Links Travel Notes

Our friend David Owen has a post up at The Loop, the title of which says it all:

Sunday on TV: two great U.K. links courses, two great golf trips

His basic premise, known to all who make these trips, is that no matter where a Scottish Open or Women's British Open may be played, you're likely to be within driving distance of no shortage of other worthy links. 

From Royal Aberdeen, he routes the visitor up the coast to take in everything from the splendid and memorable Cruden Bay to Murcar, Peterhead and Fraserburgh (more on that last one in a sec).  

David's photos of Cruden Bay (top) and Fraserburgh (below).

For Royal Birkdale, David has it far easier, as there's more golf there than one can play in a year.  On our 2010 trip, we played the other two Royals (Lytham and Hoylake), as well as Hillside, Southport & Ainsdale, Wallasey and didn't have time for St. Annes Old Links and West Lancashire.  David has an upcoming article on a trip there, so keeps his powder dry.

By chance Shackelford also had a post at The Loop about Fraserburgh, about which he had this to say:

Now that Royal Aberdeen has received more exposure during the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open and Trump International Links has secured its spot on many must-play lists, the northeast of Scotland has become a destination with an easily accessible airport and thriving economy. Throw in Cruden Bay 45 minutes north of the city and it’s a trifecta of available world-class golf. But if you plan a trip here, don’t leave Fraserburgh Golf Club off the list.

About 50 minutes north of Aberdeen, it's the seventh oldest club in the world and the oldest operating under its original name. Founded in 1777, this 6,308 yard links is the perfect compliment to the other courses in the region, which tend to lean toward the “stout” definition. Fraserburgh is no pushover, but its lay-of-the-linksland design is a joy to walk and play. It’s also a study in what golf should be using as a model for fun, affordable and playable.

We've not played any of the courses mentioned except for Royal Aberdeen and Cruden Bay (and the latter in a horizontal rain), so we do need to get back to the Aberdeenshire Coast.  But in the interest of full disclosure, there's one little detail they omit.  That would be that the East coast of Scotland has some of the worst weather known to mankind.  They have a little thing there they call the Haar, a coastal fog that has some viscosity to it.  It's been my experience that when the locals name their weather conditions, travelers should take note.  But it is a wonderful cluster of links, and well worth a visit.

I'm off today to tend to some family business, but I'll leave you with one last item.  Maggot was good enough to send me this profile of Pat Ruddy in the most recent edition of Golf World, and I can't recommend it highly enough.  Ruddy is a County Sligo boy, who grew up and made good, and you'll love his love of the game and of life itself.  the piece mostly focuses on his European Club, located south of Dublin, that Theresa and I will play for the first time in September.  Ruddy also designed the Glashedy Links at Beloved Ballyliffin, and many other of the modern Irish links.  I adore everything I read about the European, with the obvious exception of the price tag (though Lowell has us paying less than the rack rate).  

My friends no doubt get tired of hearing it from me, but if you love golf enough to be reading this blog but haven't been over to play the great links, what exactly are you thinking?