The Links Diary

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The Links Diary

The Links Diary Crafted in Scotland. Stories that celebrate golf and the people that shape the game.

05/03/2025

Muirfield Golf Club, home of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers (HCEG), is arguably the greatest championship venue in existence. It is also the most perfectly conditioned golf course that I have ever experienced. The first time I played the fabled East Lothian links in the mid-1990’s, I was in awe. On the 5th green, I exclaimed excitedly to my caddie,

“These greens are like Augusta!”

Seemingly offended, he stared back at me and responded, as serious as an Edinburgh judge.

“These greens are better than Augusta, Sir.”

Sometime in the late 1960’s, when a group of Perthshire holidaymakers started the annual Iona Open, the golfers of Iona started jokingly calling themselves the Honourable Company of Iona Golfers (HCIG). Visitors are allowed 365 days a year at Iona Golf Course. A day ticket - which might include a tin of Tennent’s if you run into a friendly local member - is free.

There is an annual fixture between these two clubs. Imagine if the manager of Glasgow Rangers (or Celtic) showed up for a Saturday match at the pitch in Lochgilphead and subsequently invited the local football club to a friendly annual game in Ibrox Stadium. (or Celtic Park) That is what this is like.

Coat and Tie Required | The Links Diary No.11

Read the full story and subscribe today - https://www.thelinksdiary.com

04/03/2025

Brew the coffee. TLD No.11 is available now.

https://www.thelinksdiary.com/product-page/the-links-diary-no-11

26/02/2025

Grind the coffee beans, it’s almost time.
March 4th

27/01/2025

“I don’t like the glamour, I just like the game.” - Ben Hogan

Last August we visited Panmure Golf Club for a TLD event experience, celebrating Ben Hogan’s time spent at this historic club. We are delighted to revisit this event experience again in 2025 for The Hogan at Panmure.

In 1953 Ben Hogan won his one and only Open Championship at Carnoustie Golf Links. This would be his final major victory and the only time he would ever visit Scotland. The man known as the ‘Wee Ice Mon’ by the Scots cemented his legendary reputation thanks to the help of Panmure Golf Club.

The great Hogan spent two weeks at Panmure, accompanied only by his caddy, Cecil Timms to acclimatise to the terrain of links golf and to acquaint himself with the smaller 1.62 inch British ball. Hogan would never play in the Open again, but his legacy at Panmure remains!

Register to book your spot - https://www.thelinksdiary.com/event-details/the-hogan-at-panmure

26/01/2025

Bringing The Lost Links story from The Links Diary No.7 to life.

We visited Holy Island in May 2024 with 16 readers as we set out to discover The Lost Links of Lindisfarne in our very first Links Diary event. We are delighted to bring this back for 2025.

Meeting in the morning for coffee at Pilgrims Coffee House and Roastery on Holy Island before heading out to the dunes to walk all 9 holes of The Lost Links and relive the story from TLD No.7. From there we will head off to Goswick Golf Club for some lunch prior to playing 18 holes in the afternoon on this brilliant championship links course in the North East of England, that plays host to the regional qualifying for The Open. We’ve 18 spots available and if it’s anything like last year, you can expect a great day out!

Register - https://www.thelinksdiary.com/event-details/the-lost-links

25/01/2025

The Stand on Solway | A Links Diary event.

In the modern age of golf, it’s more and more challenging to find under-the-radar courses. Two that undoubtedly fit the bill are Silloth and Southerness: one in England, one in Scotland, facing each other on opposite sides of the Solway Firth. Silloth was recently voted the best course in the UK for £100. Southerness, designed by Mackenzie Ross, is a true championship links. For good measure we’ll start the trip an hours north at Lanark Golf Club, the world’s oldest inland course designed by Old Tom Morris & James Braid.

Only a few spots remain. Register today - https://www.thelinksdiary.com/event-details/the-stand-on-solway

24/01/2025

A day with author Jim Hartsell at one of his favourite inland Scottish courses Aberfoyle Golf Club.

