivet, a downhill par three over the cliffs, that makes Pebble Beach look like a walk in the park. Next we move to the Liverpool area of western England to visit Wallasey, a Tom Morris and James Braid design, and as good a links as anyone could desire. It's tough enough without the wind. Joyce Wethered, one of the most famous lady golfers of all time, is our profile.

August - Our travels take us to the northern coast of Scotland where we find a nest of many great hidden gems. We'll visit Cullen Golf Club this time. A century ago, Old Tom Morris fashioned a simple track into a challenging course as he weaved his holes around massive, hundred foot high rocky crags called sea stacks. I've never seen a course like it. Then back to the Glasgow area where we'll play the Old Course, Ranfurly Golf Club, where one hole is more memorable than the next. The 16th bends around a motte that is the remains of a medieval earthen and timber castle from the 12th - 13th century. Horace Hutchinson, the first truly great golf writer, is our historical focus.

September - Again, up to the north of Scotland to Lossiemouth where the Moray Golf Club boasts two fine links courses bordering the sea. Old Tom Morris and Harry Colt had a hand in designing the main course, although the Henry Cotton layout does not suffer much in comparison. Courtesy of a nearby RAF base, it is an unforgettable experience to look into the face of a pilot as he flies his magnificent black fighter jet over your head. Take a jet from Inverness to London and a train to the scenic village of Henley-on-Thames and you'll reach Huntercombe Golf Club, Willie Park's landmark course (along with Sunningdale) that changed inland golf forever. Wonderfully preserved, Huntercombe remains as a monument to the history of golf as well as to the genius of Willie Park, Jr., who sculpted it out of dreadful wasteland. We highlight J.H. Taylor, the modest five time British Open champion, in this issue.

October - One of the best historical bargains in the entire world, the Old Links of Musselburgh still opens its doors to all comers, virtually without restrictions. No need to reserve a tee time with umpteen dollars nine months in advance. And you can still play on a course that hosted six British Opens (one more than Carnoustie and the same as Troon). Then we'll move over to a Victorian village set in a time warp in the Scottish highlands where an exhilarating challenge awaits at Strathpeffer Spa Golf Club. A course that didn't need a bunker until recently. Bring your camera for some of the best shots of the trip. For our historical profile, we'll listen to an American who visited the great courses of Scotland and England in 1894 and learn about his fascinating perspectives.

November - Let's go to the Scottish Borders this month to examine the first course that Willie Park, Jr., designed - Innerleithen. Not all his holes remain but enough do to give an authentic flavor to a round on this nine-hole gem, set in unspoiled solitude. Back to civilization on the busy outskirts of London to try our hand at West Herts Golf Club, a potpourri of golf course architecture. The following all had input into this textbook on golf course design: Old Tom Morris, J.H. Taylor, Harry Colt (you'll love his blind par 3), Bernard Darwin, Harry Vardon, Alister MacKenzie, and Tom Simpson. Each has left his mark on this unique parkland course. An early American hero, Francis Ouimet, rounds out this issue.

December - North of Aberdeen, near the northeastern tip of Scotland, is the unheralded links course of Fraserburgh, a brute design of James Braid. What an unexpected surprise - a wonderful assortment of holes - each unique in its own right - set next to a lovely dunes-covered coastline. Now, from the North to the South, indeed to the southern tip of England to examine the historic and delightful links of Rye Golf Club where the twoball and foursomes are the rule, rather than the exception. Harry Colt, the crafter of courses like Pine Valley and Muirfield, began his career here. An interesting tournament played here in January, the President's Putter, is our historical profile.

Volume 2 - January - December, 1999

January - Let's begin the year with a gem in the foothills of the Scottish highlands, Callander. Played a match there in the gloaming. Will never forget Fernie's famous "Avenue." Then, a little further north lies the beautiful Taymouth Castle golf course, a Braid layout with many views of one of Scotland's mightiest fortresses.

February - Forfar, an inland course in Angus, was a complete surprise. Braid and Morris contributed to this little-known wonder. Even medieval monks left their mark. Fortrose and Rosemarkie is a strange name for a golf club … even stranger is the location - a triangular tip of earth on the Black Isle jutting out into the Moray Firth. Thoroughly enjoyed our match against club members, even though it rained.

