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U.S. Open makes links golf cool, practical and fun. Especially fun.
At Turnberry, the golf course wends its way through the terrain. Golf should be fast and firm. The game is way more fun when the ball rolls. That’s why my wife, Liz, will be off to Ireland soon. You...
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Ireland: True north, true links
Royal County Down is beautiful on a rare warm and sunny day. . . especially if you can find the fairway. It was time for the north of Ireland. After playing more than 20 courses in Scotland the last...
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Portmarnock: A close encounter with Rory begins our Irish tour
Even on a bright sunny day, when the flags take a beating from the wind at Portmarnock, the golfers won’t be far behind. Portmarnock ought to be a very calming place to begin a tour of Irish golf...
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Ardglass: An Irish seaside links you should know
First hole at Ardglass. . . bite off as much rocky coast as you want. The first tee at Ardglass provides one of the finest views in links golf. From the medal tee, the opening shot must fly over a...
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Royal County Down: A majestic and treacherous delight
Royal County Down is beautiful on a rare warm and sunny day. . . especially if you can find the fairway. A golf trip across the pond tends to be a sensory overload. Days are jam-packed with golf on...
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Portstewart: A rolling and scenic Northern Ireland beauty
Majestic first hole at Portstewart bends around to the right. It’s easy to see why the first hole at Portstewart is arguably the best opening hole in Ireland. From its high-perched tee, it seems to...
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At Royal Portrush, every hole tells a story
Royal Portrush and Portrush itself. . . . The town beyond the golf never gets old. Ordinarily, I love to walk when I play golf. One of my fondest memories is of carrying my own bag around the Old...
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Peaceful Ballyliffin holds a pair of scenic aces
Ballyliffin clubhouse presides over an inviting 36 holes and a few sheep. As we headed off to Ballyliffin, our journey was about to change in many ways. Not only had Royal Portrush concluded the...
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Rosapenna marries vintage golf and old-school hospitality
Rosapenna’s rolling Old Tom Morris Links features small greens and ball-attracting pot bunkers. When Old Tom Morris visited the northwest coast of County Donegal in 1891, he couldn’t help but notice a...
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Why people go out of their way to play remote Narin & Portnoo
No. 15, last of three straight par-5s, overlooks the beach on the way back to the clubhouse. I don’t want to say we were saving the best for last when we teed it up at the Narin & Portnoo Golf...
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Mt. Prospect affords public golfers a trip back to Seth Raynor’s time
A short but tight drive on No. 18 is followed by a challenging approach to the green. When it comes to renovations of suburban muni’s in oh-so-flat Chicagoland, it’s not easy for a golf course to make...
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Palm Springs. . . Where golf outdrives winter
No. 6 at PGA West. So much water in the desert. As we were plunking balls into the watery splendor of the Stadium course at PGA West—or sighing with relief–two questions came to mind. First, are there...
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Mistwood second to none on the upscale Chicago golf scene
The Chicago area is blessed with many upscale options for golfers who want a private-club experience without the commitment of a country club. The list includes the Glen Club, Harborside, Cantigny,...
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From dining to craft beers, hiking to golf, scenic Asheville charms
Crabtree Falls, a hiking destination on the Blue Ridge Parkway, is camera-ready. ASHEVILLE, N.C.–The trail started gently enough. We made a slow descent through the woods on a wide, mulch-laden path....
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Sand Valley adds another gem to Wisconsin’s remarkable golf tiara
The first hole at Sand Valley provides an inviting introduction of the adventure ahead. You can debate whether Wisconsin needs more premier golf. What is not open to discussion: Sand Valley, an...
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Confidential Guide: No better caddie to the world’s courses. And so fun.
One of the great allures of golf is the variety of courses—and the variety of reasons to like courses or not care for them. Another appeal of the game is the opportunity our golf-course opinions create...
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Michigan golf: Is this the year? That’s the plan.
Stoatin Brae is going for a links experience in Michigan. Every year, I make a resolution to play more golf in Michigan. And every year, life—and Wisconsin—get in the way. The Badger State is closer...
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Something old, something new: Preserve at Oak Meadows hits its target
It was an intriguing undertaking from the very beginning: Take 27 holes of classic parkland golf that had grown long in the tooth. And turn it into 18 holes of modern golf. If done right, the result of...
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Green award puts Chicago county course alongside Pinehurst, Bandon and other...
Bunkering has turned the green at the par-five 15th into risky business. And the tee shot on No. 16, a short par-four (upper left), must avoid a marshy wetland. Every once in a while, awards turn out...
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There’s a lot of golf in Bradenton & Sarasota: Here’s a guide to some of it.
A nice day at Legacy Golf Club. I’m a bigger fan of Florida golf weather than Florida golf. I like to hit the ball low; they like to have lots of ponds. I like to feel like I’m out in nature; they like...
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