“The people of these proud, smaller clubs are a large part of their charm. As a visitor, especially a foreign one, you are likely to be treated like royalty. There is genuine concern from local members that you have fun and enjoy their course. This is not something that can be faked. It is sincere and real. It is the Scottish way. Aberfoyle is the perfect example of this ancient, and still extant, way.” - Jim Hartsell

Register - https://www.thelinksdiary.com/event-details/all-those-who-wander-are-not-lost

24/01/2025

Our 2025 event schedule is here. Bringing the stories from the pages of TLD to life.

From the fairways of Muirfield, to a day with Jim Hartsell at Aberfoyle. Our matches with the locals on Arran and discovering The Lost Links of Lindisfarne.

We look forward to seeing you on the tee.

Register - https://www.thelinksdiary.com/events

18/11/2024

The Gullane Girl | A Links Diary film

“I know the course like the back of my hand. When it comes to caddying I know lines, the bunkers and just being a player you know the etiquette a bit more.”

There are currently 52 caddies signed up to Gullane Golf Club’s official caddie programme. 51 of them are men. Abercrombie Nisbet’s story is both inspiring and a testament to breaking barriers in a traditionally male-dominated role.

Put the kettle on, find that comfy chair and enjoy our latest short film.

https://youtu.be/h4XIiuUn3ZQ

30/10/2024

In No.10 travel disruption strikes fear in a father and son as they cling on to the hope of making their Old Course tee time. Murray Bothwell pens a letter to golf and asks the question of why we play the game. A trip to Machrihanish and the unknown as Sam Lowes Raby throws caution to the wind to tee it up with a bunch of strangers in Golf, Guinness and the Ghost of Old Tom. A weakness for charity shops and what you might find hidden among the tat has Richard Pennell searching for forgotten clubs in Dearly Preloved. Stewart Fotheringham has been the greenkeeper at Shiskine on the Isle of Arran since the day he left school. He’s never known another job. “I’m an artist and Shiskine is my Canvas.” All of this and more in The Links Diary No.10.

Available now - https://www.thelinksdiary.com

08/10/2024

Introducing our latest Merchandise drop. Shop the latest TLD x American Needle Caps, Bucket Hats and Visors. Join the single strap soldier march with our TLD x Jones Sports Co. Golf Bags. Or gift yourself some TLD x Hame Golf Headcovers and Accessories handmade in Scotland.

Shop - https://www.thelinksdiary.com/merch-page

03/10/2024

Ok we know, it’s been a long time coming but The Links Diary Membership has arrived. Subscribe today and unlock the benefits.

Your support is the lifeblood of The Links Diary. Each purchase you make, each post you share, every film you watch and each recommendation to your golf friends really makes a massive difference.

Thank you to our readers, partners and contributors for making The Links Diary possible.

Crafted in Scotland.

https://www.thelinksdiary.com/membership

23/09/2024

“I suppose I like to think of myself as an artist and Shiskine is my canvas.”

Stewart Fotheringham hasn’t known another job. His entire working life has been at Shiskine Golf & Tennis Club on the Isle of Arran. Caring for the land like it was his own. Early mornings, late nights and never finding much time to switch off is very much the normal in the life of a Greenkeeper. Stewart is the epitome of that and with 42 years service to this unique 12 hole course he still has that glint in his eye.

Watch our latest short film Cutting Pins - https://youtu.be/zT9CGLnZ_UU

14/09/2024

We are honoured to have been selected to have our short film ‘The Last Caddie’ featured at this years St Andrews Film Festival. Telling Chris’ story to the world and the incredible lifelong career he has had carrying clubs at his beloved Prestwick was truly inspiring.

https://www.saintfilm.org.uk/about

01/08/2024

Many reach the post-work years and just wind down. They may go on a holiday or two, perhaps a cruise, and enjoy a life of leisure. Not the Divotologists, they have a new mission and a new reason to get up in the wee hours every morning. They are doing something that must be incredibly rewarding and, it has to be said, that sounds like a bloody good way to spend retirement.