March - Murcar, a links challenge on Scotland's northeast coast, is a must for the purist. My friends preferred this course to the neighboring and much-heralded Royal Aberdeen. Our four man American team had trouble in our match against Murcar members. Newburgh-on-Ythan is a curious mix of the old and the new, a little bit north of Murcar. Well worth the visit, especially to see the giant sand dune.

April - Arbroath, near Carnoustie, is another obscure links course. Found it to be better than Monifieth and as good as the Open qualifying course at Montrose. Had a mini-Ryder Cup match against the two local pros … in the gloaming. Next, down south to Southerness, a mini-Turnberry (built by the same golf course architect who did Turnberry). Played in nasty conditions but the atmosphere warmed up thanks to some unique Scottish characters.

May - Braemar, a highland course nestled in a glen between heather-clad mountains, has a clubhouse that looks like a rustic hunting lodge. Don't go in January … but in autumn the heather blooms purple and the site becomes even more majestic. When Tom Simpson, the noted golf course architect, joined Woking, a parkland course in Surrey, he was intrigued by a solitary bunker in the middle of a fairway. Placed by John Low and Stuart Paton, the famous bunker inspired Simpson to design golf courses. It's still there and the rest of the course is good as well.

June - Alister MacKenzie designed Hazelhead, a public parkland course in Aberdeen. A real sleeper. The starter told me that an Augusta National member, trying to visit all the MacKenzie courses, recently played it. Ben Hogan secretly practiced at Panmure, a wonderful links course, in preparation for the 1953 Open that he won at nearby Carnoustie. Many good holes including the 6th, a Hogan favorite.

July - One of the best courses in Fife is Lundin Links. Steeped in history, Lundin boasts a fine mix of Braid and Morris holes and great views of the sea. Further to the north, Pitlochry sits in the Grampian highlands. Besides good golf, on a clear day you can see forever … down miles and miles of green glens. Maybe I'll have a report of our annual trip to Scotland in this issue.

August - Several Old Tom Morris holes still survive on the mighty links of Tain, a great course dwarfed in the shadow of nearby Royal Dornoch. Tain's starting holes are as tough as they come. You would think that Ireland's Tralee links was built long ago. Not so - Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay designed it more recently but left it looking so natural that you'd never guess that it wasn't a hundred years old. Charming village, as well. The movie, Ryan's Daughter, was filmed on cliffs nearby.

September - Willie Park, Jr.'s fine links course at Burntisland graces the coast of Fife a few miles from the Forth Bridge. Several memorable holes, including my favorite - the wee blind 17th. West Hill is the last of the three Surrey Ws (Woking, West Hill and Worplesdon - all within a few blocks of one another). Good golf and a pleasant heathland experience.

October - Sandwiched in between Dornoch and Brora, Golspie holds its own. A pleasant combination of links, parkland, and meadows. One hole looks as if it belongs at Pine Valley. Known as 'Buckie', Strathlene, on Scotland's northern tip, sports many fascinating landforms, as well as a cliff hole or two. The unexpected three man mini-Ryder Cup match. Famous Scot quote about golf in winter.

November - Lochmaben, in the Scottish Borders, was originally a nine hole Braid design. The club recently added another nine that nicely compliments the older part. Learn how the thrifty Scots funded this addition. What a time we had at Helensburgh, a Tom Morris course near the River Clyde. Played a memorable mini-Ryder Cup on this moorland/parkland course, the experience culminating in an unforgettable evening celebration.

December - Hawick, a Borders course, is a gem, even if one plays it in a thick fog - as I did. Learned the real meaning of a blind shot. Witnessed a busload of bravehearts from England. Still another Borders course, the parkland Dumfries and Galloway was the scene of a bloodbath in our match. Our opponent, the Borders champion, rolled in seven birdies and eleven pars in showing us how to putt on greens with a stimpmeter reading of two!

Volume 3 - January - December, 2000

January - Everyone's heard of and wants to play the great links of Carnoustie. But, hidden nearby among the pot bunkers and whins are Carnoustie's other two sisters: the Buddon and the Burnside courses. James Braid designed the latter and the former, while more modern, is a good test of golf, especially when played in a thick haar. Also, I have tossed in a little nine hole adventure, Killin, nestled away in the Grampian highlands at the origin of the mighty Tay.

