TLD Issues
In No.10 Richard Pennell lovingly builds his retro set with some bargains from charity shop rummages. Jim Hartsell has a day of wonders by the North Sea with his son on The Old. "I'm an artist and Shiskine is my canvas." Stewart Fotheringham shares tales of his lifelong love of a 12 hole wonder. Murray Bothwell ponders why we play this wonderful game and a trip with new friends that's filled with Guinness, promised dreams and the ghost of Old Tom. 144 pages of golf for the soul. All of this and more in TLD No.10.
In No.9 a Millionaire management consultant started a scheme to train selected young professional golfers in a bid to produce a major champion by 1967. Jim Hartsell pens a love letter to a 9 holer in an enchanted glen on the Isle of Arran. Arnold Palmer steered the way for the American onslaught of the Open Championship in his usual flamboyant manner, and Gary Henderson admits to shamefully only discovering the joys of North Berwick in recent years. 144 pages of golf for the soul. All of this and more in TLD No.9.
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 day 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.
In No.7 we take a deep dive into the Road Hole on the Old Course at St Andrews with Clayton, Devries and Pont architect Sam Cooper as he gives his low down on why it's such a brilliant design. Small is Beautiful as Dan Davies fulfilled his lifelong dream of building his own golf course, in an orchard, in his back garden. Murray Bothwell pens a unique folklore tale from the links of Royal Dornoch staged in the middle of the night. Golfers and their lawns, for some it's an obsession for perfection. Reece Witters gives his amusing and clever take on Harold Whifflesworth pursuit of the perfect surface. All of this and more in TLD No.7.
In No.6 we venture North to the Links of Brora as Jim Hartsell answers the question why do we love golf? We've all had that moment when we believe we can play this game. That lightbulb moment when everything aligns, when it all seems to flow so effortlessly. That was not the case for a crane operator, in the north of England, in the 1970's as he aimed to become the champion golfer of the year in The Ballad of Count von Hoffmanstel. All of this and more in No.6
In No.5 we explore one man's obsession with golf memorabilia that fills his entire spare room. A visit to Askernish where Jim Harstell's expectations far exceed what he could have ever imagined. Murray Bothwell caught up with Mr Carnoustie - Trevor Williamson, as he tells of his love affair with the famous links. All of this and more in the latest edition of The Links Diary.
In No.4 we explore what it's like to play the old course in reverse, we catch up with an unlikely band of brothers at Kingsbarns, and we have some Tea with our Golf at Machrie on the Isle of Arran. We also bring you a piece from Golf's very own Banksy - Shanksy, and a historic golf club that's endangered of being lost to the sea.
Introducing our 3rd edition. No.3 is packed full of stories from across the links of Scotland. From Jim Hartsell's 'The last Caddie' to Murray Bothwell's 'Nostalgia isn't what it used to be'. All this and more in TLD No.3
The 2nd edition of The Links Diary is our first printed copy, published December 2020. The Links Diary is the perfect golfer’s companion. A magazine filled with incredible images and stories from Scotland’s golf courses and characters. From the Cattle fairways of Dunaverty, to the inspiration behind Clive Clarke's Dumbarnie Links. We delve into Ben Hogan's love of Panmure and catch up with the man making golf for everyone, Erik Anders Lang.
The First edition of The Links Diary. Game of Names, Great Golspie, One for The Memory Banks are some of the stories that grace the pages of this edition. So go buy yourself an electric fan, switch it on and point it at yourself, grab a coffee and dream.