The Divotologists | A Links Diary film

In partnership with Titleist

Available to watch now - https://youtu.be/cJdf3xDMkeQ

31/07/2024

A band of brothers fixing one fairway at a time. Tune in tomorrow on our YouTube channel at 7pm to watch our latest short film The Divotologists.

In partnership with Titleist

19/07/2024

From the greatest hole in one in the history of golf, to Arnie reinventing The Open. Discovering the quirks of North Berwick, and a millionaires eccentric plan to dominate the majors. Time to find that quiet spot.

The Links Diary No.9 is available now.

https://www.thelinksdiary.com/product-page/tld-no-9

10/07/2024

Nearly time to find that quiet spot.

No.9 coming soon.

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A band of brothers fixing one fairway at a time. Tune in tomorrow on our YouTube channel at 7pm to watch our latest short film The Divotologists. In partnership with Titleist

Join us for two nights and three rounds with our friends at The Fliers Club this June. We will be playing three amazing links courses including Machrihanish GC, Machrihanish Dunes and Dunaverty GC. We will be staying in the brilliant Cottages at the Ugadale Hotel in Machrihanish. We’ve Eight spots available and included is B&B based on twin sharing and 3 rounds of golf. This is sure to be a brilliant trip joined by our friends from the United States. Details - https://www.thelinksdiary.com/event-details/the-matches-at-machrihanish

Many thanks to everyone who’s grabbed their spot at our first event experience ‘The Lost Links’. We’ve still some spots available for what’s going to be a great day out discovering James Braids lost course followed by golf at Goswick Golf Links. Interested? Check it out - https://www.thelinksdiary.com/event-details/the-lost-links-experience

Join us on Holy Island as we discover the Lost Links of Lindisfarne in our first ever event. Walk all 9 holes of James Braids Lost Links and relive the story from TLD No.7. From there we will head off to Goswick Golf Club to play this brilliant championship links course in the North East of England, that plays host to regional qualifying for The Open. We’ve only 16 spots available. More details in the link below. Book your spot now - www.thelinksdiary.com/event-details/the-lost-links-experience

“The 3rd hole at Iona is sui generis. It must be experienced to be fully understood. At 183 yards, it plays uphill over a massive natural blow-out bunker to a bowl-like plateau green situated at the base of enormous Archaean rock formations. The wind is straight into us today, but even on a calm day the hole is some sort of geographical oddity. It typically plays at least 100 yards longer than the yardage. Our best drives still leave us with a full wedge or nine iron shots into the small, wildly sloping green. “It is unquestionably the greatest par three in the world. A par on that hole is an eagle anywhere else,” says Bridge Littleton. John makes a brilliant three and I am thrilled to get a four. It is one of my favorite holes in golf.” The Honourable Company of Iona Golfers | The Links Diary No.8 Words by Jim Hartsell Available in The Links Diary No.8 - https://www.thelinksdiary.com #asmr

The Art of Par - No.4 Machrihanish Dunes with architect David McLay Kidd. Available to read in No.8 - https://www.thelinksdiary.com

In No.8 we sit down for some quiet time. Jim Hartsell pens a love letter to Iona, as he experiences one of his favourite days in golf playing the Iona Open, in The Honourable Company of Iona Golfers. The day Jack and Seve turned up at Ladybank GC to present the Junior Open prize giving was definitely Straight out of a Fairytale. Richard Pennell embarked on a winter pilgrimage to the Highlands of Scotland as he chased the light in The Alchemy of Adventure. Golf architect David McLay Kidd runs us through the process of design on Machrihanish Dunes drivable par 4 4th hole with The Art of Par. All of this and more in 144 pages of golf for the soul. Available now - https://www.thelinksdiary.com/product-page/no-8

The Ballad of Count Manfred von Hoffmanstel available to read in TLD No.6

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