February - Windyhill, a rugged and rocky moorland course on the outskirts of Glasgow, can be a handful, especially when the wind blows, which it always does at this hidden gem. Then we head south to Wigtownshire County, a little-known links course on Scotland's southern shores. Further down the coast is St. Medan, a delightful nine hole links layout with remarkable views of Monreith Bay.

March - Walton Heath, one of England's most famous moorland courses, was the site of a colorful foursomes match. I can understand why James Braid stayed there for most of his career. I had always been intrigued by the Paisley Golf Club, and finally played this hidden delight that sits on top of a tall hill overlooking the city of Glasgow.

April - We travel to Scotland's majestic highlands to look atGrantown-on-Spey, a Willie Park, Jr. course later remodeled by James Braid. From there, we head south to England's Thames valley where club members are hard at work in restoring Park's original design at Temple. The members have a real love affair with their course and it's beginning to pay dividends.

May - Gowff has been played since the 16^th century at Montrose, a links course just north of Carnoustie. The course is reputed to be the fifth oldest in the world. Sunny skies and mild temperatures made it even more memorable. We enjoyed more Scottish sunshine at Hamilton, a parkland course on Glasgow's south side. James Braid designed this parkland test. No true conoisseur of golf would want to miss the tiny Tarbat Golf Club, or as one local described it, "Royal Tarbat." However, when most tourists visit the great links of Dornoch, they never think of trying this simple treasure.

June - Alister MacKenzie designed Duff House Royal, a private parkland course on Scotland's northern shore. I had driven by this course many times and had never been inclined to play there, due to its flat appearance. What a wonderful surprise! It was like a miniature Augusta National. Terrific MacKenzie greens, bunkers, and design strategy. In 1643 the official church of Monifieth, a small coastal village near Carnoustie, passed a law barring "Gowff on the Lord's Day" on the local links. These days, however, Sunday golf is allowed on these public links of Monifieth, a qualifying course for the 1999 Open.

July - James Braid's last course, one he came out of retirement to do, is Stranraer, a parkland course on Scotland's southwestern tip. Braid died before the course was constructed, and unfortunately the course does not bear his mark of distinctively shaped bunkers. From Scotland, we head south into the dells of magical Wales, an intriguing country still striving to keep its Welsh identity. Old Tom Morris originally designed the links of Pwllheli and some of his holes still remain. Great views of Cardigan bay.

August - Our match at Williamwood Golf Club was my son Rob's first experience with Scottish golf. Braid showed his love for economy when he designed this parkland course on a mere 93 acres. Further to the north lies a closely-held secret, the humble links of Hopeman Golf Club. Though only 5500 yards and a par 67, the course can inflict pain with blind shots, abundant whins, and the charming short hole, Prieshach, gaelic for pulpit.

September - Although Tom Morris did the original course at Alyth Golf Club, a Scottish highland course, James Braid put the present course together. I must give high marks to this gently undulating parkland course that has a fine blend of holes. I also can heartily recommend another of Braid's fine courses, the Musselburgh Golf Club, called Monktonhall. This parkland gem is Braid all the way.

October - This month features a trip to Scotland's west coast for a ferry ride to the Isle of Cumbrae to examine Millport Golf Club, a parkland hillside course with great views back to the mainland. West Kilbride Golf Club boasts a fine links course a little further south and the pastoral nine-holer at Machrie Bay Golf Club (not to be mistaken for Machrie links, as Walter Hagen discovered) lies on the Isle of Arran.

November - Lanark, a great Scottish moorland course, should have made it into these pages before this. Many memorable holes, especially the last, a 200-yard par 3 with a green nearly inside the clubhouse windows. Another in the long list of James Braid's legacy, Ayr Belleisle is a stern parkland venue just south of Prestwick.

December - We finish the year off with two solid selections: Western Gailes and Luffness New Golf Club. The former is a tougher and far more interesting test than nearby Troon while the latter is a fine links test with tiny Tom Morris original greens. Played it once in a gale so strong that my eyes watered during the entire round.

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